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Patriots Bring Back Player Who Once Earned LeBron James Shout-Out
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The New England Patriots are bringing back a familiar face to create competition at one of the most specialized positions on their roster. Veteran long snapper Niko Lalos is signing with the Patriots, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Lalos previously spent part of the spring with New England before being released in May.
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"Long snapper Niko Lalos is back in town and signing with the Patriots, per a source," Reiss wrote Monday. "Spent time with New England in the spring and adds competition for incumbent Julian Ashby ."
The move will not generate the same attention as New England's other roster additions, but it could create an unexpected competition before the regular season.
Niko Lalos Returns to Challenge Julian Ashby
The Patriots initially signed Lalos on March 16 before releasing him on May 20 to create a roster spot for defensive tackle Travis Shaw. New England's decision to bring him back suggests the coaching staff wants another option behind Ashby. Long snapper competitions rarely receive much attention during training camp, but one poor snap can dramatically change a game.
Ashby currently is considered the incumbent, although Lalos will receive an opportunity to challenge him during practices and preseason games. The Patriots open their preseason schedule against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday at Gillette Stadium. That should give New England's coaching staff an immediate chance to evaluate Lalos under game conditions.
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Lalos is still relatively new to the position. He entered the NFL as a defensive end after recording 17.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks during his college career at Dartmouth. His combination of size and athleticism makes him an unusual candidate at long snapper. The 29-year-old stands 6-foot-5 and weighs approximately 269 pounds.
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Lalos Once Received LeBron James' Attention
Lalos began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants in 2020. He made a memorable debut against the Cincinnati Bengals that November, intercepting a deflected pass during New York's 19-17 victory. Before the game, LeBron James gave Lalos a shout-out on social media because both attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.
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Lalos followed that performance by recovering a fumble against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks one week later. He later spent time with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Sea Dragons. During his 2023 XFL season with Seattle, Lalos recorded 35 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception.
That defensive background could give Lalos additional value beyond his snapping responsibilities. However, consistency on field goals, extra points and punts will determine whether he can win a roster spot.
The Patriots already had an extended look at Lalos during the spring. Now they are giving him another opportunity as their preseason opener approaches. Ashby remains the favorite to keep the job, but New England's latest signing makes it clear that the competition is not over.
