Belichick, Patriots Cut QB Malik Cunningham 10 Days Into Reported Three-Year Contract

Published|Updated

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick just likes messing with everyone's head, right? How else does one explain signing Malik Cunningham off the practice squad to a three-year contract just to cut him less than two weeks later?

Well, that's what happened on Tuesday.

Just 10 days ago, I wrote about the oddity of signing a practice-squad quarterback to a three-year deal. Plus, reporters around the Patriots team noted that Belichick and the staff installed packages for the hybrid quarterback.

Just 10 days after signing QB Malik Cunningham, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots cut him from the roster.

Just 10 days after signing QB Malik Cunningham, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots cut him from the roster. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

From October 14:

In a surprise move, not only did they elevate Cunningham to their active roster for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but they signed the hybrid quarterback/wide receiver to a three-year contract.

It’s not often that a team signs a player on its practice squad to a multi-year contract, so clearly Belichick and the Patriots envision a future where Cunningham makes a major impact on their team. That’s expected to begin in Week 6, too.

New England Patriots, Bill Belichick cut Malik Cunningham (again) after two games

That was then and this is now. Cunningham played six snaps against the Raiders and Las Vegas sacked him on his only dropback. The Raiders beat the Patriots, 21-17. In that game, the Patriots made their previous backup QB, Bailey Zappe, inactive. That, de facto, made Cunningham the backup.

But this week, New England shocked the NFL world when they upset the Buffalo Bills, 29-25. Quarterback Mac Jones had his best game of the season, completing 83% of his passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and one sack.

For this game, the Patriots not only demoted Malik Cunningham from the active roster (returning Zappe to backup duties) but they designated Will Grier as the emergency third quarterback. That, essentially, relegated Cunningham to fourth-string quarterback -- or non-active-roster wide receiver.

Patriots reporter Doug Kyed offered this explanation.

Doesn't quite explain the three-year deal, but here we are.

Either way, he's now likely to return to the Patriots practice squad.

Tags
Written by
Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to Outkick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named “Brady” because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.