After making a series of cuts on Monday including the release of six-year veteran James Sanders, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots were back at it again on Tuesday with rosters having to be downsized to 80 players by this afternoon.
In in order to accommodate these rules, the Patriots released linebacker Marques Murrell and wide receiver Jeremy Ross. With it, the Patriots now stand at 80 active players on the roster with another roster downsizing deadline vastly approaching.
The release of these two comes to no surprise, as there is easily too much depth at both linebacker and wide receiver for either of these two to make the team. Murrell was competing with the likes of veteran linebacker Tracy White for the final linebacker spot on the roster. In addition to White, the Patriots have Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton and Dane Fletcher as the top linebackers on the team.
Ross's release also came to no surprise, as too was battling an uphill slope to make the team. Ross was competing with the likes of Brandon Tate, Taylor Price and Matthew Slater to make one, possibly two open spots for a wide receiver. The Patriots will primarily use Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco, Deion Branch and Julian Edelman at wide receiver.
For more New England Patriots coverage, visit our team page and blog, Pats Pulpit