“Well That’s Not Very Noyce”: New England Patriots Fans In Dismay After Franchise Cut Veteran LB Kyle Van Noy

NFL franchise New England Patriots are moving ahead with their plans to begin rebuilding with the release of veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy. The 30-year-old had signed a 2-year deal worth $12 million in March last year with the team. It was a significant move from the franchise as they moved $4.1 million and made a $9 million buffer in total cap space.

The player was donning the Patriots jersey for a second time in his career and was going to have a $7.3 million negative impact on the team’s cap. He was with the Miami Dolphins during the 2020 NFL season and was part of their 2 Super Bowl teams from 2016 to 2019.

A player with a defensive presence, he made 16 appearances while recording 5 sacks, totaling 66 sacks, with 10 pass defenses, a forced fumble, and an interception.

Van Noy was a player with the flexibility of playing both on and off the line of scrimmage and was beloved by Patriots fans. The release by the organization opens the door for Van Noy to sign with any team of his choosing and for them to explore their options.

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He was recruited into the Boston-based franchise following a trade with the Detroit Lions, who originally drafted him with their 40th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

New England Patriots looking at options

The Patriots seem to be keeping a close eye on their salary cap while preparing for the next season. While they might lose Van Noy, they are looking at rebuilding with an offensive veteran in Panthers WR Robby Anderson. Head coach Bill Belichick seems to be trying to change the team by bringing in some fresh faces.

While talking about his situation with the Patriots, Van Noy never dismissed the possibility of leaving the team. On March 2, during an interview on sports radio WEEI, he was considering making a lot of decisions. The Patriots fans had a mixed bag of reactions as they recently saw players leave the franchise.

Does the criticism of fans seem justifiable? Perhaps, especially, seeing Van Noy’s unceremonial exit from the 2021 NFL playoffs. The pressure is well and truly on Belichick and his young QB Mac Jones to get it right in 2022. To ensure success, they will be making changes to enhance their chances of succeeding in a hotly contested NFL world.

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