Ron Brace
Encyclopedia
2009 season
Brace was drafted by the Patriots in the second round (40th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. On July 17, 2009, he was signed to a 4-year contract with approximately $2.82 million in guaranteed money.
Brace was active for six of the first 13 games of the season, recording two tackles; meanwhile, 2009 sixth-round pick Myron Pryor
Myron Pryor
Myron Pryor is an American football nose tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kentucky....
was active for the Patriots during that time at the same position. Brace started his first NFL game on December 20, 2009 against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in place of an injured Vince Wilfork
Vince Wilfork
-2004–06 seasons:The Patriots drafted Wilfork with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. In his rookie 2004 season with the Patriots, he compiled two sacks, 42 tackles, and three deflected passes...
and Pryor at nose tackle. He started again for the Patriots in Week 16 and finished the season with eight tackles in nine games played (two starts). Brace was inactive for the Patriots' playoff loss against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
.
2010 season
Prior to the 20102010 New England Patriots season
The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets...
, Brace was moved to defensive end, and missed most of training camp after failing his conditioning test. However, he returned and started the first three games of the regular season, including a four-tackle game in Week 2 against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Brace soon lost his starting job to rookie Brandon Deaderick
Brandon Deaderick
Brandon Augustus Deaderick is an American football defensive end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama.-Early years:Deaderick attended Elizabethtown High School...
, and was inactive for the team's Week 7 win over the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Brace was active again in Week 8, and returned to the starting lineup two weeks later against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He was a reserve the next week against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, but tied his season-high of four tackles in the game. Three weeks later, he started the Patriots' Week 13 game in Chicago
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but sustained a concussion that kept him out of their Week 15 game against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. After playing in Week 16, Brace missed the team's regular season finale with an elbow injury.
Brace was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on January 3, 2011, prior to the playoffs
2010–11 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2010 season began on January 8, 2011 and led up to Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas....
. He finished the regular season with 23 tackles in 13 games played (five starts).