Mike Vrabel Responds to Player Release Requests Amid Patriots Roster Moves
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the media on Wednesday and was asked how the team handles players who request to be released.
The question came after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that wide receiver Kendrick Bourne had asked for his release, following earlier conflicting reports suggesting he had been cut. Additionally, the Boston Herald reported a day earlier that safety Marcus Epps also requested his release.
Vrabel, however, downplayed the situation, saying his focus remains on putting together the best possible roster — and he wasn’t aware of any formal release requests.
“That’s news to me,” Vrabel said. “We’re just trying to build the roster. Sometimes when things don’t work out, it’s like breaking up with someone — they say they don’t want to be with you, and you respond, ‘Well, I don’t want to be with you either.’ I’m not going to get into all of that. You build connections with players, you coach them, they earn chances, and sometimes you have to move on. That’s just part of the process.”
Marcus Epps, a 29-year-old veteran with six NFL seasons under his belt, signed with the Patriots in March as a free agent. He played a team-high 114 defensive snaps during the preseason and was on the field late into the final game against the New York Giants.
Epps, originally from California, played college football at Wyoming and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders before his short stint in New England.
Kendrick Bourne, who just turned 30, has been in the NFL since 2017 and spent the last four seasons with the Patriots. He was listed as one of eight wide receivers to initially make the 53-man roster but was reportedly released less than 24 hours after the NFL’s roster deadline passed.
Following Bourne’s departure, the seven remaining wide receivers on the Patriots’ active roster (not including practice squad players or those on IR) are: Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism III, Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Ja’Lynn Polk.
At the safety position, six players remain on the active roster: Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins, Jabrill Peppers, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler, and Craig Woodson.
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