The Patriots parted ways with a player who has been a staple on their offensive line for the better part of the last decade.
The club released right tackle Sebastian Vollmer with a failed physical designation on Friday. The 32-year-old missed all of last season due to a hip issue that landed him on the physically unable to perform list before training camp began.
Vollmer spent eight years in New England after being drafted in the second round in 2009. Since then, he's started 80 regular-season games and 10 postseason contests for the team. He was named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2010.
Vollmer was around the club last season despite being sidelined, working out at the Patriots facilities, and even trying his hand at some on-camera work with "Seabass' School of Football," where he tried to teach teammates how to speak his native language with German broadcast calls of Patriots plays.
Vollmer was strong in pass protection on the right side throughout his career, and he could be dominant in the running game. He was an integral piece to the team's Super Bowl run in 2014, and he gave the Patriots what they needed in 2015 by playing on the left side when both Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon were injured, and he remained there when Cannon returned.
With Vollmer out this season, Cannon took over on the right side and was named a Second-Team All-Pro in his first full season manning the right edge.
Vollmer has enjoyed the team's latest Super Bowl celebration, taking part in the duck boat parade through Boston, and hitting the Boston Garden ice with teammates to watch James White drop the puck before a game between the Bruins and Canucks.
New England Patriots
Last season was originally scheduled to be the final year on Vollmer's contract, but because he spent the entirety of the season on PUP, the last year of his deal tolled. His release frees up $1.7 million in salary-cap space, giving the Patriots $60.2 million in cap room.