Free agent defensive end Frank Kearse, who had four sacks in the last two seasons in Washington, has reportedly signed with the New England Patriots.*
RELATED LINKS:
-- 2016 Redskins Free Agency Journal
Frank Kearse is apparently heading to New England.
The unrestricted free agent defensive end on Friday posted on his Instagram a photo of the Patriots' logo with the caption "New Beginnings #Notarize". Multiple reports indicated he had visited with New England on Thursday.
Kearse spent the last two seasons as a backup defensive lineman with the Redskins, collecting four sacks over that span – including a career-best three quarterback takedowns in 2014.
A seventh-round selection of the Miami Dolphins in the 2011 NFL Draft, Kearse, an Alabama A&M product, bounced around the practice squads and active rosters of the Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Redskins in May 2014.
That season, Kearse earned a spot on the active roster and impressed coaches by taking advantages of the opportunities given to him, setting career highs in games played (15), total tackles (14), solo tackles (11) and sacks (three).
Though Kearse remained with the Redskins for the 2015 season, he would appear in just four games after the team added more pieces to the defensive line during the offseason. He recorded his first and only sack of the season in the third quarter of the Redskins' Week 17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
"Coach Joe B. [Barry] dialed it up, man," Kearse said. "I had a line stunt, basically I just stayed on my track and believed in the defense man, get my responsibilities in. They came free, used my hands and I broke free through the inside shoulder to tackle."
In a lighthearted moment, Kearse, who dealt with multiple releases and re-signings during the first part of the season, had one of the most unique sack celebrations seen on an NFL field last season.
"Just a little something I came up with, man," Kearse said with a smile. "I was just fooling around. I'll probably get the worst sack dance of the year award. It don't even matter, man."
Kearse became an unrestricted free agent with Wednesday's start of the new league year.
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