The Patriots have been in a unique situation over the last few years that they have historically not had to deal with too often, at least since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994, and that is the revolving door of head coaches.
Bill Belichick was (apparently) in the hot seat for the 2023 season, leading to his dismissal and Jerod Mayo replacing him, which then went as badly as many had predicted. That led to Mayo's firing and Mike Vrabel becoming his successor, with a dramatic impact on the franchise's present and future.
Due to the consistent changes, it was inevitable that significant moves would be made to the roster, whether through the addition of new players or the release of existing ones. That was a storyline heading into this offseason with Vrabel taking over and a front office wanting to prove that the 2024 season was a fluke by being better this time around.
They have already done that with some significant releases, most notably with David Andrews, as well as allowing longtime players to walk in free agency, such as Jonathan Jones and Deatrich Wise.
More shock came with the unexpected decision to let go of 2024 captain Ja'Whaun Bentley, who spent most of last season on the sideline due to an injury suffered in Week 3. He was expected to be a big part of the new defensive scheme Vrabel was putting together, even losing weight to fit the kind of player the head coach liked, only to be released well into free agency.
Mike Vrabel's roster decisions don't seem to be sitting well with current and former Patriots players
While change is inevitable with a new head coach, some of the players the Patriots have moved on from have received some backlash from fans and analysts alike.
The first was their decision to cut Andrews after he had been the starting center for nine years and was one of the last remaining players from the team's dynasty era. Given how much help the offensive line needs, it was a move that was frowned upon for many reasons.
Much of the same sentiment was expressed with Bentley's release last week, and it wasn't just fans airing their disappointment. First to react to the news was cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who summed up most fans' feelings in a two-word tweet.
Bruh what???
— Gonzo (@chrisgonzo28) March 28, 2025
It was easy to grasp how he felt about his teammate's dimissal.
It didn't take long for another player to react to the news; this time, it was recently traded defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who didn't mince words about the business side of football that players— and fans —are obviously not fond of.
It’s no loyalty, and it never will be! As a player you always have to do what’s best for you!! 🤷🏽♂️
— Davon Godchaux (@ChauxDown) March 28, 2025
Although this is just two reactions that might not be incredibly noteworthy, especially since Godchaux is no longer on the team, it's not a great look for Vrabel and Co. to be making such a significant roster move to prompt this kind of response from the players.
Maybe it was time to move on from those they released or didn't re-sign, but the timing of their dismissals and their importance to the locker room, four of those listed were captains, it could take a hit on morale, which is not great for a team hoping to establish a new and promising culture moving forward.
Hopefully, it won't be a long-term problem, and the shock of the moves is what primarily prompted the players to respond the way they did. It's never easy to see cuts like this, even for fans, and when it involves a player as important to the team as this, it's even worse.
It's clear Vrabel has a vision for what he wants to make of the Patriots roster and the culture he wants to bring back to the locker room, and (hopefully) he can accomplish that without a hitch.