Today was cut day in the NFL and several New England players got the axe. Among the cuts today were TE Alge Crumpler, OL Nick Kaczur, DL Ty Warren, DE Marcus Stroud, LB Tully Banta-Cain, DB Tony Carter and rookie UDFA LB Ryan Coulson.
Of those players Crumpler is most likely to return to the team under a more cap friendly deal. Kaczur was a salary cap hit, Warren failed the conditioning run, Stroud isn’t progressing from his injury, Banta-Cain was a cap hit, Carter didn’t project for team and why Coulson got cut just days after signing a contract is kind of odd. It leaves a few reasons. We know someone who was an undrafted free agent is very unlikely to be a cap hit so that leaves injured, dumb or lazy or some combination of those.
The Patriots also announced the signing of 3rd round pick QB Ryan Mallett, which we told you last night was going down today, and they also signed 5th round pick Marcus Cannon, who is battling a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Mallett’s deal is worth $2.2 mil over 4 years with signing bonus a little under $650,000, according to a league source. Cannon’s contract numbers aren’t know at the time but I’d suspect it’s also a four-year deal.
With these signings the only remaining unsigned draft picks are 1st rounder OT Nate Solder and second round picks DB Ras-I Dowling and RB Shane Vareen.
Rookie TE Lee Smith who is one of the six signed Patriots draft picks had his contract rejected by the league due to some of its language. They didn’t say what was objectionable about the pact but that the team and Smith will need to tweak a few things for it to pass through the league lawyers.
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While the team works out it’s worth noting that the official Patriots part to the Chad Ochocinco trade is two draft picks. A 5th round pick goes to Cincinnati in 2012 while they will receive a 6th round pick in 2013.
Speaking of Ochocinco, as many of you know his beloved #85 belongs to second year tight end Aaron Hernandez of Bristol CT. Ochocinco says he wants #85 and he doesn’t care what it costs him. Did you hear that Aaron? One of the highest prices paid for a jersey number comes from Clinton Portis who wanted #26 when he was traded to the Washington Redskins a few seasons back. He reportedly paid $18,000 for the jersey number.
So Aaron what do you want? Cash or maybe a Rolex? Maybe have your rent paid for the year? The possibilities are endless.
Well earlier today Ochocinco was seen wearing his beloved #85 while Hernandez sported #81, which previously belonged to Randy Moss, in practice. Rumor is Hernandez asked for nothing and just gave Ochocinco #85 to welcome him to the team. Knowing Chad’s general generosity he will send something Hernandez’ way.
Ochocinco was seen on the field this morning talking with Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien they appeared to be discussing pass routes. Due to new league rules any player who signs a new contract or restructures an existing one can not officially practice with the team until next Thursday when the new CBA is fully ratified. Newly acquired DT Albert Haynesworth can only watch practice, work out on his own and take part in team meetings until then. Ochocinco, who has delayed the restructuring of his contract until after August 4 is now participating fully in practice sessions.
The media covering the team also reported they noticed WR Wes Welker was not even wearing a knee brace during the Thursday workouts. As you recall Welker tore his ACL in the last game of the 2009 season and made such a miraculous recovery he was ready to play last year during Week 1.
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Photo credit: Reuters Pictures
