FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few thoughts on the New England Patriots informing cornerback Kyle Arrington that he will be released:

Start with the finances. This decision appears to be primarily driven by finances. Arrington was scheduled to earn $3 million and account for $4.625 million on the salary cap. The Patriots likely didn't see those numbers aligned with their projected role for Arrington, who played 40.9 percent of the defensive snaps in the 2014 regular season. When comparing Arrington's salary and cap charge to free-agent signee Robert McClain ($800,000 salary/$1.24 million cap charge), it provides a management-based snapshot of how the team might be thinking along these lines. One might have thought the Patriots would keep Arrington because he represented a known commodity during a time of change at the position, but the Patriots seldom view things through that type of lens if they feel finances aren't aligned with that role. Arrington's return to the Patriots in the future on a lesser deal hasn't been ruled out.

Earned everything he received. Arrington's rise from 2009 practice squad player to solid contributor was impressive. One of his best assets was toughness, as he only missed two regular-season games from 2009-14 because of injury (both last season). That toughness was also seen in his run support and on special teams. Arrington played both outside and in the slot, but in 2014, the Patriots locked him almost exclusively into the slot role. Arrington is a good example of how it doesn't matter where you come from (Hofstra, which no longer has a football program) but what you do when you get to the NFL. He beat the odds entering the league as an undrafted free agent and was one of the classier players we've encountered in the locker-room setting.

A reminder of uncertainty at cornerback. Outside of quarterback, where a possible suspension for Tom Brady would thrust Jimmy Garoppolo into the top role, cornerback figures to be the most-watched position for the Patriots early in 2015. Arrington's release serves as another reminder of this and opens the door for players such as McClain (formerly of the Falcons), Chimdi Chekwa (formerly of the Raiders) and seventh-round draft choice Darryl Roberts, among others, to possibly break through.