FOXBORO, MASS. -- The New England Patriots waived five players Tuesday, including veterans Gary Jeter and Jim Bowman, and placed two players on injury lists.
All NFL teams were required to cut their rosters to 60 players by Tuesday evening. Teams must cut their rosters to 47 players by Sept. 3.
Also released Tuesday were Patriots linebacker Bruce Scholtz, defensive back Erroll Tucker and nose tackle Chris Williams.
New England placed defensive end Chris Gannon on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee injury and cornerback Ernest Gibson on Injured Reserve with a neck and cervical spine injury.
Jeter, 35, a 13-year defensive end, was sidelined during the Patriots' pre-season with a left thigh injury. It was unclear why the Patriots decided to release him.
'I'm just a player, a piece of the puzzle,' Jeter told The Boston Globe. 'Obviously I didn't fit in. I can understand their situation, with them trying to rebuild with younger guys. The only problem I have is with the way it was done. That's what kind of disappoints me.'
Jeter said no one informed him of the decision until he picked up his paycheck and Patriots general manager Pat Sullivan 'told me he had something to say.'
Jeter, 6 feet 4 inches and 260 pounds, was signed as a free agent from the Los Angeles Rams on March 14, 1989. Last season with the Patriots, he had 22 tackles and was second on the team with seven quarterback sacks.
'I know I can play again and I will,' Jeter said. 'I honestly believe I am going to play football again somewhere in the NFL.'
Bowman, 26, played in 73 games for the Patriots since coming to the team as a second-round draft pick from Central Michigan in 1985. His career included 124 tackles and three interceptions. Bowman played in 13 games last season and finished with 23 tackles and one forced fumble.
Gannon injured his knee in a game against the Los Angeles Raiders last Nov. 12 and had reconstructive surgery the following week.
Gibson suffered his neck injury in practice Aug. 3.
Scholtz, Tucker and Williams had all signed with the Patriots as free agents.
