FOXBORO -- Director of player personnel Nick Caserio was a fine choice for Monday's pre-practice press conference. New England made two roster moves Sunday evening -- releasing receiver Britt Davis and waiving linebacker Dane Fletcher -- and, in theory, had to address them.
Caserio responded... in his way.
Here's what came out of the media meet.
What's the procedural difference between releasing a player during training camp and waiving him?
NC: "It's the same. Any time that you remove a player from your roster, you designate him X amount of ways. Theres certain ways you can designate that player so we take all the information like we normally do and then we release the player and then we just move on."
It's the same to the team unloading the player, anyway. Either way, that guy is gone. But for the team that wants to pick up a released player, it becomes a bidding war. A waived player, however, will go to whatever team with the highest spot in the waiver order that puts a bid on him.
Is it accurate to say a player with less than four accrued seasons would count against the 90-man roster if he was placed directly on Injured Reserve?NC: "Look, we make decisions every day on the roster. If there are any rules questions, I would direct those to the league and their interpretation."
Though Caserio wouldn't say one way or another, the reporter's understanding is accurate.
Moving on.
What did you see in Steve Gregory when you guys brought him in and were deciding whether to sign him?
NC: "He had played a little bit of corner in college. Maybe a little bit undersized just from a height, weight, speed standpoint for the safety position; 190 pounds, but was real fast, aggressive, very instinctive player, matched up well. They played him a little bit at their money position or in some of their dime packages, played him close to the line of scrimmage.
"Hes a versatile player; he was able to do a number of different things in San Diegos defense. I think some of the things that were doing are a little bit different, just systematically but hes indoctrinated myself into our system well."
After last night, you have tape on all 31 other teams so far in the preseason. What is your methodology behind analyzing it?NC: "Well have certain people that follow specific teams and will be responsible for evaluating and writing those players. Then what well do is well meet as a staff and go through one scouts evaluation and then well have somebody else watch that player so we can kind of get more than one evaluation. I try to watch each game: I try to go through both sides of the ball and watch the kicking game as well, just to try to get a bigger picture view on things.
"You try to do the best you can between practice, practice tape and watching the preseason games. The good thing is the next set of games isnt played until this weekend so it gives you a certain amount of time to work through it."
After making it painfully clear he had no update on Brian Waters, who has yet to report, Caserio shut things down even further.
Internally, do you have an idea of where its going and you just dont care to share that?NC: "Really, everything is day-to-day. Well take today, deal with today and then whatever happens tomorrow, well take that as it comes."
Odds and ends
Caserio refuted reports that the Patriots will work out Chad Clifton.
He said there's nothing new in regards to Andre Carter.
Regarding Nate Ebner, who joined camp action August 4, Caserio said getting the rookie up to speed is a "process," but Ebner is smart and is learning.
On Tavon Wilson: "Could he play corner? Maybe, but right now hes worked at safety."