Patriots Blog: Curious Cuts
FOXBORO (CBS) - It's about an hour and a half before the Pats have to have all their cuts done. So far Deion Branch and Brian Hoyer are the big names on the list. Branch was considered a lock for that 3rd receiver spot especially after the Pats let go Jabar Gafney and Donte' Stallworth. That though is obviously not the case.
Brian Hoyer had been Tom Brady's back up for 4 years and many thought it would be a fifth. Ryan Mallett not only beat him out on the depth chart, but the Pats have enough confidence in Mallett that they let Hoyer go. This move is very curious. The Pats better be right.
Also gone are center Dan Koppen, safeties James Ihedigbo and Sergio Brown, fullback Eric Kettani, offensive lineman Matt Kopa, defensive back Derrick Martin and linebacker Aaron Lavarias.
Now not seen at practice today was wide receiver Jesse Holley, tight end Tyler Urban and defensive lineman Marcus Harrison. Those players are considered bubble players and they may have been told of their release.
TENSE LOCKER ROOM
Friday's Patriots locker room was a tense one. The cuts were coming and guys were walking thin. It's a day where maybe you don't want to hear your name called. Rob Ninkovich has been cut by the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins before landing a spot with the Patriots. He has a very unique perspective of this day.
"It's tough. I'm not going to lie and not say that every time I've been cut it hurts, it definitely does," he continued. "What you do is try to take that as motivation, the next time you have a chance to not make them decide to release you. So it's always an opportunity, the next time you get a new chance."
