Patriots release a pair of defensive veterans
The New England Patriots are releasing defensive lineman Lawrence Guy and safety Adrian Phillips, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
Guy has been with the team since 2017 and Phillips joined in 2020 after being with the Chargers since 2014.
Guy originally signed a four-year deal with the Patriots after being with the Baltimore Ravens for three seasons from 2014-2016. The 33-year old then signed a four year extension in March of 2021. He made or assisted on 379 tackles to go along with 16 sacks while winning Super Bowl LIII.
Beyond making an impact on the field, Guy made his mark in the community. He was the Patriots nominee for the Walter Payton man of the year award in 2022 for his work with his foundation. The Lawrence Guy Family Foundation provides resources and opportunities for financially disadvantaged families.
The 31-year old Phillips has seen his role diminish with the emergence of Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger. Phillips started nine total games the past two seasons, after starting double digit games in each of the two seasons before that. With his time in New England he collected six interceptions.
The releases of Guy and Phillips the Patriots save about $5.17 million in cap space, per Pats Cap on Twitter/X. New England will have upwards of $74 million to spend on the upcoming free agent class. Both veterans are eligible to sign with a team immediately.
