FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced that they have released cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock today. The team now reports 52 players on their active roster and four practice squad players.
Hitchcock, 31, signed with the Patriots on Aug. 14, 2002, but was released on Sept. 6, prior to the Patriots 2002 season opener. He was re-signed on Sept. 18 and saw action in two of the next eight games. During his eight-year NFL career, the 5-foot-10-inch, 187-pound cornerback has recorded 19 interceptions for 545 yards and five touchdowns. He also has 357 career tackles, including two sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round (88th overall) in 1995.
He played in 36 games during his first three seasons with the Patriots (1995-97) and totaled 120 tackles and four interceptions. During that time, he set a franchise record for the longest interception return, 100 yards vs. Miami (11/23/97). He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings on April 18, 1998 for a third round draft pick. He started all 32 games with the Vikings from 1998-99 and recorded 158 tackles and nine interceptions. He then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Carolina Panthers and played in 32 games with nine starts from 2000-01. He collected 79 tackles and six interceptions while with the Panthers.
