Former Beaufort standout returns to old NFL team; Hilton Head’s Ford earns spot with Seahawks

Ron Parker wasn’t out of a job for long, and Poona Ford is sticking around in Seattle.

After being released by the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, Parker is headed back to one of his former teams – the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Beaufort standout was released by the Kansas City Chiefs on March 12. He spent five seasons with Kansas City.

Parker recorded 307 tackles, nine interceptions and seven sacks in 79 games. He also has played with the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks.

Ford, a former Hilton Head Island standout, made the Seattle Seahawks’ 53-man roster, the team announced Saturday. He was an undrafted free agent coming out of Texas but had an impressive training camp and preseason.

According to Pro Football Focus, Ford earned a 70.2 overall grade for the preseason, ranking eighth out of 43 rookie interior defenders with at least 60 snaps.

“I think he will go play 12 years in NFL. He fits the game so well. He proved people wrong,” Hilton Head Island coach BJ Payne said of Ford in April. “I’m a huge Poona Ford fan. He hasn’t changed. He is the same kid he was when he had 30 offers in high school and was eating lunch with my kids. Just an incredible story.”

Former Whale Branch standout Dee Delaney was released Saturday by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the team signed him to the practice squad.

Cleveland Browns cut Beaufort’s Stephen Baggett.

This story was originally published September 1, 2018 at 10:34 PM.