Report: Patriots release Jordan Matthews

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A report on Wednesday morning indicated wide receiver Jordan Matthews is dealing with a significant hamstring injury after going down during Sunday’s Patriots practice.

Matthews is going to be looking for a new place to play once he’s healthy enough to return to action. According to a report from Jim McBride of the Boston Globe on Wednesday afternoon, Matthews has been released by the Patriots.

The move ends a short stay in New England for Matthews. He signed a one-year deal with the team in April that contained $170,000 in guaranteed money, so the decision to move on won’t be terribly costly for the Patriots. Matthews had 25 catches for 282 yards and a touchdown for the Bills last season.

Matthews’ departure comes a couple of days after Eric Decker visited the Patriots. We’ll see if cutting Matthews is a precursor to the arrival of another veteran receiver.

73 responses to “Report: Patriots release Jordan Matthews

  1. That’s cold. But then, the Patriots don’t mess around in situations like this, either.

  2. Seeking to understand this – a team can cut a player who was injured on the job? Is there guaranteed compensation for Jordan Matthews?

  3. 170k contract in the NFL is code for ,we will most likely get rid of you !

  4. This was the guy that Bean and McDermott said could more than fill the shoes of Sammy Watkins after they let him go……”Respect The Process”…….

  5. “Seeking to understand this – a team can cut a player who was injured on the job? Is there guaranteed compensation for Jordan Matthews?”

    Yes the team can either pay the contract as is in full, in this case he gets the 170k guaranteed, or they can come to an injury settlement which often happens with higher paid players.

    “This has gotta be the most ice-cold organization in the history of sports. Freaking brutal lol”

    So all around the league through training players are and will be getting cut due to injury and yet only the Pats are “ice cold”?

  6. 6 months from now fans talking about a player on their own favorite team: We should have cut this bum in camp!

    -The same people criticizing the Patriots for doing just that.

  7. Seeking to understand this – a team can cut a player who was injured on the job? Is there guaranteed compensation for Jordan Matthews?
    ———————————————
    I believe that, if he clears waivers, the Pats must either give him an injury settlement or he reverts to IR for the Pats.

  8. chalkruz1989 says:
    August 1, 2018 at 12:45 pm
    Seeking to understand this – a team can cut a player who was injured on the job? Is there guaranteed compensation for Jordan Matthews?

    . He signed a one-year deal with the team in April that contained $170,000 in guaranteed money

    He gets that , it’s in the article

  9. He likely had a contract clause allowing the team to release him “for any reason, without recourse.”

    Next man up.

  10. chalkruz1989 says:
    August 1, 2018 at 12:45 pm
    Seeking to understand this – a team can cut a player who was injured on the job? Is there guaranteed compensation for Jordan Matthews?
    —-
    Yes a team can do this. Most contracts have guarantees for injury in them where a team has to gaurantee a certain amount for the if a player is injured or unable to pass a physical due to football related injury. That’s why sometimes when a team is trying to get rid of a player they bench them during the season to ensure they don’t get injured doing football activities. Some teams in the past have gone so far as to prevent the player from stepping on team facilities.

    The NFL is cut throat yet we still have people here that evidently think their GMs or owners and get mad or upset at players when they negotiate their contract in a similar cut throat manner such as Le’veon Bell or the most cut throat business minded player in recent memories Darrelle Revis.

  11. On top of my previous comment about getting paid, if he’s cut does he lose his medical insurance to pay for the injry he suffered?

  12. unclebluck says:
    August 1, 2018 at 12:48 pm
    This was the guy that Bean and McDermott said could more than fill the shoes of Sammy Watkins after they let him go……”Respect The Process”…….

    8 3 Rate This

    ————————————————————

    When did they ever say that Matthews could “more than” fill Watkins shoes?

    In fact, here are Brandon Beane’s exact words from his post trade press conference –

    “I was able to acquire Jordan [Matthews] to help fill in for Sammy, and E.J. Gaines to help fill in for losing Ronald“

  13. That’s Bill for you. If you get injured or don’t have a role to play on the team it’s on to the next player. Oh and please no Dez Bryant he’s already proven he’s locker room cancer. Decker I would be ok with as would most Pats fans.

  14. What happened to all the pats fans saying this guy was gonna be a good wr for NE? Just another guy bill was gonna turn into an all pro.

  15. bird2urmother says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:20 pm
    What happened to all the pats fans saying this guy was gonna be a good wr for NE? Just another guy bill was gonna turn into an all pro.

    ———————-
    I’m not sure how long you have been watching football but guys getting hurt is actually not unheard of. Most dont jeer at it, they feel sympathy for the individual while still understanding how the business works.

  16. bird2urmother
    Aug 1, 2018, 1:20 PM EDT
    What happened to all the pats fans saying this guy was gonna be a good wr for NE? Just another guy bill was gonna turn into an all pro.

    You realize that he got hurt right?! There may have been a couple Pats fans that said he could help with Edelman suspended but I don’t recall anyone saying he was an Edelman clone or be an all-pro

  17. da34shadow says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:24 pm
    The Patriots handled Randy Moss. I am pretty sure they can handle Dez Bryant if they so choose.

    ——————
    I think it’s money rather than history thats preventing Dez from getting more looks. When he first got cut he was looking for a new mega deal. I cant say I gave heard where his demands todayor if he has come off that thought, but I suspect that he needs to come to grips with the idea of betting on himself by offering a team a one year prove it. I also think if he does that he will get takers.

  18. toothfairyretributionmanifesto says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:12 pm
    Eric Decker seems to fit the mold they like in a WR more anyway (white)
    ______________________________

    Maybe I am naïve but do most football fans think about the race of a certain player or count the number of players on a team who are of a certain race? Obviously the Patriots are very good at selecting players for their team as evidenced by their level of success.

  19. As one of the few people in this country that neither loves or hates the Patriots i do have to laugh at the over reaction whenever they do something.Every single team will release a player injured during camp. If they go unclaimed they go on IR and they are out for the season but STILL get paid.Or they can take an injury settlement to get waived so they can sign somewhere else when healthy and not miss the whole season.
    Literally happens with every team every season.

  20. redclaw1314 says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:36 pm
    toothfairyretributionmanifesto says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:12 pm
    Eric Decker seems to fit the mold they like in a WR more anyway (white)
    ______________________________

    Maybe I am naïve but do most football fans think about the race of a certain player or count the number of players on a team who are of a certain race? Obviously the Patriots are very good at selecting players for their team as evidenced by their level of success.

    ————————
    I was just going to ignore that one when it went by. If we can turn a football player getting hurt on the practice field into a racial argument there is really no hope for us.

  21. da34shadow says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:24 pm
    The Patriots handled Randy Moss. I am pretty sure they can handle Dez Bryant if they so choose.

    ———

    I don’t know…..Moss was a pretty bright guy. Dez comes off as a mental midget.

  22. Coffeehog says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:29 pm
    bird2urmother says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:20 pm
    What happened to all the pats fans saying this guy was gonna be a good wr for NE? Just another guy bill was gonna turn into an all pro.

    ———————-
    I’m not sure how long you have been watching football but guys getting hurt is actually not unheard of. Most dont jeer at it, they feel sympathy for the individual while still understanding how the business works
    —–

    Been watching for about 30 years. Matthews has been hurt for most of the past 3 seasons but that didn’t stop all of the predictions.

  23. Ok so….it isn’t “cold” and this isn’t some “genius.” You have a moment in time when you can pick people and if you can’t perform – and you’re not a star – this is called a management decision we all make. Stop trying to mystify everything.

  24. While it seems cold to cut Matthews loose,a “significant hamstring injury” is something that is chronic and hard to get back to 100% from, much like the high ankle sprain. It’s an injury that doesn’t stop barking, meaning he won’t be playing much, or at full speed. They need healthy players, bottom line. Just my take on this…I would have loved to have Matthews here.

  25. bird2urmother says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    Been watching for about 30 years. Matthews has been hurt for most of the past 3 seasons but that didn’t stop all of the predictions.

    —————-
    Whatever. But when a guy starts jeering at a guy getting hurt and smack talking about how it means people were misjudging his value prior to the injury that does not sound like 30 years of education on the topic.

  26. toothfairyretributionmanifesto says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:12 pm
    Eric Decker seems to fit the mold they like in a WR more anyway (white)
    ________

    I hate the pats as much as anyone, but playing the race card is just ignorant.

  27. toothfairyretributionmanifesto says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:12 pm
    Eric Decker seems to fit the mold they like in a WR more anyway (white)

    ____________________________

    So along with being “cheaters”,the Patriots are racist too? Then how do you explain Deion Branch, David Patten, Randy Moss, etc.? That’s quite an accusation.

  28. thelarplarplarp says:
    August 1, 2018 at 2:29 pm
    Dude, for $170k I would allow someone to rip my ACL out. That’s like 3 1/2 years salary for me. Would be totally worth it.
    —————-
    I think he got more than that. There was workout bonuses and some other things that padded it up further. Yes, he did make a decent amount of money for just doing a few camp days. But I doubt he feels good about it. This may be his season and for a guy like that its heartbreaking.

  29. There are lots of guys who can’t learn the New England offense. It asks a lot from its receivers, especially the slot receiver.

    Matthews is just 26 and can play. Once he’s healthy he’ll get signed. There are a bunch of teams that would be very lucky to have him. He’d be a great #3 in Houston or Denver, he’d be an upgrade at #2 in Cincinnati and Kansas City.

  30. Technically he can’t be cut, with an injury. If team wants to move on, have to agree to an injury settlement. Agent will say my client’s doctor says he needs 5 weeks to fully recover, team doctor will say 3 weeks, they will split the difference and pay the player 4 weeks. Why do teams like injury settlements, allows them to move on from a player who won’t make the team, and it frees up the training staff from rehabbing players who won’t be on the team.

  31. .
    @birdmother

    ” What happened to all the pats fans saying this guy was gonna be a good wr for NE? Just another guy bill was gonna turn into an all pro.”
    ______

    Matthews was a proven NFL receiver before signing with New England. However, his career had been hampered by both injuries and playing in the offensive chaos that was the Bills and pre Wentz Eagles. No Patriots fan was predicting that Matthews would evict Jerry Rice from the NFL record book. But many, like me, were intrigued by the thought of a 6’3″ slot receiver working the short game with Tom Brady. Unfortunately, injuries are the Ace of trump and can derail any plan or player.
    .

  32. “Eric Decker seems to fit the mold they like in a WR more anyway (white)”

    Actually the only “model” they like is a wideout that can catch the ball and work well with Brady. There have been numerous African American receivers on the Pats under Belichick. I realize you don’t like the Pats but the false racism narrative is exactly that, false.

  33. Troy Brown, Deion Branch and Randy Moss say hi for all the believers that somehow this is race based..

  34. I haven’t polled most football fans but there are definitely guys like my dad (and likely some of your dads too) who like the Patriots precisely because they perceive them as more white than other squads (whether that’s accurate or not). So yeah, it’s a thing among some Patriots fans. Is the racism widespread? Have you ever lived in New England?
    ——————————–
    Maybe I am naïve but do most football fans think about the race of a certain player or count the number of players on a team who are of a certain race? Obviously the Patriots are very good at selecting players for their team as evidenced by their level of success.

  35. If BB was willing to sign the mercurial likes of Moss, Blount, Harrison, etc. then there is no reason they wouldn’t look hard at Dez.

  36. Hoping for Matthews’ sake he can get into a healthy streak. Overall he was a pretty good slot receiver for the Eagles (I believe just under 1000 yards his last full season there) and known as a great locker room presence.

  37. I realize that there have been a number of non-white WR’s on the Pats, but it IS funny that they seem to have the market cornered on the quick, white guys (Edelman, Hogan, etc). Plus, they had Welker for a long time. I’m actually surprised they didn’t end up w/ Jordy Nelson.

  38. I’m shocked Pats took a flyer on a guy that consistently dropped balls year in & year out in Philly. Credit to Patriots for quickly recognizing a bad decision and moving on from it. Nothing personal against Matthews but the guy plays WR, his #1 job is to catch the ball consistently, and he never did that for years in Philly.

  39. Really sad to see Jordan Matthews go. As a rookie, I thought he would be a long term key player with the Eagles. Injuries seem to have caught up with him. Good luck going forward.

  40. toothfairyretributionmanifesto says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:12 pm
    Eric Decker seems to fit the mold they like in a WR more anyway (white)
    ——————————————————————

    Both Decker and Matthews were available as free agents, they signed Matthews. Hmmm what’s that do to your comment?

  41. chalkruz1989 says:
    August 1, 2018 at 12:45 pm
    Seeking to understand this – a team can cut a player who was injured on the job? Is there guaranteed compensation for Jordan Matthews?
    ——————————————————————————-
    Yes- the $170,000 he was guaranteed on his one year contract.

  42. Is it that the AFC East shuffles their guys around more than anyone?

    (if J Matt lands anywhere again, I suspect it might be his last go ’round – colleges just keep making these cheap kids)

    Or is it Bill being there, lo these many years?

    OMG, Dez to NE is 6 shades of not happening. Or should be. What a waste of a camp spot.

  43. Makes sense since Belicheat will just sign some non-talented WR and he will become a superstar. He’s done it with Hogan, Welker, Edelman, etc. You don’t even have to had played the sport before.

  44. Yes, we’re really reaching here to poo poo on NE for this. It does bring out the crybabies in droves, tho

    It’s like….please let football games start now

  45. Decker is one those guys where you have to weight pros and cons:

    Cons: cannot be relied on to provide consistent, meaningful production or to catch balls that hit him in the hands.

    Pro:

    He’s a good looking guy who is popular with female fans and his wife is pretty hot.

  46. LOL at you twits eagerly awaiting any Patriots article so you can jump on and bash them. So eager, in fact, you don’t even notice when they do something every team does, you question whether or not it’s allowed. Apparently any team except the Patriots is allowed to cut injured players, that’s fine, but if the Patriots do it they’re “cold”. Go ahead and keep proving your stupidity, we Pats fans will just sit back and laugh at you.

  47. jeremycrowhurst says:
    August 1, 2018 at 2:36 pm
    There are lots of guys who can’t learn the New England offense. It asks a lot from its receivers, especially the slot receiver.

    Matthews is just 26 and can play. Once he’s healthy he’ll get signed. There are a bunch of teams that would be very lucky to have him. He’d be a great #3 in Houston or Denver, he’d be an upgrade at #2 in Cincinnati and Kansas City

    ========================

    i dont like tyreek hill either, but jordan matthews would not be even close to #2 wr on KC. Conley at this point is #3 and hed keep matthews on bench as well.

  48. redclaw1314 says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:36 pm
    toothfairyretributionmanifesto says:
    August 1, 2018 at 1:12 pm
    Eric Decker seems to fit the mold they like in a WR more anyway (white)
    ______________________________

    Maybe I am naïve but do most football fans think about the race of a certain player or count the number of players on a team who are of a certain race? Obviously the Patriots are very good at selecting players for their team as evidenced by their level of success.
    ———————————————–

    Most football fans don’t, for the subspecies prone to patsanoia there is no card too venal to play including the race card. I know we shouldn’t enjoy their misery but it’s so entertaining to watch them twist themselves up in knots we just can’t help it.

  49. TheDPR says:
    August 1, 2018 at 3:16 pm
    I haven’t polled most football fans but there are definitely guys like my dad (and likely some of your dads too) who like the Patriots precisely because they perceive them as more white than other squads (whether that’s accurate or not). So yeah, it’s a thing among some Patriots fans. Is the racism widespread? Have you ever lived in New England?
    ——————————–
    Maybe I am naïve but do most football fans think about the race of a certain player or count the number of players on a team who are of a certain race?

    Most do not, but I could list a few screen names or you can just read Pats articles for a couple of days and the ones who do will jump right out. One trick ponies they are.

  50. 31-year-old Mitchell was released by the Steelers
    The Bengals released wide receiver Brandon LaFell
    To make room for Sweezy on the roster, the Seahawks waived guard Avery Young
    The Seahawks cut Nicolas on June 13

    stone cold

  51. There’s a very old saying :
    “Life is cold, but it’s fair”
    I’ve been hurt by favorite players getting the axe
    And but I’ve been TBE recipient of gaining another teams trash, (if you will)

    Coach Bill Belichek has a philosophy that I along with others agree :

    It’s better to cut a player 2yrs too soon rather than 1yr too late

    #1 The player has upside that can gain him or her employment

    #2 The team can benefit via trade, etc
    -vs-
    #1 That player costing his or her team valuable games etc

    #2 That players decline cost him/her interest from another team

    BUT

    The NE Patriots are notorious at this tactic
    Seemingly moreso than others due to the quality of players often released & the frequency of the occurrance

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