Sometimes reunions just don't live up to the hype. And while the Patriots weren't expecting receivers Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth to be the same receivers that helped make 2007's record-setting offense so great, they were definitely hoping for more than this.
In a flurry of roster-day moves, Bill Belichick and the New England coaching staff ultimately trimmed down to the allotted 75-man team but were forced to release a few old friends in the process. Gaffney and Stallworth were the two most notable cuts on the day, joining defensive back Ross Ventrone and defensive linemen Tim Bulman and Gerard Warren as the Patriots cut-day casualties.
The release of Stallworth doesn't come as a huge surprise as he's looked sluggish during training camp practices and even appeared out of sync during much of the Patriots three preseason games. Gaffney, on the other hand, was seen as an almost sacred calf in terms of roster spots being one of Brady's all-time favorite targets. But a slow-healing quad injury has kept Gaffney off the field for much of training camp, as well as two of the three preseason games, and likely was a big contributor in his ultimate release.
The moves trims the Patriots receiving corps down to eight — given the addition of Kerry Taylor, who the Pats claimed from the Minnesota Vikings earlier on Monday — and is beginning to allow this offensive unit to take shape.
With Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Pro Bowl special teamer Matthew Slater and rookie Jeremy Ebert pretty sure bets at this point, it comes down to Julian Edelman, Jesse Holley and now Taylor to fill out the receiver role for Brady.
There is always the chance that Gaffney, Stallworth or even Warren — as he did last season — are brought back after Week 1, as free-agent contracts are no longer guaranteed if signed after the start of the season. But that would only be the case if teams don't entertain the idea of signing either 31-year-old receiver, or the 34-year-old lineman, in the next three weeks.
Aside the wide receiver trimming, the Patriots avoided any real shocking moves on Monday. They placed defensive backs Will Allen and Josh Barrett along with fullback Spencer Larson on injured reserve while moving tight end Jake Ballard and defensive tackle Myron Pryor to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
There's still a number of moves to be made before the Patriots reveal their final 53-man roster on Sept. 1, so this is just a precursor to a much bigger day of transactions to come following Wednesday night's Super Bowl rematch with the New York Giants.
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