The Patriots announced this morning that veteran TE Marcus Pollard has been released.

Asked about Pollard's release relative to the performance of New England's other tight ends, Bill Belichick said the team felt things wouldn't work out with the 14-year veteran the way they had planned and the way Pollard had planned. So out of respect for Pollard, the team cut him now to give him a better chance of latching on with another team if that's what he wants to do.