Patriots cut Deion Branch, call up Greg Salas

Posted by Michael David Smith on November 17, 2012, 4:35 PM EST
New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch is pictured before the NFL's Super Bowl XLVI football game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots in Indianapolis Indiana Reuters

The Patriots have made a move to get younger at wide receiver.

New England today released veteran Deion Branch and brought Greg Salas up to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, Tom Curran of CSNNE.com reports.

Salas was a 2011 fourth-round draft pick of the Rams whom the Patriots traded for in September. But the Patriots apparently didn’t think Salas was ready, because they soon cut him and re-signed Branch, then brought Salas back to the practice squad. Now that Salas has a couple months of work under his belt, he’s back on the roster and Branch is out, at least for now.

Branch, who suffered a hamstring injury and was questionable for Sunday’s game against the Colts, will be available on waivers on Monday for any team that wants him. If no team claims him, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Patriots to bring him back.

The Patriots have also released cornerback Malcolm Williams and officially added cornerback Aqib Talib to the 53-man roster.

Not too sure, we thought Gaffney was going to be an upgrade, yet he has been wildly mediocre thus far

That's the problem, teams don't cut players that will produce. There was a reason Washington cut Armstrong and there was a reason that NE cut Gafney.

yet he has been wildly mediocre thus far.

NE seems to know when a guys skills are so diminished that it will not do that team any good anymore. While I agree guys like Gaffney & Branch would help the Dolphins while being finished on the Patriots at this point putting a band aid on a bullet hole really doesnt do much for us.