National Football League

Patriots cut LB Murrell, make room for OL Ojinnaka

Published Sep. 13, 2010 11:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots have released linebacker Marques Murrell.

The move Monday opens a roster spot for offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka, who was on the suspended list for one game. He had been arrested in May 2009 and charged with battery after allegedly tossing his wife down stairs. The Patriots obtained him last month in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Patriots signed Murrell last March after he spent his other three seasons as a backup linebacker with the New York Jets. He made one tackle in Sunday's 38-24 opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals.