Wednesday, Oct 6, 2021. 7:57 AM
The New England Patriots went there with a stunning announcement on Wednesday, as the team freed cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter was the first to report the news.
Gilmore, who has been with the Pats since 2017, had not played so far this season due to injury. He is eligible for a return to play after the 6th week of activities.
The 31-year-old Gilmore has appeared in the Pro Bowl four times since joining the NFL in 2012. He was the Tour’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Schefter reports that many teams will be interested in Gilmore’s services now that he is a free agent. He is also expected to recover from his quadriceps injury within a few weeks.
The astonishing decision of the Pats could be explained in part by the fact that they needed financial flexibility, having only $ 54,000 under the salary cap. Gilmore’s base salary was $ 7 million for what turns out to be the final season of his contract.
Gilmore has always played in the East Division of the American Association, having previously belonged to the Buffalo Bills.
