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The New England Patriots have released one of the NFL’s top defensive players, Stephon Gilmore, in a move that is likely to alert several Super Bowl contenders.
ESPN initially reported the news before the 31-year-old confirmed the news in a tweet on Wednesday morning. “We’ve had so much success together and you’ve been an incredible inspiration for my individual accomplishments,” Gilmore wrote. “… TO [team owner] Mr. Kraft, the coaches and the organization thank you for providing me with this platform and allowing me to be a part of greatness. I especially want to thank my teammates who lined up next to me every Sunday with a goal in mind.
The Patriots have just under $ 54,000 under the league’s salary cap and were trying to restructure the cornerback’s contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season. The 31-year-old is sidelined with a quad injury but is expected to return after week six of the season.
He’s won the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year award, has been a pro Bowler for the past three seasons, and will likely be in demand by the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are in desperate need of help at the cornerback. If Gilmore joins the Buccaneers, he will reunite with Tom Brady with whom he won Super Bowl LIII while they were both with the Patriots.
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