<p>Navy, not pro football, awaits most Midshipmen</p>
<p>Published in today's Fort Wayne Journal Gazette:</p>
<p>
[quote]
On Monday mornings, co-workers approach his desk in Norfolk, Va. Itd be idle chatter in most offices, cooler chatter among guys about college and NFL games from the weekend.</p>
<p>But Kyle Eckels desk garners more attention. When the conversation comes up, it becomes a reminder of his dual reality....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Published in today's Miami Herald:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Dolphins fullback Kyle Eckel reported for duty Thursday -- but not exactly the way he has become accustomed to during the past year while serving in the Navy.</p>
<p>Eckel is back to being a full-time football player.</p>
<p>''This is the next stage of my life,'' said Eckel, who practiced Thursday. ``And I'll hit it head-on.''...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Posted on ESPN.com:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Just before he takes the field for the first time in a Miami Dolphins uniform sometime this season, Kyle Eckel will pause and grab one of those mangy, faded Navy T-shirts he has collected the past four years. The former Naval Academy star fullback will put it on under his football pads and think of his buddies serving their country halfway around the world....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Published in today's BS:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Former Navy star running back Kyle Eckel is practicing with the Miami Dolphins after having been involuntarily terminated from the service.</p>
<p>Eckel received an administrative separation from the Navy on Oct. 31, a Navy spokesman confirmed yesterday. In addition, he'll be required to repay about $96,000 in education costs, said Lt. Tommy Crosby of the Navy Office of Information....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What position did Morrison play?</p>
<p>Posted on today's Miami Herald:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Fullback Kyle Eckel, who reportedly was kicked out the Navy for an undisclosed reason, said he actually submitted his resignation for reasons he did not want to discuss.</p>
<p>The Navy Times reported Friday that Eckel owes $96,229.56 to the Navy for failing to fulfill his service commitment. The Navy would not give a reason, the newspaper said.</p>
<p>"It was a good experience for me, a positive experience for me," Eckel said. "I would say one thing the article failed to mention was that I was given the opportunity to submit a letter of resignation, which was ccepted."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Posted on USA Today:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Former Navy fullback Kyle Eckel, who faced a five-year military commitment when he graduated in 2005, is practicing with the Miami Dolphins.</p>
<p>The Navy Times, a weekly newspaper, reports Eckel was "kicked out" of the Navy. The Navy Office of Information says he was "administratively separated" Oct. 31 and will not disclose the reason because of "personal privacy."...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Published in today's Sun-Sentinel:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Dolphins fullback Kyle Eckel wouldn't comment on the specific reason for his recent dismissal from the Naval Academy, but he said a Navy Times article chronicling the situation "reflects zero percent of what type of person I am."</p>
<p>Quoting a military spokesman, the Times reported Eckel was involuntarily kicked out of the Navy last month and must now repay roughly $96,000 in fees for his Annapolis education. Eckel, who left the Dolphins after the 2005 preseason to fulfill his military commitment, rejoined the team earlier this month and is allowed to practice without counting against its 53-man roster....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I have read all the articles and I my gut tells me this Midshipman did not do the right thing.</p>
<p>Is this a story about a midshipman who like Roger Staubach plays in the NFL or did he follow the money ? </p>
<p>Confused ?</p>
<p>Since it's likely only two fullbacks will make the squad (and Cory
Schlesinger is a lock and Reagan Mauia can also play tailback), Kyle Eckel,
above, will need to do some very special things soon if he's going to hang
around.</p>
<p>Schlesinger, Hakim Among Dolphins' 22 Cuts</p>
<p>Davie, FL (Sports Network) - Veteran fullback Cory Schlesinger and wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim were among the 22 players released Saturday by the Miami Dolphins, who reduced their roster to the 53-player maximum in accordance with NFL rules.</p>
<p>Schlesinger, who had played the previous 12 seasons as a member of the Detroit Lions, was looking to establish himself as a fixture of the Dolphins' lineups. But the 35-year-old Schlesinger, a sixth-round pick of the Lions in the 1995 Draft, was passed over by rookie Reagan Mauia on the team's depth chart and was deemed expendable.</p>
<p>Hakim, also late of the Lions, was not a factor in the preseason and failed to establish himself as the Fins' fourth or fifth receiver. The 30-year-old Hakim has 316 catches, 4,191 yards and 28 touchdown grabs in nine seasons spent with the Rams, Lions, and Saints.</p>
<p>The other Miami players waived on Saturday were tight end Courtney Anderson, defensive end Mkristo Bruce, defensive end Jorge Cordova, fullback Kyle Eckel, guard Tala Esera, tight end Aaron Halterman, quarterback Gibran Hamdan, safety Tuff Harris, cornerback Derrick Johnson, guard Marquay Love, wide receiver Michael Malone, tight end Tim Massaquoi, linebacker Jim Maxwell (waived/injured), linebacker Robert McCune (waived/injured), guard Stephen Parker, cornerback Geoff Pope, wide receiver P.K. Sam (waived/injured(, defensive tackle Brian Soi, guard Dan Stevenson (waived/injured), and tackle Julius Wilson.</p>
<p>Of that group, notables include Anderson, who started 28 games with Oakland over the past three years; Cordova, a former third-round draft choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars; and Maxwell, who appeared in eight games as a special-teamer with Miami last season.</p>
<p>Also on Saturday, Cam Cameron's club activated cornerback Andre' Goodman (shoulder), who had been on the Physically Unable to Perform list throughout the preseason.</p>
<p>Miami opens its regular season on Sept. 9, when it visits Washington.</p>
<p>09/01 22:55:35 ET</p>
<p>I was on-line reading about this. I came across some other articles as well, one with his sister going to his defense. Hot topic to say the least.</p>
<p>Whatever happened to the 96k he was supposed to pay back?</p>
<p>From all known accounts, Kyle Eckel appears to be an embarassment to the Academy and to the uniform he so briefly wore. But unfortunately, "Naval Academy graduate" will follow his name in every article ever written about him. Appalling.</p>
<p><a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/2/671807.html%5B/url%5D">http://recruiting.scout.com/2/671807.html</a></p>
<p>"...the prestige of graduating from there will give me a leg up in regard to my future goals, Hill said. I am very focused on my future and am intrigued at the possibility of pursuing a future with the FBI or CIA as it has always really interested me. I feel my time at Navy will really help me toward that goal."</p>
<p>I might not have paid attention to this quote from a possible mid-to-be, if I had not heard about the fiasco with Eckel. No matter how good a player is, does it make sense to offer a plebe class spot to a person who appears to have no intention to make the Navy a career? Of course, this being a quote from a press report, it may or may not be accurate.</p>
<p>Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots re-signed veteran tight end Marcellus Rivers on Monday after the team cut him on Saturday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.</p>
<p>The 28-year-old Rivers caught nine passes for 100 yards in the preseason. He caught 24 passes for 168 yards in 2005 for Houston.</p>
<p>The Patriots also claimed rookie linebacker David Herron off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings and signed the following players to the practice squad: wide receivers Bam Childress and C.J. Jones, fullback Kyle Eckel, linebacker Corey Mays, offensive lineman Clint Oldenburg, tight end Jason Rader and defensive lineman Santonio Thomas.</p>
<p>Kyle Eckel has a special calling to be a New England Patriot (Philadelphia Daily News)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Kyle Eckel received a call, almost out of the blue. It wasn't just any call, nor did it come from just anyone.
The call for the two-time MVP of the Army-Navy game, who played for Episcopal Academy, was a personal invitation from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.</p>
<p>Eckel cleared waivers after being released by the Miami Dolphins on Friday, and Sunday evening got the call from Belichick to see if he had any interest in playing for the Patriots....
[/quote]
</p>
<p><a href="http://patriots.scout.com/2/677233.html%5B/url%5D">http://patriots.scout.com/2/677233.html</a></p>
<p>
[quote]
Kyle Eckel is more than just another name on the practice squad, he represents a possible replacement for Heath Evans in a couple of years. The former Navy Midshipman joined the Patriots in 2005 to take his first step into the NFL. When the Dolphins claimed him, but didn't fully utilize his talents, Eckel's future appeared in doubt. Now that he's back, he has another chance to shine....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots signed fullback Kyle Eckel to the active roster today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Additionally, the Patriots released linebacker Corey Mays.</p>
<p>Eckel, 25, was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 3, 2007. The 5-foot-11-inch, 237-pound fullback has not played in an NFL game. The Navy product was originally signed by the Patriots on April 29, 2005 and was waived by New England on Sept. 3, 2005. He was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 4, 2005 and spent the entire 2005 season and part of the 2006 season on the reserve/military exempt list. He was reinstated on Nov. 2, 2006 and spent the remainder of the season on the Commissioner's Exempt Permission list. Eckel was released by the Dolphins on Sept. 1, 2007.</p>
<p>Mays, 23, is in his second NFL season after signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame on May 8, 2006. As a rookie with the Patriots last season, the 6-foot-1-inch, 245-pound linebacker played in eight regular-season games and three playoff contests after spending the first half of the 2006 season on New England¹s practice squad. Mays recorded two tackles (1 solo) and nine special teams tackles in the 2006 regular season and tallied a pair of special teams stops in the playoffs. He has played in one game this season and recorded one special teams tackle.</p>
<p>Can anyone explain how an exemption from service ... or whatever it may be officially called ... works? I don't understand this.</p>
<p>Kyle Eckel scored his first NFL touchdown yesterday in the Patriots rout of the Cowboys..... last TD of the game.</p>