Veterans cut: Patriots release Joseph Addai; Packers part ways with Charlie Peprah

Veterans Joseph Addai and Charlie Peprah were axed Wednesday by their respective teams, the day before training camp started.

Two months after signing with New England, Addai has been asked to leave. (US PRESSWIRE)

Two months after signing with the Patriots to back up Stevan Ridley and a day after New England signed its (approximately) 147th tight end of the offseason, former Colts standout running back Joseph Addai has been cut by New England.

But he’s not only the veteran to get axed Wednesday. As ESPN Milwaukee’s Jason Wilde reports, the Packers also have parted ways with six-year veteran safety Charlie Peprah. Both reportedly failed their physicals.

Addai’s release isn’t a surprise. He was no sure-shot to make the squad out of training camp, especially with Ridley, Danny Woodhead and 2011 second-round pick Shane Vereen on the depth chart. Plus, he’s five years removed from the best seasons of his career when he averaged 1,076.5 yards, 40.5 catches and 11.5 total touchdowns in his first two years in the league.

Since then, Addai has had a tough time staying healthy, and in the past two years, he simply became less relevant in the Colts offense.

Peprah’s release was a bit more surprising, especially to the man who’s started 25 Packers games in the past two seasons.

“It caught me off guard, I was surprised,” Peprah told Wilde. “I didn’t pass my physical right away, so I’m assuming that had something to do with it. They might’ve been leaning this way anyway. I’ve never been in this situation before, coming into camp beat up a little bit. I didn’t know how they’d handle it. I guess I know now.”

Perhaps the strangest part of the Peprah release was when he was leaving Lambeau Field, he was assailed by fans who wanted his autograph. After speaking with Peprah, those fans were the first to break the news to the outside world.

“I was carrying some boxes,” Peprah said. “I said, ‘You know I just got released. I’m not sure you still want it.' News travels fast.”

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