"John Lynch is gone, but probably not for long.
The Patriots cut the nine-time Pro Bowl safety yesterday, but comments from both Lynch and coach Bill Belichick make it sound as if the future Hall of Famer will return sooner rather than later.
“I have no regrets about my time thus far with the Patriots,” Lynch said in a statement the team released. “The immense respect that I’ve long held for the organization has been only heightened over the past couple of weeks. I am going to keep all options open and look forward with excitement to see what the future brings.”
At issue seems to be the one-year deal Lynch signed early in camp after the Broncos cut him. As a vested veteran, the entire contract becomes guaranteed if Lynch is on the roster in Week 1; that’s not the case thereafter.
Lynch is free to return to the Patriots, because his vested veteran status means another team can’t claim him. Yesterday’s move immediately made him a free agent.
Lynch appeared in three preseason games for the Pats. With safety Tank Williams lost to a season-ending knee injury, Lynch seemed like a good candidate to replace him as a hybrid linebacker/safety in the team’s sub packages."
