DB Eddie Pleasant reportedly set to be released by Patriots

The deadline to get down to 53 isn’t until the end of the week, but the Patriots are making some roster moves. Veteran defensive back Eddie Pleasant, who was signed earlier this summer and quickly became something of a core special teamer, is reportedly going to be released.

Pleasant had impressed at times as a versatile presence in the secondary and a special teamer, so this does come as something of a surprise. (He played 46 special teams snaps over the course of the first three preseason games, including 11 in Friday's loss to Carolina .)

Truthfully, there’s one reason that comes to mind as to why the Patriots might be inclined to make the move at this point on the calendar.


If Bill Belichick respects a veteran who he feels might not ultimately make it through when it comes to the final round of cuts, he will frequently let them go early in hopes of allowing them to find another spot sooner rather than later. With all the personnel moves looming at the end of the week, things can get frantic. This way, Pleasant will theoretically have an easier time finding a job instead of waiting until cuts come down.

And in the brief time he was with the Patriots, the 29-year-old Pleasant certainly sounded like a player who had done everything he could to earn Belichick's respect.

“Eddie's an experienced player that's versatile,” the coach said of Pleasant on Aug. 14. “He does a lot of things in the kicking game. He's played safety. He's also played some corner or nickel position on defense for the Texans. He's a smart kid. He's been in a similar system. Not quite the same, but similar. He's done well. He’s an experienced guy and I would say things come pretty quickly to him on the field. The concepts — the terms — might have been different. But he's played the concepts that we've taught so he can relate it to something he’s done in the past.”

With Pleasant's release leaves open the fifth safety spot that has been filled by Jordan Richards. Jason McCourty, after making his debut against the Panthers at the position, could be another option along with Duke Dawson (who also has corner/safety versatility). A.J. Moore and Demarius Travis are longshots behind Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon and Nate Ebner.

With Eric Decker’s retirement announcement earlier in the day, the Patriots roster now stands at 87. They need to be at 53 by Saturday afternoon.