Super Bowls - Patriots Release 22 Players And Place Rookie Jeff Demps On Ir

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. The New England Patriots released 22 players today. In addition, the Patriots placed rookie free agent RB Jeff Demps on injured reserve. Demps was signed by the Patriots on Aug. 17, 2012.

The Patriots released 12 veteran players: WR Deion Branch, S Sergio Brown, DL Marcus Harrison, WR Jesse Holley, QB James Ihedigbo, OL Matt Kopa, C Dan Koppen, LB Niko Koutouvides, S Derrick Martin, LB Jeff Tarpinian and S Malcolm Williams.

The Patriots released four first-year players: FB Aaron Lavarias, TE Alex Silvestro and WR Kerry Taylor.

The Patriots released one 2012 draft pick: WR Jeremy Ebert.

The Patriots released five rookie free agents: OL Derek Dennis, TE Jeremiah Warren and OL Darrion Weems.

VETERANS RELEASED

Branch, 33, was originally selected by the Patriots in the second round (65th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft out of Louisville. He was traded by the Patriots to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 11, 2006 and then reacquired through a trade with Seattle on Oct. 12, 2010. Last season, Branch started in 15 games that he played in and caught 51 passes for 702 yards with five touchdowns, including a 63-yard reception in the win at Philadelphia on Nov. 27. Branch, 5-9, 195 pounds, has played in 130 games with 107 starts and accumulated 502 receptions for 6,499 yards and 39 touchdowns. He has played in 15 postseason games with 13 starts and has 62 receptions for 932 yards and four touchdowns. His 24 receptions in three Super Bowls are third all time to the 33 by Jerry Rice (four Super Bowls ) and the 27 by Andre Reed (four Super Bowls).

Brown, 24, is a veteran of two NFL seasons with the Patriots. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder originally joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent from Notre Dame in 2010. He began his rookie campaign on the practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster and playing in the final 11 games of the season. Last year, he played in 15 games with three starts and finished with 30 total tackles on defense, one interception and nine special teams tackles.

Harrison, 28, was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on March 15, 2012. He was originally drafted in 2008 by the Chicago Bears in the third round (90th overall) out of Arkansas. During his 37 career games over three seasons with the Bears, Harrison amassed 55 tackles, 3.0 sacks and three passes defensed. The 6-3, 310-pound lineman was released by Chicago on Sept. 3, 2011. He was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on Oct. 14, 2011 before being released on Oct. 15, 2011.