Veteran Marty Moore will not get a chance to return to the field with the Patriots after the team announced his release Tuesday.
Moore, who re-signed with New England just before the start of the 2001 season after spending one season in Cleveland, suffered an Achilles injury and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 2. He played the first three games of the season, mostly on special teams, and had two defensive tackles.
While in New Orleans for the Super Bowl, Moore said he intended to come back next season and fight for a roster spot. Now it is unlikely he'll get that chance.
The Patriots originally drafted him with the final pick in the 1994 NFL draft, earning the moniker of "Mr. Irrelevant." He became the first such player to start his NFL debut when he replaced Todd Collins in the starting lineup in the 1994 opener against Miami.
Moore played six seasons with the team (1994-99) before signing with the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent in 2000. In eight seasons, he has played 112 games and had 175 tackles, one sack, three interceptions and 110 special teams stops.
