The Patriots cut down their roster to 53 players on Tuesday, as every other NFL team was required to do with the preseason in the books. Unlike most other teams, however, New England followed that up on Wednesday by cutting two veteran players who made the initial roster— Kendrick Bourne and Marcus Epps. Both releases were surprising given they came the day after cutdown day.
After the news hit the wire, subsequent reports emerged that Bourne and Epps both requested New England cut them loose to seek opportunities elsehwere. New Pats coach Mike Vrabel was asked about that aspect of the situation on Wednesday and offered a strange dating metaphor as an response.
"That's news to me," Vrabel said in response to the idea that the two veterans asked to be released. "I guess when it doesn't work out, you break up with somebody, your girlfriend doesn’t want to be with you, and then you say, ‘Well I don’t want to be with you either.’ I’m not gonna get into all that. ... We're not going to go back and forth here. We're trying to build a roster, you've got to move on from some guys."
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel on WR Kendrick Bourne and S Marcus Epps requesting to be released:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 27, 2025
“That’s news to me… you break up with somebody, your girlfriend doesn’t wanna be with you, and then you say, ‘Well I don’t wanna be with you either.’ I’m not gonna get into all that.” pic.twitter.com/bLaWObRD0h
An odd analogy but the message Vrabel is sending is clear— the Patriots were the ones who dumped Bourne and Epps, not the other way around.
Bill Belichick may be gone from the NFL but with Vrabel in his seat it would seem the press conferences in Foxborough, Mass. are still must-watch events.
More NFL on Sports Illustrated
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Mike Vrabel Gave Strange Dating Metaphor on Why Patriots Cut Two Veteran Players.
