Pats Cleaning House?

[DeanPatsFan]

Roman Phifer released

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2005

PATRIOTS RELEASE LB ROMAN PHIFER

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced the release of veteran linebacker Roman Phifer today.

Phifer, 36, was signed by the Patriots as a veteran free agent on Aug. 3, 2001 and played in 59 games with 46 starts in his four seasons in New England. The 6-foot-2-inch, 248-pound linebacker has played in 211 games over his 14-year career with the L.A./St. Louis Rams (1991-98), the N.Y. Jets (1999-2000) and the Patriots (2001-04). In his four seasons in New England, the UCLA product totaled 385 tackles, ranking second on the team over that span, trailing only Tedy Bruschi (403 tackles). In 2001 - his first season in New England - Phifer started all 16 games at outside linebacker and finished second on the team with 92 tackles. The following season, he led the team with 109 tackles despite missing two games due to injury. In 2003, he finished third on the team with 133 tackles while starting nine games at inside linebacker and six games at outside linebacker. Last season, Phifer played in 13 games with one start and totaled 51 tackles. He finished second on the team in tackles in both the 2001 and 2003 playoffs.

Phifer's career totals include 1,297 tackles (924 solo), 29.0 sacks, 11 interceptions, 80 passes defensed, 18 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round (31st overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft. The Pineville, N.C. native played for the Rams for eight years, leading the team in tackles three times and accompanying the franchise in its move to St. Louis in 1996. He signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 1999 season and then began his Patriots career two years later.