Patriots Release TE Rob Housler
The Patriots have released tight end Rob Housler, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). His release comes with a failed physical designation. 
This offseason, Housler was hoping to lock down the No. 3 TE job behind Rob Gronkowski and offseason addition Dwayne Allen. He’s currently dealing with a pulled hamstring, but a reunion between Housler and the Pats is not out of the question once he heals up, Reiss tweets.
Housler was without a team in 2016, though not for a lack of trying. After several NFL workouts did not net him a job, he hooked on with New England in January on a reserves/futures deal.
The former third-round pick was a staple in the Cardinals lineup from 2011 through 2014, averaging nearly 14 games a season. The tight end was especially productive in 2012 and 2013, combining for 84 receptions, 871 yards, and one touchdown in 28 games. In 2015, he bounced between the Bears and Browns and amassed just four catches for 33 yards.
Patriots Work Out WR Andrew Hawkins
The Patriots worked out wide receiver Andrew Hawkins on Wednesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s officially a big week for Hawkins after he completed his master’s degree in sports management from Columbia’s School of Professional Studies just a couple of days ago. 
Hawkins has been sitting on the open market since being released by the Browns in February. The Saints kicked the tires on him back in March, but they ultimately passed on signing him. The Patriots’ level of interest in adding Hawkins isn’t immediately clear and there’s a bit of a glut at the position. Already, the Patriots have Brandon Cooks, Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Devin Street, and special teams specialist Matthew Slater under contract.
Hawkins, 31, has spent his entire career to date in the AFC North. After playing for the Bengals from 2011-2013, he hooked on with the Browns as a free agent prior to the 2014 season. Hawkins was initially a focal part of the offense in Cleveland, racking up 63 catches for 824 yards and two scores in his first season there. After that, however, his role shrank. Last year, he had just 33 catches for 324 yards and three scores.
Vince Wilfork Unsure About Retirement
After the Patriots knocked Vince Wilfork‘s Texans out of the playoffs, the defensive tackle indicated that he was likely done with football. Four months later, Wilfork has yet to make his retirement official. That’s because the veteran is still on the fence about whether he wants to continue playing. 
“Right now I am not retired,” Wilfork told SiriusXM (on Twitter). “I’m not saying I’m retired. It’s something I want to make sure I’m 100% certain about.”
To date, Wilfork has put in 13 years in the NFL and he can probably leave the game without any regrets if this is in fact the end of the line. The 35-year-old has two Super Bowl rings thanks to his 11-year stint with the Patriots and he was one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game during his prime. Although he had only 16 career sacks, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus show that he was among the game’s elite between 2006 and 2012. Once he’s eligible, it seems likely that Wilfork will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
With all of that said, it’s not clear what Wilfork can offer in 2017. Last year, he ranked 84th amongst PFF’s 127 qualified defensive tackles. It’s not clear if the Texans or Patriots would have a place for Wilfork, so continuing his career might mean joining up with a third squad.
Eagles Sign LeGarrette Blount
The Eagles have signed running back LeGarrette Blount, according to a team announcement. It’s a one-year deal with a maximum value of $2.8MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The pact calls for $1.25MM in base pay with up to $1.55MM in incentives, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets.
[RELATED: Eagles Likely To Cut RB Ryan Mathews]
Last week, the Patriots used a May 9 tender on free agent running back, a little-known clause that could now impact the 2018 compensatory pick formula for the Eagles and Pats. However, it was said that teams with interest in Blount were looking into ways to circumvent the formula, so it’s possible that the Eagles will not give up much in that area.
The last compensatory pick is currently tied to a $2.05MM annual salary, so the Eagles will only sacrifice a 2018 comp selection if Blount earns more than that total. With $1.55MM of Blount’s deal is tied to performance, the Eagles could come away from this deal without hurting next year’s draft.
The Giants and Lions were known to have interest in Blount for a while, but the Eagles swooped in to sign the power back. As we explained earlier this month, the Eagles were a logical landing spot for Blount since Ryan Mathews could be let go this summer. Indeed, on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that Mathews is expected to be released once he’s fully healthy. By cutting him, the Eagles will save $4MM in 2017 while carrying just $1MM in dead money. With Mathews gone, Blount and Darren Sproles will get most of the carries while Wendell Smallwood assumes the role of No. 3 RB.
The seven-year veteran is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career, having amassed career highs in carries (299), yards (1,161) and touchdowns (an NFL-leading 18). Still, the Patriots would only go so far to re-sign Blount this offseason. They’re losing the bruising back, but they now have an impressive bunch at RB with offseason additions Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead joining holdovers James White, Dion Lewis, Brandon Bolden, and D.J. Foster.
The Cardinals and Giants both made offers to Blount before he signed with Philly, according to Rapoport.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Patriots Had Interest In CB Jason McCourty
The Patriots had interest in cornerback Jason McCourty before he signed with the Browns, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
New England was often listed as a speculative landing spot for McCourty — Mike Reiss of ESPN.com called McCourty an “ideal fit” for the Patriots — but it was never clear if the club had expressed definitive interest in the veteran corner. McCourty’s twin brother, All Pro safety Devin McCourty, plays for New England, and had hoped for his sibling to join him on the Patriots roster.
The Patriots’ need for an additional cornerback, of course, was greatly reduced after the team failed to trade restricted free agent Malcolm Butler to the Saints (or another club). Butler now figures to pair with signee Stephon Gilmore in one of the league’s best secondaries, where they’ll be backed up by Eric Rowe, Justin Coleman, and Cyrus Jones.
Gerald Hodges Visits Colts; Pats, Jags Next
The Gerald Hodges free agency tour continues. After meeting with the Jets last week, Hodges visited the Colts on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Next up is a visit with the Patriots on Wednesday and the Jaguars on Thursday. 
Hodges spent 2016 with the 49ers and quietly had a strong season. The 26-year-old amassed 80 total tackles, three sacks, and two picks in 15 games (12 starts) with San Francisco. He also ranked 21st among Pro Football Focus’ 87 qualified linebackers.
The Colts have already gone to great lengths this offseason to revamp the defense. At linebacker alone, the Colts have made seven major additions, including free agents John Simon, Sean Spence, Jabaal Sheard, Barkevious Mingo, and Jonathan Bostic. The team also added two ‘backers in the draft in third rounder Tarell Basham and fifth round pick Anthony Walker Jr.
In addition to the aforementioned Jets visit, Hodges met with the Chiefs and Seahawks in March. He left both meetings without a deal, however, and we haven’t heard any buzz about a deal with KC or Seattle.
Former Pats OL Sebastian Vollmer Retires
Sebastian Vollmer is not coming back to the NFL. The former Patriots offensive lineman told SiriusXM (Twitter links) that he is enjoying post-football life and he is not planning on a return. He is currently pursuing a career in broadcasting and he proudly stated that he is down 75 pounds from his playing days. 
Vollmer, 33 this summer, was a mainstay at tackle for New England from 2009 through 2015. However, his performance dipped in ’15 as he dealt with a bad hip and he missed the entire 2016 season thanks to the ailment. In 2015, his last year in football, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 42nd-best tackle out of 77 qualified players. That’s not atrocious by any means, but it’s a far cry from where he was in previous years. The Patriots passed on negotiating an extension with Vollmer prior to the 2016 season because of his health situation and, unfortunately, time proved them right. In March of this year, the Pats released him.
Vollmer earned a Super Bowl ring with the Pats following the 2014 season and he almost certainly has a ring for the 2016 championship as well. After seven strong seasons in the league, Vollmer is leaving the game as a champion and, of course, a multi-millionaire. We wish Vollmer the best in retirement and look forward to seeing him on TV or hearing him on the radio on Sundays.
East Rumors: Brady, Patriots, Bills, Taylor
Recently, Tom Brady was asked if he is annoyed that Bill Belichick hasn’t traded Jimmy Garoppolo and his non-answer might raise some eyebrows.
“When you’re a member of a team sport, the best guy plays,” the Patriots quarterback told Ian O’Connor of ESPN.com. “So I always want to make sure I’m the best guy, and I give our team a great chance to win. But if you’re ever not [the best guy], part of being a great teammate is letting the other guy do that, as well. Competition is what has always driven me. I’ve never been one that was hand selected, to be this particular player. … In high school, college, professionally, I think the greater the competition, the more that it really allows me to dig deep and bring the best out of me.”
Of course, this is a far cry from Brady saying that he’s peeved at the team for not trading the backup QB, but he didn’t shoot the notion down when given the opportunity either. The Patriots were at least mulling a Garoppolo trade at some point this offseason, but it seems that they set an extremely high asking price because they ultimately did not want to part with him.
Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East:
- In an interview on Monday, Bills GM Brandon Beane said Tyrod Taylor will probably be the team’s starting QB, but he cautioned that he’s “not in business of handing out jobs on May the 15th,” (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak).
- Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas cleared a giant hurdle this weekend when the team declined to sign veteran Travis Coons after a weekend tryout. “I try not to focus on the competition,” Rosas told James Kratch of NJ.com. “I just try to focus on how I can improve myself and be the best specialist I can be.” For now, Rosas stands as the only kicker on the team’s roster.
- The Jets auditioned running back Stevan Ridley last week.
Pats Were Close To Taking Dan Feeney
An interesting what-if scenario emerged after the Patriots signed center David Andrews to a three-year extension. The UDFA success story, though, may have seen his Patriots path unfold differently if the team’s most recent draft had gone in another direction. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports the Pats came close to drafting Indiana interior lineman Dan Feeney in the third round, but the Chargers stepped in and made the decision to bring the ex-Hoosiers blocker to Los Angeles with the No. 71 overall pick. New England, which held the No. 72 choice, then traded down and ended up selecting Youngstown State defensive end Derek Rivers at No. 83. Reiss notes Andrews’ three-year extension may not have come to fruition if Feeney was in the fold.
- More from the defending champions: their recent extension for Super Bowl hero James White comes with some incentives that may be difficult to reach. White’s three-year, $12MM extension can max out at $15MM via playing-time and accomplishment bumps. White can earn $250K extra per season by playing in 50 percent of the Pats’ offensive snaps, with another $250K available to him if he suits up for 60 percent of their plays, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports. Should White gain 1,000 total yards in a season, he would earn a $250K bonus. Another $250K would come his way if he gains 1,200 yards in a campaign. However, the 25-year-old Wisconsin product amassed a career-high 717 yards from scrimmage last season — one that mostly didn’t feature a healthy Dion Lewis. Plus, the Pats brought in Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead this offseason and could still have LeGarrette Blount in the fold after being the first team in 17 years to use the May 9 tender. White has maxed out at 38 percent of the Pats’ plays, so eclipsing 50 or 60 percent will be difficult going forward.
Latest On Free Agent RB LeGarrette Blount
The Patriots used a May 9 tender on free agent running back LeGarrette Blount earlier this week, ensuring that they’d be entitled to a compensatory pick if Blount signs elsewhere. Clubs with interest in Blount are now attempting to “navigate” the compensatory pick process, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, and are working on “deal structures” that could work around the comp selection system.
[RELATED: Top 8 Fits For LeGarrette Blount]
Blount, 30, had reportedly been nearing a deal with an unidentified team before being slapped with the New England tender. He can still negotiate with other clubs, but will now count against the 2018 compensatory formula. However, the last compensatory pick is currently tied to a $2.05MM annual salary, so the club that inks Blount would only sacrifice a 2018 comp selection if Blount earns more than that total.
Some teams with interest in Blount, such as the Lions, don’t have to consider any possible compensatory pick forfeiture, as they aren’t projected to earn any comp selections in 2018. Other clubs, like the Giants and Ravens, could conceivably work out a trade with the Patriots after New England signs Blount, as Nick Korte of Over the Cap speculates.
If Blount doesn’t sign by July 22, the Patriots will own exclusive negotiating rights through Week 10 of the regular season. If Blount doesn’t sign his tender (or agree to another deal) with New England before then, he’ll be forced to sit out the entire 2017 campaign.