Every New England football fan knows the Patriots need to improve their pass rush, and they probably don't care where they go to do it. How about a farm in Ontario?
According to the Boston Herald, CFL sacks leader Ricky Foley, a native of Courtice, Ontario, is meeting with the Patriots on Thursday about the possibility of a contract for 2010. Foley is hoping to follow in the footsteps of former CFLer Cameron Wake, who joined the Dolphins last season and had a solid rookie campaign, tallying 5.5 sacks.
Foley spent some time with the Ravens in 2006, but other than that has spent his entire career in the CFL with the British Columbia Lions. He had 12 sacks this past season in Canada.
The 27-year-old Foley has already met with the Jets this offseason and has a meeting scheduled with the Rams as well.
The big city lights of Boston or New York could be a bit of a culture shock for the defensive end. Foley grew up on a farm east of Toronto that his parents, throughout their 36 years of marriage to that point, had left for only one night before Foley's career began. And even if Foley does sign with an NFL team, he's unlikely to leave his upbringing behind.
"I just value that so much now," Foley told The Vancouver Sun. "It's in me, I need that. I just have to go to the barn in the morning and be with the animals. I miss 'em."
Even if he can't make an immediate impact on a team's defensive line, Foley thinks he could be a big-time contributor on special teams. He saw the career that Brendon Ayanbadejo, another former B.C. Lion, carved out for himself in the NFL, and realizes that could be a key to doing what he failed to do in Baltimore — sticking around for a while.
