The Patriots cutting undrafted rookie linebacker James Morris this week wasn’t the kind of thing that normally creates headlines, or attention at all.
But the move was a costly one for them.
According to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com, cutting Morris with a “failed physical designation” cost them $20,000, since he had been given a $10,000 signing bonus and a $10,000 guarantee on his base salary.
Though he was undrafted, that kind of commitment indicates they wanted him hanging around.
Of course, there’s a real chance that when he’s well (from whatever happened to him in his four days in New England), they’ll bring him back. Until then, his hourly rate is pretty good.