Linebacker Gary Guyton‘s days in New England appear to be over.
Guyton will become an unrestricted free agent at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and he’ll look to seek opportunities elsewhere, according to sources. Guyton had a difficult season in 2011, and he was a healthy scratch for all three of the Patriots’ playoff games.
Guyton had been a terrific success story after going undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2008. And when the Patriots called him to sign a contract, he famously asked them, if they wanted him so much, why didn’t they draft him?
As one of the fastest linebackers in the 2008 draft class, Guyton made an instant impact on special teams in his rookie season, and he earned two starts at linebacker. He then started 24 times in 32 games in 2009 and 2010 and became a versatile, valued member of the New England defense.
Things weren’t nearly as smooth in 2011 when Guyton’s role was severely diminished in the middle of the season and he was benched late against the Steelers in Week 8 while struggling in the Patriots’ zone scheme. Guyton made his last two starts in Weeks 11 and 12, but he fell down the depth chart later in the regular season.
Therefore, a change of scenery might be exactly what Guyton needs to get his career back on track.
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