BUFFALO, NY -Call it a "Triple Crown" for the University at Buffalo football program. Twenty-plus years since the last UB player, New York Jets all-time great Gerry Philbin, roamed an NFL sideline, the Bulls put their third player in the NFL ranks since April when punter/kicker Gerald Carlson signed a free agent contract with the New England Patriots late last week.

Carlson will join teammates Edward Ellis (a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in April) and Craig Guest (free agent signee with the New York Jets) in NFL training camps this summer. Carlson, a native of Randolph, NY, set 14 school records in his brilliant career at UB after transferring from Ohio State. Among his many achievements, Carlson holds the record for the longest field goal in school history (55 yards vs. Edinboro last year), most field goals in a career (28), most field goals in a season (17, 1995), most field goals in a game (4), most points scored by kicking in a season (68) and most career punts (256).

The Patriots were impressed enough by Carlson's workout that they offered him a contract before he left their training facilities last Wednesday.

"Due to some problems with the plane I arrived a little late and didn't have much of a chance to get loose," said Carlson. "The first 20-minute session my legs felt like jelly and I really didn't feel like I kicked that well. After that, however, I settled down a had a good workout."

At one point, Carlson kicked a 40-yard field goal over the net and into a wooded area that adjoins the Patriots practice facility. He also booted three of his five kickoffs into the end zone.

Ironically, Carlson ended up rooming for the night with his former teammate Ellis, a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in the draft in April. The two had been roommates for two years at UB.

A three-sport standout at Randolph HS, Carlson was a recruited walk-on at Ohio State, but left after one year to transfer to UB, which was moving to Division I. As a junior, Carlson was named an ECAC all-star after finishing fourth in the nation in field goals per game (1.55). This past season, he was chosen as the punter on the NCAA Division I-AA Independent All-Star.