The Patriots Release Ben Watson

According to a source, Ben Watson cleared out his locker a short time ago, then posted this, making it about as unofficially official as it gets. Leave it to a class act like him to be told he’s not going to get a roster spot and somehow turn it into an inspirational speech. I’d expect nothing less.

That said, this brings to an end one of the most bizarre personal journeys in recent Patriots memory. What other word can you use for a guy who retires at the end of last season after a 13 year career. Then unretires at the age of 38. Then announces he’s suspended for PEDs that he took while he was retired but for some reason still filling a cup for the NFL Piss Patrol. Then says he told the Patriots about the suspension but they gladly signed him anyway. Then was eligible to play in Week 5 but didn’t dress, even though the Patriots have arguably the worst tight end depth chart in the league. And now, this. With three days to go before the Giants game, they apparently informed Watson they wouldn’t open a spot for him. What a long, strange trip it’s been.

So I guess we don’t really have to give him a send off. To steal a page out of Belichick’s book, I’ll just refer to my earlier statement from when Watson retired from the Saints in January. When he wrote a Twitter post tearing into Roger Goodell for not owning up to the NFC championship game fiasco:

“Commissioner Goodell,
We all realize that football is an imperfect game, played, coached and officiated by imperfect people. What occurred last Sunday in New Orleans though was outside of that expected and accepted norm. Your continued silence on this matter is unbecoming of the position you hold, detrimental to the integrity of the game and disrespectful and dismissive to football fans everywhere. From the locker room to Park Ave., accountability is what makes our league great. Lead by example. We are waiting.”

– Ben Watson

Goddammit, do I respect Ben Watson. A veteran of 15 years in the league. A Walter Payton finalist. A long-time NFLPA union rep for four different franchises. The owner of a score of a 48-out-of-50 on the Wonderlic. If he’d only been blessed with the hands to match his intelligence, character and determination, he would’ve doubled all of Tony Gonzalez’s records. Remember when he signed with Baltimore and blew the whistle on John Harbaugh running padded practices for rookies who were too insecure in their job prospects to say anything? That’s the kind of integrity the NFL needs. And Watson is 100 percent correct in saying they’re not getting it in return for the $44 million bucks a year they’re paying that feckless meat puppet who’s supposed to be in charge. …

So congrats to Ben Watson for standing up and saying what needed to be said. And for doing his part to make Der Commissar look even worse than he already does. Granted, if I was helping him write this thing, I would’ve worked in the phrase, “You fucking cowardly, thin-lipped, despotic, fake tough guy, ferret-faced, dry-mouthed, soulless, robotic pile of rotting giraffe shit.” But Watson sort of implied it without actually using the words. One of the best human beings in football just retired and he’ll be hard to replace.

Of course this presumes Watson won’t sign on with somebody else. But when the most tight end-oriented offense in the league decides they’d rather go with Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse, my guess is the other 31 teams will assume you’re finished. And if that’s the case, happy re-retirement to a great guy who simply didn’t work out here.

It’s a pity. But maybe it just opens the door further for Rob Gronkowski’s return. If Watson can turn this into a positive, so can I.