Tebow Safe, Vet LB Koutovides Among Patriots Cuts
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tim Tebow survived the New England Patriots' cut to 77 players on Monday.
The Patriots must make two more moves before Tuesday's league deadline to get to 75. The final roster cut comes after the fourth exhibition game later this week.
Nine-year NFL linebacker Niko Koutovides was among those released.
Koutovides, who played the last two years in New England, saw action in the final 14 regular-season and both postseason games last year. He made eight special teams tackles and one on defense in the regular season, then made one stop in the playoffs.
Also released were wide receiver Kamar Aiken, rookie cornerback Brandon Jones, cornerback LeQuan Lewis and rookie long snapper Mike Zupancic.
Rookie defensive lineman Cory Grissom and tackle Markus Zusevics were placed on injured reserve and defensive lineman Armond Armstead and wide receiver Mark Harrison were placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
In addition, cornerback Stephon Morris and defensive lineman Scott Vallone were re-signed. Morris had been signed May 3 and released Aug. 1, while Vallone had been signed Aug. 1 and released Aug. 19.
The Patriots, coming off a 40-9 preseason drubbing at the hands of the Lions in Detroit last Thursday - with Tebow not playing a down — host the New York Giants in the preseason finale Thursday, then open the season at Buffalo on Sept. 8.
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