Patriots Release Dominique Easley

QuantumMechanic said:

None of the stuff that's come out so far ("lazy", "differences with team's rehab regimen", etc.) would point toward needing to cut him shortly before the draft. And even if no one wanted him in a trade, why not hang onto him until June 1 when the cut (as I possibly incorrectly understand it) would have had less negative cap consequences.

Doesn't makes sense unless something more problematic is out there that we've not yet heard.

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June 1 is mostly meaningless nowadays since you can designate two cuts prior to June 1 as post June 1, and I think only applies to players off their rookie contracts in any case. But I agree with the rest of your post.

Deus Irae said:

He's a bust as a Patriots pick. That's just the reality of the situation. All the attempted massaging of that obvious fact won't change that obvious fact.

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If cutting a first round pick after his second year doesn't = bust, then I dunno what does. There really shouldn't be any kind of debate here.

There was healthy debate on him in the draft forum at the time. We all thought he was a first round talent but it was split on taking a first round chance on him. I did not want to take a chance that high on him. Unlike other drafts where you could say well there really wasn't anybody right after player X that draft was littered with players I loved and who have done very well.

Check out the rest of the first round and then the second round.

2014 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com

patfanken said:

Those calling him a "bust" are simply ludicrous. Before he was injured he was being rated one of the pass rushing DT's in league per play. A bust doesn't do that (except when you are on a fan message board, I guess)

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Some seem to have a lot invested in the idea that DE was a bust, perhaps because:

patfanken said:

I wonder if some people can't wait to jump on their computers to call a player a bust because, for just a moment, they can say in their heart of hearts, "I KNEW I was smarter than Bill Bellichick".

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Hard to argue. Some are pouncing all over this as some sort of vindication. The team took a calculated risk which is what you have to do when picking 31st in the draft. Everyone involved realized that it could work out just the way it is, yet still thought it was the best way forward.

QuantumMechanic said:

Doesn't makes sense unless something more problematic is out there that we've not yet heard.

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One theory being floated is they're sending a message to the rest of the team that they're serious about everyone being on board with the program or being sent packing.

sevengables_2207 said:

Man, I am bummed with this news.

At the time, I was cautiously optimistic, viewing Easley as a huge risk/reward prospect.

His first season was frustrating, yet understandable, since he was recovering from a torn ACL.

In his second year, he become one of the best sub-package pass-rushers in the league, albeit on only 31% of the snaps. Then in week 14 he goes on IR and now he has been cut.

I got to think that DT will get a long look on Day 2/3 of the NFL draft for the Patriots.

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I kinda like it being more towards something we look at round 3/4 (Im saying round four in the case of us trading down or up into that round, I know we don't have a pick there at the moment.) I still think we'll be fine for the upcoming year with Brown looking promising, and also having Branch, Pot Roast and Chris Jones ( a guy that's been forgotten about)

But it would be a good idea to grab a developmental guy in the mid rounds somewhere. I just wouldn't make it top priority.

What I want to know is how long until someone says this is a racial issue? Or is that only when someone is cut by Chip Kelly?

I formally request that the Patriots remove all Florida Gators from their draft boards, forever.

Ross12 said:

What I want to know is how can we make this situation about race.

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"Mr. Easley finished second in the race to become the first player from the 2014 first round to get cut by his team."

Bill Lee said:

Some seem to have a lot invested in the idea that DE was a bust, perhaps because:

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Sorry, but that dog doesn't hunt. I'm way out on the homer side of the spectrum and have little interest in second guessing BB, but you gotta call a spade a spade here.

It's also worth pointing out that just because DE turned into a bust, it doesn't ipso facto imply that drafting him was a bad decision. As you said, it was a calculated risk and it didn't pan out. But that doesn't change the fact that he's a bust of a pick for the NEP.

BradyFTW! said:

I formally request that the Patriots remove all Florida Gators from their draft boards, forever.

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For some reason I'm drawing a blank on Brandon Spikes. I can't remember what happened to him. Didn't he come back last year? But then he was gone and I don't remember hearing anything about him again.

Joey007 said:

I kinda like it being more towards something we look at round 3/4 (Im saying round four in the case of us trading down or up into that round, I know we don't have a pick there at the moment.) I still think we'll be fine for the upcoming year with Brown looking promising, and also having Branch, Pot Roast and Chris Jones ( a guy that's been forgotten about)

But it would be a good idea to grab a developmental guy in the mid rounds somewhere. I just wouldn't make it top priority.

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I think it depends on what the defensive schemes will look like in 2016.

If the team continues to use a lot of 4 down fronts, then it is indeed a priority, in my opinion.

If the rumors of a 3-3-5 bear fruit, then perhaps the need gets bumped down a peg or two, and a LB prospect like Cravens is prioritized in that spot.

Ross12 said:

For some reason I'm drawing a blank on Brandon Spikes. I can't remember what happened to him. Didn't he come back last year? But then he was gone and I don't remember hearing anything about him again.

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Yeah, he came back, crashed his car, fled the scene, and got cut. Crazy thing is, he's been the best outcome of any of our UF draft picks. It's pretty much him, Chad Jackson, Jermaine Cunningham, Easley, and Hernandez.

Cunningham and Jackson almost come out of that looking good because they were just standard not-very-good football players. Compared to a serial killer and the the biggest bust of the Belichick era, even that doesn't seem so bad.

Ross12 said:

For some reason I'm drawing a blank on Brandon Spikes. I can't remember what happened to him. Didn't he come back last year? But then he was gone and I don't remember hearing anything about him again.

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He signed with the team, wrecked his car and left the scene. I think you can guess what the Pats did.

Deus Irae said:

He's a bust as a Patriots pick. That's just the reality of the situation. All the attempted massaging of that obvious fact won't change that obvious fact.

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If the Pats were not going to pick up his 5th year option, and didn't plan to give him a deal after this contract, maybe that weighed into letting him go now, especially if he wasn't progressing in his rehab as the Pats wanted, as reading between the lines hints at.

Still, surprising he couldn't bring anything back in trade.

Maybe BB wanted him gone rather than him being a negative influence on the team, but that is total speculation.

Bill Lee said:

One theory being floated is they're sending a message to the rest of the team that they're serious about everyone being on board with the program or being sent packing.

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Who is not on board with the program (per the theory)?

BradyFTW! said:

I formally request that the Patriots remove all Florida Gators from their draft boards, forever.

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I agree. Florida. Florida State is fine, but stay away from Florida.

I'm highly disappointed. I had high hopes for him. Watch the Jets pick him up and wreak havoc. They're better be a damn good reason to release him. Damn good.

ViperGTS said:

I agree. Florida. Florida State is fine, but stay away from Florida.

I'm highly disappointed. I had high hopes for him. Watch the Jets pick him up and wreak havoc. They're better be a damn good reason to release him. Damn good.

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I see him going to Seattle, personally. The Seahawks wanted him badly in the 2014 draft, and if character issues led to his release here, then that's good news for him because it won't deter Pete Carroll.

Ross12 said:

What I want to know is how long until someone says this is a racial issue?

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"What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

sevengables_2207 said:

I think it depends on what the defensive schemes will look like in 2016.

If the team continues to use a lot of 4 down fronts, then it is indeed a priority, in my opinion.

If the rumors of a 3-3-5 bear fruit, then perhaps the need gets bumped down a peg or two, and a LB prospect like Cravens is prioritized in that spot.

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Cravens is one of my favorite players in the draft. That said, I don't think a 3 man front makes a ton of sense and I think their interior line depth is fine for the moment without investing a 2nd rounder in it unless the players makes sense. Given how good the crop of defensive tackles is, though, maybe it will make sense.

primetime said:

Cravens is one of my favorite players in the draft. That said, I don't think a 3 man front makes a ton of sense and I think their interior line depth is fine for the moment without investing a 2nd rounder in it unless the players makes sense. Given how good the crop of defensive tackles is, though, maybe it will make sense.

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Yeah, I echo your sentiments. I only brought up the 3-3-5 because it has been going around social media a bit in the wake of Easley's release.