Safety Jarrad Page Likens Patriots to Yankees

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Sep 8, 2010

Safety Jarrad Page Likens Patriots to Yankees FOXBORO, Mass. — One of the newest members of the Patriots, safety Jarrad Page, offered some interesting analysis of the New England organization, and it could strike a chord with some sports fans in the area.

"The Patriots are a team that's kind of like the Yankees," Page said while metaphorically clawing his nails against a chalkboard. "You never like them, but when you get a chance to play for them, you're excited and you're really happy that you get to go to a team that is a perennial winner."

The Patriots sent the Chiefs an undisclosed draft pick Sunday in exchange for Page, who could fill a similar role as Brandon McGowan. Page was at odds with Kansas City's front office and did not sign his restricted free-agent tender until last Friday. Before getting a chance to even practice with the Chiefs, they decided to move in a different direction.

"I'm here in a new place, so everything starts here from Day 1. I'm happy that it's here in New England," said Page, who stayed in shape by working out at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. "Everybody wants to win. If you're going to a team that has a chance at a Super Bowl year in and year out, yeah, it was exciting. I'm happy."

Also Sunday, the Patriots acquired inside linebacker Tracy White from the Eagles for an undisclosed pick in 2012. White won't play much on defense — maybe as a reserve in passing situations, he said — but he's a tried and true special teamer who is dedicated to mastering that role.

"I'm excited to be here," White said. "Coming in the door, it's all about business here, and that’s what I like. I'm just trying to get to the Super Bowl, and I guess this is my best chance of getting there. I'm going to do as much as I can."

White said he's always had the goal of earning the special teams spot on the Pro Bowl roster — a refreshingly admirable thing to hear from an eighth-year player — so he'll fit in nicely for the Patriots.

"He's a younger player," said Pats running back Fred Taylor, who was White's teammates in Jacksonville in 2005, "[He's] fast, a guy that came in, didn’t say a lot, just did what the coaches asked him to do, a guy who has made a living doing what he is supposed to do. [The Patriots] brought him in thinking he could help, so hopefully he will."

Both players practiced for the first time Monday, and they'll get thrown right into the mix. Even better, each player is excited to join a Patriots organization that has higher expectations than the team they've left behind.

"[The Patriots are a] dominant team," White said of his preconceived notions about New England. "You've always got to be on your A-game when you play the Patriots. I'm just glad to be a part of this team and [will] do what I've got to do to be successful."

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