Mesko Thanks Patriots After Release, 'Will Miss New England'
BOSTON (CBS) - In a surprise move on Saturday's NFL cut down day, the New England Patriots released third-year punter Zoltan Mesko.
Mesko, who the Patriots drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, released the following statement on his facebook page shortly after his release:
First and foremost, I want to thank the New England Patriots for everything they have done for me. I have nothing but love in my heart as I depart this great organization. Mr. Kraft, the coaches, the strength staff, the trainers, the media personnel, the marketing department, the rest of the amazing staff members at Gillette, and especially my teammates…THANK YOU for all that you have given and have done for me. I want to say that I see the silver lining in things now more than ever, and am a true believer that things DO happen for a reason. This goes out to anyone that will ever come across a mere bump in the road; be thankful, be positive, because there's a deeper purpose of WHY things happen that we may not yet, or may never come to understand. Just believe. I will miss New England, and more than anything, I'll be missing the smiles on those kids whom I visited and acted like a goofball in front of. It was ALL worth it. God bless.
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Mesko found himself in competition with rookie punter Ryan Allen, who went undrafted out of Louisiana Tech. This move may have come down to salary in the end, with Mesko set to make $1.4 million this season. In going with Allen, who will make just $405,000 this season, the Patriots will have nearly $1 million on the salary cap.
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A fan favorite, Mesko was an active member in the community and won the 2012 Ron Burton Community Service award.
