Patriots Release Former Pro Bowl Punter Jake Bailey

Just seven months after signing a lucrative contract extension, punter Jake Bailey has been released by the New England Patriots.

FOXBORO -- The New England Patriots announced on Friday that they have released punter Jake Bailey.

Bailey was selected by the Patriots in the fifth round (163 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Stanford standout bypassed incumbent Ryan Allen for the starting job in his rookie season. However, Bailey's 2020 season was his most memorable. He averaged 48.7 gross yards per punt, had a long of 71, and landed 31 punts inside the 20 yard-line. For his efforts, he was rewarded with a Pro Bowl nod, as well as being named as a First-team All-Pro. 

The 25-year-old took a statistical dip in 2021, leading the NFL with having three of his punts blocked. However, his troubles began just months after signing a four-year, $13.5 million contract that included $6.5 million fully guaranteed. The deal, to which the sides agreed in August 2022, made him one of the league’s highest-paid punters through the 2025 season.

Bailey landed on injured reserve due to a back injury prior to the Pats contest against the New York Jets on Nov. 19. Per NFL regulations, Bailey missed the next four games. Though he returned to practice on Dec. 21, he remained sidelined for the team’s Week 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals and their Week 17 tilt with the Miami Dolphins. At the time of his placement on IR, the former All-Pro in 2020 was struggling to find both power and accuracy. Bailey averaged 35.3 net yards per punt, which was last in the league among qualified punters.

Behind the scenes, there was acrimony building on both sides. The tension reached a crescendo in early January when Bailey was moved from Reserve/Injured to Reserve/Suspended by the team; due, in part, to differing viewpoints on if Bailey was ready to return to game action. 

Bailey’s representation asserted that the veteran punter complied with the team’s treatment schedule. As such, they publicly declared their intent to contest New England’s decision, via statement from Bailey's agent, Doug Hendrickson. though the suspension was eventually lifted, the damage was already done. 

Bailey’s suspension also had financial implications. According to Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan, Bailey not only lost two weeks' salary ($111,111.11), but also the fully-guaranteed nature of his 2023 salary. 

As such, New England found it more financially palatable to part ways with him at season’s end.

Assuming his re-signing with the team is not an option, Bailey finishes his Patriots tenure with 222 punts for 10,189 yards, yielding a 45.9 average in 58 regular season games. Bailey's longest punt was recorded at 71 yards in 2020, with 102 total landing inside the 20-yard line. 

Bailey's release was the Patriots' second notable transaction of the day, arriving on the heels of team captain Devin McCourty announcing his retirement after 13 seasons in New England 

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