Javon Baker of the New England Patriots misses the catch
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Javon Baker of the New England Patriots misses the catch
Sorry to all of those who thought the roster drama was over for the New England Patriots. Less than 24 hours after final rosters were due, the Pats wide receiver room gets shaved down from eight to six after releasing second year wideout Javon Baker as well as the longest tenured Patriot, Kendrick Bourne.
The wide receiver room was the most hotly debated roster battle on the team heading into yesterday’s deadline. With Ja’Lynn Polk’s season ending injury taking him out of consideration, analysts debated who would make the team between Baker and Bourne, or if either one would make it all.
Then the Patriots pulled a move nobody was expecting, keeping a whopping eight wide receivers.
The team gave the media a day to be upset about the wasteful roster management, then cut the two bubble players cold turkey.
Adam Schefter was the first to report Bourne’s release at 12:16 PM on Wednesday.
“Patriots are releasing WR Kendrick Bourne after he requested his release, per source,” the tweet read.
Then, just over an hour later, Mike Reiss broke the Baker news at 1:58 PM.
“The Patriots are planning to release WR Javon Baker, per a source,” Reiss wrote. “If Baker clears waivers, he could return on the practice squad.”