Pats Release, Re-Sign Yates

In a scramble to free up some salary cap money this week, the New England Patriots released wide receiver and special teams player Kelley Washington from the team, also releasing offensive lineman Billy Yates to clear out more than $1.5 million. These moves came on Tuesday, but the Patriots announced yesterday that they would be re-signing Yates to the team for the 2009 season.

Yates was released earlier this week due to his cap charge, which would have counted for more than $1 million with escalators and incentives, though he was scheduled to count for around $800,000. Now that he’s re-signed with the team for another year, Yates will probably sign a more manageable deal that keeps the Patriots better within their numbers.

Kelley Washington was cut for a similar reason, but the receiver will not go back to New England for the 2009 NFL season. Washington has already lined up a visit with the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills, and speculation is also circulating that he will be considered to return to the Cincinnati Bengals, as the future is murky for the team’s wide receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ocho Cinco.

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Posted in Uncategorized on February 20, 2009

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