Report: Patriots Show Brandon Tate the Door

by Greg Knopping on Sep 3, 2011 5:06 PM EDT in New England Patriots News

And the big name Patriots cuts continue. According to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com, the Patriots have informed third year wide receiver Brandon Tate of his release.

While news of Tate's release doesn't come as a major surprise, it is still very notable. Before New England's trade for Chad Ochocinco, Tate was still projected by most to be the team's third wide receiver. The trade for Ochocinco pushed Tate down the depth chart, and then a mid-training camp injury continued the slide for Tate, as he was outperformed by the likes of Taylor Price, Julian Edelman, and Matthew Slater.

There's also the changed kickoff rule to consider. With kick-offs moved from the 30 to the 35, there simply wasn't a big of a need for a return specialist, which Tate was at this point. Julian Edelman is the better punt returner, and either he or Matt Slater should be able to handle kick-off duties from this point forward.

While the Patriots could cut another receiver, my belief is that they will now stay pat with the six currently on the roster: Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Taylor Price, Julian Edelman, and Matt Slater.

Tweet Comment 24 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Around SB Nation

Mike Wallace, Man of Mystery: More Discussion of His Value

Apr 2012 from Behind the Steel Curtain - 53 comments

BTSC 2012 Community Mock Draft Pick No. 23 -- Detroit Lions Select Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Apr 2012 from Behind the Steel Curtain - 8 comments

Wide Receiver Taylor Price Suffers Stress Fracture In Foot

Apr 2012 from Big Cat Country - 32 comments

Chad Ochocinco Wants To Fight Greg Jones

Apr 2012 from Big Cat Country - 66 comments

BTSC 2012 Community Mock Draft Pick No. 27 -- New England Patriots Select Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Apr 2012 from Behind the Steel Curtain - 7 comments

Comments

I really hope Taylor Price

Steps up and figures it out this season. Dude has a ton of potential and I don’t want to see him up on a cut list in a year or two.

Crazy offseason for a 14-2 squad… it seems like there is too much to be decided on before the season kicks off next week.

"We're going to win this game."

-Tom Brady, September 14, 2009

by MVPKiller12 on Sep 3, 2011 5:16 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I hope he lands on a team with use for his talents

If I were the Cardinals, I’d pick up the phone.

"You wanna know which ring is my favorite? The next one." --Tom Brady

by Treima on Sep 3, 2011 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

Will Yeatman's gone...

As per Mike Reiss

Just trying to keep up.

by Mellon on Sep 3, 2011 5:56 PM EDT reply actions

I was reading it was Smith who was waived.

by Patriots12 on Sep 3, 2011 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Both were waived

by Chari on Sep 3, 2011 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Darn shame

by Patriots12 on Sep 4, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I liked Tate. I think he will be a huge pick up for someone. I hope he doesn’t wind up in our division.

by Patriots12 on Sep 3, 2011 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

Jetsjust traded S/DB Lowery...

…to the Jaguars, thus instigating rumors of Merriwether to the Jets.

by furiousd on Sep 3, 2011 6:57 PM EDT reply actions

Summary...

via Mike Reiss at ESPN:

The Patriots announced the following players have been released today:

S Brandon Meriweather
DL Landon Cohen
LB Niko Koutouvides
DE Eric Moore
RB Sammy Morris
WR Brandon Tate
WR Tiquan Underwood
OL Thomas Austin
RB Eric Kettani
DB Ross Ventrone
DE Markell Carter
LB Aaron Lavarias
DE Alex Silvestro
TE Lee Smith
TE Will Yeatman

In addition, DL Ron Brace, DL Brandon Deaderick and RB Kevin Faulk were placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, while 2011 fifth-round draft choice Marcus Cannon was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver

by rebop on Sep 3, 2011 7:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I agree with the writer He never caught on as a receiver . I will give him credit as a return man but since they changed the rules his days were #ed Had stone hands, couldn’t run a route and was a short armer. him and Merriweather two high draft picks that lasted a combined 7 years .Not very good.
my over / under for wins this year is 9 or maybe 10

by dr bob on Sep 3, 2011 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

Hopefully Ihedigbo won't see the field much. He is poor in pass coverage.

Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Sep 3, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

tate

plus, I don’t think he ever understood the coaches system. He just didn’t get it and couldn’t read defenses, especially the blitz so he could break off his route

by dr bob on Sep 3, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Lasting 7 years is about right...

The average NFL career is something like 2-3 years.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 3, 2011 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes but the average 1st and 3rd rounder is not.
That average career includes everyone from 1st rounders to UDFAs

by quadruple option on Sep 4, 2011 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

The average 1st isn't?

You’d be surprised. Guys like Trung Canidate get drafted in the first round, play one year, drop out, and are never heard of again. Unless it happens to your own team, you don’t even pay attention to those guys, so you forget they exist.

Hold up, I’ll work this out.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 4, 2011 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd say it's higher for 1sts and 2nds than the league average,

But only by about another contract. 7 years vs 3.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Sep 4, 2011 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions

From 2000 on:

Peter Warrick, Travis Taylor, Stockar McDougal, Sylvester Morris, Chris McIntosh, Rashard Anderson, Ahmed Plummer, Chris Hovan, Eric Flowers, R. Jay Soward, Trung Canidate, Andre Carter, David Terrell, Jamal Reynolds, Kenyatta Walker, Rod Gardner, Willie Middlebrooks, Freddie Mitchell, Jamar Fletcher, Derrick Gibson, David Carr, Joey Harrington, Mike Williams, Ryan Simms, Wendell Bryant, William Green, Ashley Lelie, Napoleon Harris, Mike Rumph, Marc Colombo, Charles Rogers, Dewayne Robertson, Johnathan Sullivan, Jimmy Kennedy, Michael Haynes, Jerome McDougle, Bryant Johnson, George Foster, William Joseph, Kwame Harris, Sammy Davis.

I was going to do the whole decade, but that’s just the list 2000-2003. The rest would take too long.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 4, 2011 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

To clarify - first rounders, 2000-2003

Don’t recognise most of the names? My point exactly.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 4, 2011 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions

That Andre Carter sounds familiar...

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Sep 4, 2011 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh wait, did I include him in there? Oops.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 4, 2011 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Was gonna say, bust is a bit harsh.

He’s played 10 years, even if it was a bit under the radar.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Sep 4, 2011 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking of another Carter. My bad.

No, he’d miss that 2-3 year thing. Some of the others you could make a case for – Lelie, for instance – but really only had 2-3 productive years with significant gaps.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 4, 2011 4:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I see David Carr.... didn't he return to the nfl?

http://www.nfl.com/player/davidcarr/2504804/profile

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

by Jack'sAxe on Sep 4, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions