Flavin Media

Bruh what???

— Gonzo (@chrisgonzo28) March 28, 2025

Surprisingly, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley was released by the Patriots today. Let’s go through the potential implications or reasons for this decision.

It’s an agile linebacker era: After New England acquired LB Robert Spillane and recommitted to LB Christian Elliss, it’s clear we are trying to further modernize the defense with laterally quicker defenders. Out with cement feet, in with fleetness of foot.

Bentley has mileage: In addition to not being quick to begin with, Bentley has accumulated a lot of injuries over his years with us. This could have been a move to cut ties before the player’s performance starts to go downhill.

Tavai is staying but Bentley isn’t: After LB Jahlani Tavai’s comments about the fanbase late last season, it’s shocking from a culture standpoint that Bentley gets dropped before something happens with Tavai. Tavai is at least a little quicker in coverage, so that might have been the difference, but Bentley’s leadership will be missed by tenured defenders.

With Vrabel’s culture change as part of his hiring, there are bound to be satisfying moves and puzzling ones. All that matters is that this team is, at the least, competitive in this era of football and that everyone’s on the same page.