FOXBORO, Mass. — Kyle Love‘s release came as a bit of a shock on Wednesday.
After three productive seasons with the team, the Patriots decided to part ways with Love. The move surprised many, especially considering he started a career-high 11 games in 2012 and played a big role in the team’s stout run defense.
Love’s release came soon after he was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes, which could make it tough for the 315-pound defender to stay at his playing weight.
Teammate Dont’a Hightower understands the nature of the move, as he knows the NFL is a business. But, even with the diabetes diagnosis, Hightower is still confident that Love will have no problem finding another place to play.
“Yeah, it’s business, and it’s definitely that,” Hightower said in between workouts at Gillette Stadium on Thursday. “But I don’t think Kyle’s going to have a problem getting anywhere else. He’s a great player and I look forward and hope for the best for him.”
Love’s diagnosis and $1.1 million cap hit may force teams from claiming him off the waiver wire but, with his skill set, it would be a surprise if he is out of work long.
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Photo via Twitter/@1st_to_Know
