FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- On the surface, it seems harsh.
The New England Patriots waived first-year tight end Asante Cleveland on Christmas, a move required when they claimed rookie cornerback Troy Hill on waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals.
But as is often the case, there is more to the story.
This is a similar scenario to what unfolded prior to Super Bowl XLVI when the Patriots released receiver Tiquan Underwood the day before the game to promote defensive end Alex Silvestro. It was a move that seemed harsh on the surface, and the team was ripped for it by some in the media, but not by Underwood, who instead was effusive in his praise of the organization and remains a big New England booster.