Patriots Part Ways With Two Veteran Leaders

The New England Patriots cleared up additional salary cap space by parting ways with a pair of the team’s veteran leaders. Lawrence Guy Sr. and Adrian Phillips were the casualties of the moves. The two players’ early notice at least gives them a jump start on finding a new home when free agency opens.

NFL Netowrks’s Tom Pelissaro was the first to report the moves.

The #Patriots are also releasing veteran safety Adrian Phillips, per source. So two veterans on defense gone as New England gets younger in the post-Bill Belichick era. https://t.co/3bpB83aMjk

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 19, 2024

Lawrence Guy Sr.

Guy will turn 34 next month. The defensive lineman is a 12-year NFL veteran, the last seven as a member of the Patriots. Lawrence Guy Sr. was a member of New England’s most recent championship team in Super Bowl 53. He had previously played for the Colts, Chargers, and Ravens before finding a home with the Patriots.

Lawrence Guy, Sr. was dependable throughout his time in New England. Guy played in 110 of a possible 115 games for the Patriots, including the postseason. He also showed excellent versatility, playing defensive end or on the interior, wherever he was needed most. He accounted for 379 tackles over the past seven seasons, Guy’s tackles total ranked seventh in the entire NFL during his time in New England. The six players above him were all Pro Bowl players: DeForest Buckner, Cameron Heyward, Cam Jordan, Jonathan Allen, Leonard Williams, and Aaron Donald.

As good as Lawrence Guy Sr. was on the field, he was perhaps even more important off it. He was twice the New England Patriots nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.  Guy won the Ron Burton Community Service Award for the Patriots in 2021. And this past season, Lawrence Guy, Sr. was honored as the Week 13 NFLPA Community MVP.

Adrian Phillips

Phillips is a 10-year NFL veteran. He joined the Patriots in 2020 after spending his first six NFL seasons as a member of the Chargers. He will turn 32 next Month. Adrian Phillips led New England in tackles in 2020 and was tied for second in 2021. However, his role on defense decreased in 2022, and last season was used almost exclusively on special teams. He only played in 12% of defensive snaps.

The two moves will free up roughly $6 million in caps space for New England, $5.17 million after factoring in their roster replacements (per Miguel Benzan).

Both Lawrence Guy Sr. and Adrian Phillips represented their New England Patriots with nothing but class during their tenures in Foxboro. Despite being on the high side of 30, each should easily find a welcoming home for the 2024 season and beyond.