By MIKE MASTOVICH
Johnstown native Artrell Hawkins signed with the New York Jets on Tuesday.
Hawkins, 31, has nine seasons of NFL experience at cornerback and safety but hasn’t played since 2006.
The Bishop McCort High School graduate was released by the New England Patriots in August and sat out last season.
Hawkins played for the Patriots in 2005 and 2006, starting 12 games in the latter season.
His NFL resume includes 122 games – 92 starts – most of those with the Cincinnati Bengals, the franchise that selected him out of the University of Cincinnati in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
The Jets probably could use Hawkins at safety, where they have Kerry Rhodes, Abram Elam and Eric Smith. The team reportedly is not interested in re-signing free agent defensive back Erik Coleman.
Jets coach Eric Mangini was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator when Hawkins joined the Pats late during the 2005 season. That year the veteran defensive back helped fill voids in New England’s injury-depleted secondary and was willing to move from his traditional cornerback spot to safety.
Hawkins must have made an impression because the Jets contacted Hawkins regarding a tryout soon after the Patriots released him last Aug. 18. An undisclosed injury slowed Hawkins and he didn’t catch on with another team last season.
Hawkins spent his first six seasons with the Bengals. He played for the Carolina Panthers in 2004 before his time in New England. His career numbers include 510 tackles, four sacks and 11 interceptions, including one pick returned 102 yards for a touchdown against Houston’s David Carr.
