It looks as though Tully Banta-Cain's choice to wait until last week to have surgery to repair his sports hernia did not sit well with the Patriots. In fact, it probably got him fired.
According to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Banta-Cain will be released on Thursday, which is the first day after the lockout that teams are allowed to let players go.
Banta-Cain's hernia bothered him throughout the 2010 season but had surgery last week -- just days before the end of the NFL lockout -- after it flared up during recent workouts. He will be out of action for 4-5 weeks as he recovers.
The situation could have been avoided, and Banta-Cain would likely still have his job, if he conferred with Patriots doctors during the lockout. While players did not have access to team facilities or team trainers during the lockout, they were allowed to get in touch team doctors.
More to come. . .