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Jermaine Cunningham | Defensive Lineman

Team: New England Patriots
Age / DOB:  (25) / 4/24/1988
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 260
College: Florida
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Patriots activated DE Jermaine Cunningham from the reserve/suspended list.
Cunningham served a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on PEDs. He has 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season while acting as a situational interior pass rusher. Sat, Dec 29, 2012 04:51:00 PM
Source: ESPN Boston

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

NFL suspended Patriots DE Jermaine Cunningham four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

He'll be eligible to return in Week 17. A sub-package rusher who plays inside and out, Cunningham amassed 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks in the Patriots' first 11 games, making three starts. The Pats can withstand his loss if they get rookie RE Chandler Jones back healthy. Trevor Scott can take Cunningham's role.
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 02:49:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

ESPN Boston gives DE Jermaine Cunningham a 35-percent chance of making the Patriots' 53-man roster.

Cunningham has disappointed (one career sack) since New England selected him in the second round of the 2010 draft, but coach Bill Belichick recently tagged him with a "great offseason". Already competing with Trevor Scott, Chandler Jones, and Jake Bequette for reps, the expected re-signing of Andre Carter could still push Cunningham further down the depth chart.
Source: ESPN Boston
Sun, Jun 24, 2012 11:44:00 AM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Coach Bill Belichick indicated that 2010 second-round OLB Jermaine Cunningham has "really worked hard," resulting in a "great offseason."

Asked to describe the offseason improvement, Belichick replied, "A player's physical improvement, overall mental grasp of what we're doing and what we can see on the field which is non-contact but reactions and technique." It sounds like the light may finally be going on for Cunningham, who was the odd man out in the Pats' 4-3 tinkering last season.
Source: CSN New England
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 03:34:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Patriots placed DE Jermaine Cunningham on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, ending his season.

Cunningham's injury is believed to be minor, but he wasn't helping the Patriots much. A second-round pick in 2010, Cunningham tallied 35 tackles and a sack in 15 games as a rookie. He took a giant step back this season, notching just one tackle as he played almost exclusively on special teams. Cunningham may need to impress in training camp next summer just to earn a roster spot.
Source: Monique Walker on Twitter
Sat, Dec 10, 2011 11:24:00 AM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Patriots OLB/DE Jermaine Cunningham (groin) has been ruled out of Monday night's game against the Dolphins.

Cunningham was slated to fill in as the backup at right end behind Andre Carter. Mark Anderson is going to get a chance now.
Related: Mark Anderson
Source: ESPN Boston
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 09:30:00 AM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss singles out Patriots OLB Jermaine Cunningham as someone who is having a disappointing camp so far.

Reiss says Cunningham is being "blocked easier than I thought he would be" in rush drills, and that he was expecting the second-year linebacker to "flash a bit more to this point." That's not good news for a player the Patriots are hoping can nail down a starting job.
Source: ESPN Boston
Sun, Aug 7, 2011 08:33:00 AM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

The Patriots are "likely expecting big things" from 2010 second-round OLB Jermaine Cunningham, according to the Boston Herald.

The Herald has also connected veteran pass rushers Mathias Kiwanuka and Matt Roth to the Patriots on more than one occasion. NFL Network's Michael Lombardi -- who has connections in New England's front office -- believes Roth could be a Mike Vrabel clone in Bill Belichick's defense. Cunningham will face plenty of competition for playing time.
Related: Matt Roth, Mathias Kiwanuka
Source: Boston Herald
Wed, Jul 6, 2011 12:25:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

The Boston Herald is reporting that Patriots OLB Jermaine Cunningham (ankle) will return to practice this week, and should be available for Week 1.

With Derrick Burgess gone, Cunningham is expected to have a major role in pass rushing situations. Though he might not start Week 1, there's a good chance he moves ahead of Rob Ninkovich before the middle of the season.
Related: Rob Ninkovich
Source: Boston Herald
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 12:14:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Rookie OLB Jermaine Cunningham has not practiced since sustaining an injury last Wednesday.

Cunningham was injured on the punt return team in a joint-practice with the Saints. He's now missed three practices and a walkthrough. We're dealing with the Patriots, so his injury remains unknown. Already short on pass rushers, the Pats can't afford to lose Cunningham.
Source: ESPN Boston
Tue, Aug 17, 2010 02:52:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

The Boston Herald expects second-round OLB Jermaine Cunningham to be given "every opportunity to make a big-time impact on the edge" as a rookie.

Cunningham is seeing plenty of time with the starters opposite Tully Banta-Cain, and he's said to look "quicker and more smooth" than veteran Pierre Woods. With Derrick Burgess telling friends that he believes he's played his last down in the NFL, Cunningham is poised to fill a key role.
Related: Pierre Woods, Derrick Burgess
Source: Boston Herald
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 06:09:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Patriots agreed to terms with second-round OLB Jermaine Cunningham on a four-year deal.

Cunningham was a defensive end at Florida, but is headed for outside linebacker duties in New England. The unheralded but effective pass rusher racked up 19.5 sacks in his final three seasons with the Gators and is a serious threat to lead the Patriots in sacks as a rookie. He's a strong candidate to start at ROLB.
Source: Boston Globe
Sat, Jul 24, 2010 11:40:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston predicts that rookie Jermaine Cunningham will win one of the Patriots' two starting outside linebacker jobs.

Cunningham, converting from college end to NFL outside rusher, has practiced at the integral ROLB position during offseason workouts. If he wins the position, Cunningham stands a good shot at leading the team in sacks.
Source: ESPN.com
Tue, May 25, 2010 11:22:00 AM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Patriots second-round pick Jermaine Cunningham has worked at right outside linebacker during rookie minicamp.

Bill Belichick was just being coy when he suggested Cunningham wouldn't change positions earlier in the week. A college defensive end, Cunningham lacks the length and size to stay there in New England's 3-4 defense. He's a strong candidate to start at OLB across from Tully Banta-Cain.
Source: ESPN.com
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 12:47:00 PM
Jermaine Cunningham - DL - Patriots

Coach Bill Belichick isn't ready to call second-rounder Jermaine Cunningham an oustide linebaker just yet.

"We'll see how all that goes," said Belichick. "I think he's an end of the line player. Whether that's up, or down, we will see." The Pats often switch to a 4-3 alignment on passing downs, and Cunningham could be ticketed for end in those packages as a rookie.
Source: Providence Journal
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 11:27:00 AM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Tom Brady
2Ryan Mallett
3Mike Kafka
RB1Stevan Ridley
2Shane Vereen
3Brandon Bolden
4LeGarrette Blount
5Leon Washington
GLB1Stevan Ridley
2Shane Vereen
3RB1Shane Vereen
2Stevan Ridley
FB1James Develin
2Ben Bartholomew
WR11Danny Amendola
2Julian Edelman
3Donald Jones
4Matt Slater
5T.J. Moe
WR21Aaron Dobson
2Josh Boyce
3Michael Jenkins
4Lavelle Hawkins
5Kenbrell Thompkins
6Mark Harrison
WR31Julian Edelman
TE1Rob Gronkowski
2Aaron Hernandez
3Michael Hoomanawanui
4Daniel Fells
5Jake Ballard
K1Stephen Gostkowski