It’s not the first time a veteran player has complained about the Patriots after being cut by the team. But Kyle Love, who was ditched after the team found out he had Type 2 diabetes, may have a pretty good case against Bill Belichick‘s Patriot Way.
Love has since been picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the defensive lineman is expected to manage the disease and keep playing. He talked to the Florida Times-Union this week and said he was never out of shape after being told he had diabetes — but he wasn’t exactly surprised that the diagnosis led to the Patriots letting him go.
“That’s how they run their business up there — veteran guys who have been there for years and put in a lot of work get treated like rookies,” he said.
Love has a point. Belichick’s history with the Patriots is littered with examples of veterans, fan favorites or otherwise replaceable players who were abruptly phased out of the team’s plans when another suitable player was found.
Love didn’t talk much about his old team, saying his focus now is on managing his diabetes and playing well for the Jaguars. He said he’s already developing new habits, and he is looking ahead.
“My wife asked me how I felt after the whole thing went down, and it was bittersweet,” he said. “You’re sad, but then you’re happy at the same time. I’m just trying to move on and not really worry about what happened.”
Love will now do what other former Patriots have tried to do before: prove that cutting him was a mistake.
