Patriots part ways with receiver Britt
New England waived former Ram Kenny Britt on Wednesday, ending the wide receiver’s underwhelming stay with the Patriots.
Despite losing Danny Amendola in free agency and knowing Julian Edelman will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season, the Patriots let go of the 29year-old Britt, who was with his fourth team. New England also had released Jordan Matthews and Malcolm Mitchell from its receiving corps.
Britt caught two passes in three games for New England after joining it last December. He did not dress for any of the postseason games, including the team’s 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.
The 30th overall draft pick in 2009 hurt his hamstring in June during minicamp and barely was a presence in training camp for New England this summer.
Barkley healing
The next time Saquon Barkley carries the ball in a game for the New York Giants may be the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The No. 2 overall pick in the draft returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since straining his left hamstring more than a week ago. The halfback took a couple of handoffs and caught a couple of passes in situational drills as the Giants prepared for Friday’s preseason game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Coach Pat Shurmur refused to say whether Barkley would play Friday, but his chances seem remote after being off the field since Aug. 13.
Helmet rule stands
The NFL Competition Committee has recommended not making any changes to the helmet rule approved by owners in the offseason, which means instant replay use for officials will not be instituted for such calls.
After members of the committee held a conference call, football operations chief Troy Vincent noted there would be no alterations. Vincent said the feedback after two weeks of preseason games was reviewed and “the committee resolved that there will be no changes “
Center is ailing
Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick said that he has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that causes weakness in various parts of the body, and the four-time Pro Bowl player isn’t sure on a timetable for a return.
Frederick said he has received two treatments for Guillain-Barre Syndrome over 48 hours and that the treatments would continue for several days.
“I am very optimistic about my condition and the immediate future, as I have been told that the illness was detected at a fairly early stage,” Frederick said. “My doctors have told me that it is not possible to determine a timetable for a return to the field right now, but I am hopeful that I will be able to play as soon as possible.”
Frederick, 27, has started all 83 games, including three playoff games, since the Cowboys drafted him late in the first round in 2013.
Etc.
An off-the-air racial slur prompted the immediate retirement of longtime Indianapolis Colts radio voice Bob Lamey, 80, last weekend, team officials and Lamey’s attorney confirmed. Local attorney James Voyles issued a statement acknowledging Lamey used “inappropriate” language during a conversation with a friend at a local radio station and apologized immediately . ... The Minnesota Vikings have signed seventh-year safety George Iloka, a former pupil of coach Mike Zimmer when Zimmer was the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.