Patriots news: Bill Belichick reacts to Eric Decker, Kenny Britt not making team

The New England Patriots recently parted ways with veteran wideouts Kenny Britt and Eric Decker. Head coach Bill Belichick talked about the moves on Monday.

The New England Patriots wide receiving unit has thinned of late after parting ways with Kenny Britt and Eric Decker. Britt was released by the Patriots last week, as the veteran wide receiver continues to struggle with his health. A hamstring injury he sustained in June significantly affected his ability to join the team in practice and in the training camp, which unfortunately forced the Patriots to cut him loose.

Speaking about Britt in front of reporters on Monday, New England head coach Bill Belichick offered insight on how the team arrived at a decision to waive the veteran wideout, per Tyler Sullivan of 247 Sports.

“That's unfortunately professional football,” Belichick said of Britt. “A lot of people are competing for not as many spots as there are players. We have to make decisions. Sometimes players make decisions, but somewhere along the line we have to make the majority of those decisions and do what we feel is best for the football team based on what the players have earned, what they've done this year. It's the hard part of the job. Yeah, one of the hard parts.”

With regards to Eric Decker, who decided to hang up his cleats for good, Belichick respected the wide receiver’s decision while also acknowledging Decker’s solid NFL career.

“Yeah, we talked to Eric. Eric felt like – and I don't want to speak for Eric – I think he certainly can handle that for himself. But he's had a great career,” Belichick said. “I have a lot of respect for Eric going all the way back to when we talked to him coming out of Minnesota, and when Josh [McDaniels] drafted him, and to Tennessee, and the Jets and so forth. I enjoyed working with him. Again, I really have a lot of respect for him, what he did. I think he's decided to retire from football so we wish him well and appreciate what he did.”

Decker had trouble catching passes in practice and familiarizing himself with the Pats’ offensive system, thus opting to walk away from football instead. He was not expected to make the team’s final 53-man roster, but his retirement also seals that he won’t be a part of any NFL team at least as a player going forward.