Cadet hoping to fit into Patriots' backfield

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Travaris Cadet says a 2012 joint practice with the New England Patriots helped him decide on his new home for the 2015 season.

''I had a chance to practice here in 2012, even though I was a Saint then, but I had some inside looks and thought maybe it would be a good fit,'' the running back, who signed with New England as a free agent, said after Thursday's training camp session. ''They do a great job of putting players in a position to succeed.

''As long as you follow the rules around here and do what you're supposed to do, you'll have great success here.''

After visiting New England for that training session, Cadet, undrafted out of Appalachian State, scored a touchdown against the Patriots in 2013 - one of two TDs he has in the NFL. With 45 catches for 345 yards and only 37 career yards rushing, he has a reputation as a third-down, pass-catching back. That's a spot he could fight for now that Shane Vereen is with the New York Giants.

But Cadet, who hasn't been a strong pass blocker, is also a special teams guy, and New England coach Bill Belichick loves versatility.

''He had a great spring, been out there every day, works really hard,'' Belichick said earlier this week. ''He's got good receiving skills, fast, played in the kicking game for New Orleans. He had a lot of production catching the ball for New Orleans.

''We'll see. He's done some good things, some things he needs to work on, but glad we have him.''

Ask Cadet, 26, about his possible role - the feeling being he is battling James White and Dion Lewis for the Vereen role - and you get a shrug.

''To be honest, I'm not really worried about it,'' he says. ''I'm excited to be here, be part of this organization, it's a big-time organization. Whatever role they're ready to put me in I'm willing to do, all phases of the game.

''It's just about being disciplined, doing what the coaches ask you to do and do it to the best of your ability, and gaining the trust of my teammates and the coaches.''

And he insists, ''I'm not going to say I'm anxious to show people what I can do; I'm just here to do my job. Whatever comes with it comes.''

NOTES: Slot receiver Julian Edelman missed his third straight day with an undisclosed injury. ''Day to day,'' said Belichick. ... The Patriots released offensive lineman Harland Gunn, claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Monday, and signed OL Mark Asper and tight end Mason Brodine. ... A botched snap between center Josh Kline and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo resulted in the pair running a lap of the field before getting a talking-to from Belichick. ... NFL game officials spent the first of three days on the field with the team. ''It will give us a good opportunity to let them watch us and educate us on what we are and aren't doing properly in their eyes,'' said Belichick. ''Also to just kind of have the NFL officials handle the mechanics of the no-huddle or two minutes and those kinds of situations that are somewhat timing oriented. So, we'll try to take advantage of that.''

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