| The Patriots parted ways with DL Ron Brace on Saturday. (US Presswire) |
Ron Brace became the latest player from the New England Patriots’ 2009 draft class to flame out when the team waived the former second-round pick Saturday afternoon.
Brace, a defensive lineman, played 92 snaps this season after taking the field for just 62 in 2011. WR Kamar Aiken and DB Malcolm Williams were promoted from the practice squad, and DE Jermaine Cunningham was activated following his four-game suspension to fill out the roster.
Brace joins CB Darius Butler (second round), WR Brandon Tate (third round) and LB Tyrone McKenzie (third round) and OL Rich Ohrnberger (fourth round) on the list of players from that draft class who have been let go by the Patriots.
S Patrick Chung and OL Sebastian Vollmer are the only players selected in the first four rounds of the 2009 draft who remain on the roster. Chung is scheduled to become a free agent after this season and recently lost his starting job to Devin McCourty.
Assuming Brace is not brought back, he will become the eighth player selected in the second round by Bill Belichick to not receive a second contract.
OL Adrian Klemm, DB Eugene Wilson, WR Bethel Johnson, DE Marquise Hill (passed away), WR Chad Jackson, DB Terrence Wheatley and Butler are the others.
However, TE Rob Gronkowski, LB Brandon Spikes and RB Shane Vereen are among the team’s recent second-round picks who are helping buck this trend.
ESPNBoston.com first reported Brace's release.
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSPats or@Nick_Underhill.