Patriots Release Kyle Arrington
The Patriots have informed cornerback Kyle Arrington of his release, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter).
Arrington, who signed a four-year, $16MM contract with the Patriots in 2013, had two years left on his deal at non-guaranteed salaries of $3MM in 2015 and $3.5MM in 2016. A reunion between him and the Pats at a reduced salary hasn’t been ruled out, per both Reiss and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).
The 28-year-old Arrington joined the Patriots in 2009 after going undrafted out of Hofstra in 2008. He appeared in 86 regular-season games with New England and totaled nine interceptions (including a league-best seven in 2011).
If Arrington doesn’t return to the Pats, they’ll have lost their top three corners from last season’s Super Bowl-winning team – Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner departed earlier this offseason in free agency.
Eagles, Patriots Notes: Garoppolo, DBs, Curry
The preseason penalty flag epidemic is affecting (Read: annoying) everyone who chooses to consume exhibition games for any extended period of time, and last night’s Eagles-Patriots game was borderline unbearable (which is saying something for a preseason game). Twenty-eight penalties were called, prompting Ben Volin of the Boston Globe to call it a “travesty.”
Here’s some more notes from the Eagles and Patriots:
- In a matter of eight days, Patriots rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has staked his claim to the backup job, writes Jeff Howe in the Boston Herald. Howe also notes “Jordan Devey also started for the second straight week, adding right guard to his resume last night after opening at left guard against the Redskins. Devey can also play center, so his versatility has been a valued asset in camp.” Devey went undrafted out of Memphis last year before spending the season on the practice squad.
- Patriots cornerbacks Kyle Arrington and Logan Ryan are seeing time at safety, reports NESN’s Doug Kyed.
- Experimenting and taking advantage of the secondary’s interchangeable parts has been made possible by the encouraging play of Malcolm Butler, who started opposite Darrelle Revis, notes Boston.com’s Erik Frenz. An undrafted free agent out of West Alabama, Butler has gone from bubble player to strong roster candidate.
- Eagles cornerback Curtis Marsh had a rough night, according to NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks: “Marsh has been having a good camp, but in his moment to play against NFL competition, he showed he didn’t belong.”
- Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham are two of the Eagles’ best pass rushers, but they don’t fit the defensive scheme, says CSN Philly’s Reuben Frank, who calls for Curry to be traded to a 4-3 team. Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo feels similarly about Graham, as evidenced by a couple tweets.
Patriots Notes: Revis, Edelman, Anderson
Defense was the cornerstone of the Patriots’ three Super Bowl victories between 2001 and 2004, and stellar play from the secondary had much to do with it. Now, with the addition of Darrelle Revis, arguably the best defensive back in football, coach Bill Belichick has more flexibility than ever to implement his defensive strategy, opines ESPN.com’s Jeffri Chadiha.
Revis’ inclusion to the team means good things for the rest of his defensive counterparts, per Chadiha. Safety Devin McCourty can take more chances, defensive end Chandler Jones could add to his 11.5 sacks last season, and the defense could regain the swagger last seen in the Romeo Crennel days of yesteryear.
More from the defending AFC East champs below…
- The cornerback group has the potential to be the deepest it’s been in Belichick’s 15 years as head coach, writes ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss. A projection places Revis at left cornerback, former Seahawk Brandon Browner at right cornerback, and veteran Kyle Arrington manning the slot. Browner will serve a suspension for the first four games of the season, and Reiss pegs reserves Alfonzo Dennard or Logan Ryan as potential replacements during that span.
- Wide receiver Julian Edelman, loaded with a four-year, $17MM contract and fresh off a 105-catch season, said he’s working to not make the same mistakes twice in an attempt to avoid Belichick’s wrath, reports the Associated Press’ Howard Ulman.
- Linebacker James Anderson, signed by the Patriots earlier this week, undergoes a scrutinous film study by ESPN.com’s Reiss, who surmises that the former Bear excels in pass coverage but is not a stack-and-shed linebacker.
- The transition from Carolina to New England has not been an easy one for wide receiver Brandon LaFell, whose two main goals are learning the offense and not getting embarrassed by Revis, writes The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin and Shalise Manza Young.
- In an impressively thorough writeup, Sports Illustrated’s Doug Farrar breaks down first-round pick Dominique Easley‘s game and how the former Florida defensive lineman could redefine New England’s defensive fronts.