Patriots Waive Perryman, Cite Mediocre Games

The New England Patriots have waived Robert Perryman, saying that the fullback had put in a mediocre performance in the seven games he played so far this season.

Perryman didn’t handle the ball once in Sunday’s 48-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He has also blocked poorly, though he turned in 15 catches for 88 yards.

On the season, Perryman ran 32 times for 97 yards and one touchdown, a dramatic slide from last year. The Patriots, meanwhile, have slipped to a 1-7 record, worst in the league.

The third-round draft choice from Michigan gained 187 yards as a rookie, 448 yards in 16 starts in 1988 and 562 yards in 16 games, 14 of them starts, last year. He started 38 of his 49 games with New England.

Perryman was rewarded with a four-year, $2.1-million contract worth $475,000 this season, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid fullbacks. Patriots General Managar Patrick Sullivan said New England doesn’t have to keep him on the payroll for the next 3 1/2 seasons.

“It’s not a money-saving issue (to cut Perryman). It’s a performance issue,” he said.