The release of DL Jonathan Fanene was hardly cut and dried, no matter how Bill Belichick may describe it.
"It just didn't work out," the coach told reporters Tuesday evening. "I don't really think there's much to add than that. It just didn't work out."
He reiterated that Wednesday morning in Tampa where the team is working out with the Buccaneers.
Meanwhile, though, SiriusXM NFL Radio's Ross Tucker threw a little more light on the situation.
According to NFL source, Pats cut Fanene under "Failure to Disclose Physical Condition". Likely going after that 3.85M SB he got. Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) August 22, 2012
If the severity of Fanene's knee injury was indeed only discovered months after he cashed that fat signing bonus, it makes sense the Patriots would want to get some of that money back. Fanene did take part in OTAs and minicamp. He was also on the field for the first few practices of training camp before sitting down with, ostensibly, a knee injury for which he may reportedly have surgery.
It can be safely be said there's more afoot than Fanene's knee. And it's likely going to land in the hands of the lawyers now.