{"id":25378,"date":"2019-10-07T16:54:54","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T20:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=25378"},"modified":"2019-10-09T09:57:14","modified_gmt":"2019-10-09T13:57:14","slug":"ben-watson-releases-statement-thanking-patriots-following-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2019\/10\/07\/ben-watson-releases-statement-thanking-patriots-following-release\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Watson Releases Statement Thanking Patriots Following Release"},"content":{"rendered":"

A second stint of catching passes for the New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a> appears to be over before it even begins for tight end Benjamin Watson.<\/p>\n

On Monday, the 4pm deadline to activate Watson from his roster exemption expired, formally making him a free agent. The decision was first reported<\/a> by ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss.<\/p>\n

Watson missed the first four games of 2019 due to a suspension for violating the NFL\u2019s performance-enhancing drug policy and was inactive for the Patriots week five victory over the Washington Redskins.<\/p>\n

On Monday, during an interview<\/a> with WEEI’s Ordaway, Merloni and Fauria program, head coach Bill Belichick was asked what factored into the decision to move on from Watson.<\/p>\n

“Just don’t have a roster spot,” Belichick told WEEI.<\/a> “We only have so many roster spots. If we put somebody on, we have to take somebody off. Right now, there wasn’t a roster spot. We didn’t feel like there was somebody we could create a roster spot with. Everybody came out of the game healthy. We have a decent team. So I think that’s where we’re at.”<\/p>\n

Watson acknowledged the Patriots decision over Twitter and thanked the organization for the opportunity.<\/p>\n

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The God of victory is also God in failure. I gave my all, but it was not enough to earn a spot on the @Patriots<\/a> roster. I\u2019m beyond disappointed but even more upset for my family who has supported me with all the love a husband and father could ask for.They are my heroes. Rom 8:28<\/p>\n

— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) October 7, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n