Bill Belichick and the Patriots are never short on surprises.
New England waived cornerback Sterling Moore on Wednesday. Moore was forced into a starting role on Sunday when Kyle Arrington left their game in London against the Rams with a head injury. Moore played 58 snaps last week, but had fallen out of favor with the team before Week 8, receiving just four and 18 snaps, respectively, in Weeks 6 and 7.
Moore offered positional versatility, with an ability to play cornerback or safety. He’s best known for a game-saving swat in the AFC Championship Game in 2011 against the Ravens. Rookie Alfonzo Dennard had passed Moore on the depth chart after recovering from a hamstring injury.
New England signed defensive back Derrick Martin and linebacker Mike Rivera as corresponding moves. Both players were with the team during training camp. Martin can play safety and cornerback and has been on the last two Super Bowl champions, the 2010 Packers and the 2011 Giants. Rivera was most recently with the Dolphins before he suffered a groin strain. The Patriots also released tight end/defensive end Alex Silvestro from the practice squad.
The Patriots worked out kickers Neil Rackers, Billy Cundiff and Graham Gano and running back Lorenzo Booker, punters Chas Henry and Ryan Donahue, guard Ryan Durand, longsnapper Bryce Davis and wide receiver Jarred Fayson on Tuesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN Boston.
The Patriots were once six-deep at cornerback, but now that Moore has been waived, Ras-I Dowling was placed on injured reserve and Arrington and Marquice Cole were injured against the Rams, Devin McCourty may be forced to move back from safety to cornerback to start across from Dennard.
Photo via Facebook/Sterling-Moore
