Receiver Greg Lewis, whom the Patriots acquired via trade with Philadelphia earlier this year, has been released. In addition, New England has claimed DB Bret Lockett off waivers; he was most recently with Cleveland.

It is a surprise that Lewis would be let go -- during training camp, both Tom Brady and Bill Belichick spoke highly of him, with Belichick revealing that he had been trying to get his hands on the former Illinois walk-on for several years.

But Lewis may have known something was up: on Sunday, myself and another reporter were chatting with him and asked if it was a relief to get through cut-down day, especially on a team where we've so often heard players say their first goal was to make the squad.

"It was a relief that I made it through yesterday but the phone's always available to ring today or tomorrow or the next day, so you have to take each day as it comes and be prepared and do your best at all times and things happen. You just have to deal with them," he said.