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Patriots release Markell Carter

Print | Comments () Posted by Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff June 7, 2012 07:19 AM

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By Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff

The Patriots have cut second-year DE Markell Carter, according to a league source.

Drafted in 2011 out of Central Arkansas, Carter spent all of last season on the practice squad, gaining muscle and a better knowledge of the playbook. When the Pats drafted him he was looked at as a project, but toward the end of the season, it became known that the team boosted his salary to $350,000 - about what he'd make as a member of the 53-man roster - an indication that it wanted to keep him around.

Apparently, something has changed.

Carter posted the following on his Twitter account early this morning, giving a hint that something was up:

"It was too real Boston. I'll never forget those #BostonLights. When God closes one door he opens a new one. #STAYFOCUSED"

His release does not just impact Carter: at rookie mini-camp last month, he talked about his sister, Keyarrie Hudson, and how she had moved in with him part-time. Hudson suffers from lupus, and being close to Boston meant she'd have access to better specialists.

Carter's release means there is an open spot on the Patriots' 90-man roster.