The Patriots have released end Kony Ealy, according to a league source.
"Just didn't work out," said the source.
Ealy was part of a March trade with the Panthers in which the Patriots sent a second-round pick to Carolina in exchange for Ealy and a third-round pick.
On Friday, NFL Network reported that the Patriots were gauging the trade market for Ealy, which is usually the last step before a team moves on from a player. BostonSportsJournal.com asked Ealy about that report after Friday night's game against the Lions.
"At the end of the day, stuff like that goes around all of the time," Ealy said. "To my knowledge, I don't know about it being true, nor is it really a major concern because all I have to do is go out there and do my job, and continue to try to get better. As long as I get the opportunity to do that here, that's what I'm going to do. I can't worry about things (being talked about)."
Ealy admitted he got off to a slow start with the Patriots, as he went from a 4-3 scheme where he played with his hand on the ground (Carolina) to a scheme in New England where he lined up everywhere from defensive tackle to outside linebacker. Ealy looked like he turned a corner in the second game against the Texans where his rush set up Lawrence Guy's sack, and he had two more pressures in addition to setting the edge well.
"I feel like I'm understanding the scheme a whole lot better -- definitely better than Day 1 when I came in," Ealy said. "I feel like I'm playing the run better — have definitely learned how to play the run coming in here a little bit more. At this point right now, there's nothing that I really don't get as far as the defensive scheme. It's just about going out there and executing and getting off downs when you need to. Third downs, you're supposed to get off the field, that's what we're going to do. So this about continuing to push and continuing to get better every day."
Ealy said he was starting to play faster. Evidently, the Patriots thought differently.
"You'll know when I'm feeling comfortable and everything's ahead of me, because then I'll be out there all over the place, getting more comfortable within the scheme and the defense," Ealy said. "There's still little things that you're learning and picking up on, but this is my first year in this system, I've never played in a system like this. I'm not using that as a crutch, but at the end of the day it takes time to learn a new system. I feel like when I learn it fully, then I'll be one of the most effective players on the field, period."
Ealy played 95 snaps total in the three games, and officially had one tackle and one quarterback hit, which both came against the Lions. His snap count was in the top five among defensive players, so he had his opportunity.
Ealy's release is great news for undrafted end/linebacker Harvey Langi, who has been one of the bright spots of camp, and, likely, Geneo Grissom.