Patriots Release James Sanders
FOXBORO (CBS) - First cuts are tomorrow and the Patriots have some time to get the team down to 80 players but they have already made some moves. The Pats announced they are cutting wide receivers Tyree Barnes and Darnell Jenkins and they are letting go running back Eric Kettani. The surprise came when they also cut safety James Sanders.
Sanders was a starter on this team and started in the last preseason game against the Lions. The news caught Sanders off guard today.
"It was a shock. It wasn't one of the things I was expecting to hear today. It didn't cross my mind," Sanders said this afternoon.
Sanders had missed practice time because having a hamstring pull. He is now fully healthy but playing for the Pats will not be in his immediate future.
"They just said it was time to move on and they felt I earned the opportunity to choose where I wanted to go rather than get traded somewhere I wouldn't want to go," Sanders said. "They said I earned that much from [Coach Belichick] and the team, so they released me and gave me the opportunity to test the market."
Sanders though down, still holds the Patriots in high regards.
"Just playing for a winning organization, one of the top organizations in this league, and having the opportunity to play for a Hall of Fame coach," Sanders said, when asked about what he enjoyed the most from his six-plus years in New England. "Obviously, I'll never forget playing for Coach Belichick. He's a tough, demanding coach. I had some great times here. It would have been nice to win a Super Bowl, but hopefully I'll have another chance with a new team."
Sanders tweeted that he was thankful for all of the love from Patriots fans, and offered up his services to any NFL team:
In 84 career games, Sanders registered 209 solo tackles and eight interceptions.
