APThe Patriots announced their roster moves Monday afternoon, and they cleared out some of the veteran receivers to make room for a younger one.
In addition to the previously reported Donte Stallworth move, they also cut wideout Jabar Gaffney.
Also released were defensive linemen Gerard Warren and Tim Bulman and safety Ross Ventrone (who will probably be re-signed and cut six more times before the start of the regular season).
Releasing Gaffney clears out a veteran who might have otherwise taken away receptions from their well-paid cast of tight ends. But he can still play and probably won’t be out of work long.
Defensive back Will Allen, safety Josh Barrett and fullback Spencer Larsen were placed on injured reserve, and tight end Jake Ballard and defensive lineman Myron Pryor were placed on the reserve-PUP. Rookie offensive lineman Markus Zusevics was placed on the reserve-Non Football Injury list.
The Patriots also claimed first-year WR Kerry Taylor off waivers from the Vikings. He was on their practice squad last year.
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Well that didn’t last too long. I thought they were getting the band back together?
And now we get to see the Jets vs the Dolphins in a fight to the death to make Jabar Gaffney their #1 receiver.
I’m surprised. Jabar’s a pretty underrated player. He had just under 1,000 yards last year catching balls from Rex Grossman and John Beck. Of course he wouldn’t be that productive with the Pats, but he could have definitely played a part. I’m sure he won’t be out of a job for long.
Just resigned Gronkowski and Hernandez. No room on the payroll for WRs.
vikings
looks like Branch will be one of the final 53
I’m guess that they decided that he wasn’t going to play a big enough role in the offense to justify him a roster spot, just to be a receiver.
You don’t get a roster spot on the Pats without playing special teams unless you are very very good, and even then you have to.
Bengals should take a look. They are thin at experienced wr’s.
This is a respect move on behalf of Gaffney. The earlier his released, the better his options.
Gaffney has been hurt, and hasn’t seen a lot of reps.
And how can you be a first year player if you were on a practice squad last year?
patfanken says: Aug 27, 2012 6:36 PM
You don’t get a roster spot on the Pats without playing special teams unless you are very very good, and even then you have to.
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If that’s the case then the Pats should be cutting 5-6 of their defensive starters any day now. Unless ‘very very good’ means ‘contributed to one of the worst defenses in the NFL.’
This move makes sense; he isn’t a tight-end, so of course cut him. It’s the Belichick / Kraft way. It goes right along underpaying.
To m1000be,
How is it underpaying if the player agrees?
Gaffney missed a lot of practice time, I suspect he would have been kept if he was healthy.
Ok…need help. Why is Ballard on the PUP and not IR? Is there a difference between “reserve/pup” and “pup?”
It goes right along underpaying.
Brady, Wilfork, Mankins, who is underpaid on the Patriots hell even Welker is getting 9 million this year.
Dallas would be a perfect fit. His numbers would be very good, he is better than Laurent Robinson.
Jabar, I told you not to go there. Remember, go to a team that has no receiver.
Dolphins? Jets? Cowboys?
It’s called open spots buddy!!!
The Pats have a large number of the highest paid players at their positions
Gaffney has been overrated for years. He looked awful in camp with the Patriots. Deion Branch missed almost all of camp and still came in to easily out-shine Gaffney and Stallworth. No surprises here.
I’m actually surprised at the shock of him getting cut has caused. While I agree he’s not a bad player, and I would rarely say that “one” play ever makes a game, Jabar made two “gaffes” (yes, pun intended) in one season that made me say to myself, “Self, that man is getting cut at the end of this season.”
2008. Pats vs. Colts. Gaffney drops an “easy” 40 yard TD pass from Cassel, which would have led to a likely victory and resulted in the Pats missing the playoffs with an 11-5 record. Within a few weeks of that same game he dropped a first-down catch against the Jets in which the Pats were beaten in overtime.
My point is, while a better than average player, he’s not as reliable as I would want him to be, and I would rather make room for someone far younger to see how they pan out.
And as a total side note, when Welker dropped that pass from Brady in the Super Bowl, while it wasn’t a perfect throw, I still said to myself, “Self, that man just missed out on getting paid next year.”