FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – Cornerback Otis Smith, a 13-year veteran and a key contributor to New England’s 2002 Super Bowl championship, was released Monday by the Patriots after he struggled to recover from a shoulder injury.

“Nobody has more respect for Otis than I do,” coach Bill Belichick said. “He’s an ultimate professional, a team player. He was part of a championship team here, and Otis is a true champion. It’s a difficult roster decision that we made.”

Smith has been injured since December, when he hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter of New England’s 24-7 loss to Tennessee. He has not practiced at all this summer.

“We have 10 days. We have two games and we can only give so many people so many opportunities,” Belichick said. “The guys that are here are going to get them.”

Smith has 458 career tackles, including four sacks. He has intercepted 28 passes for 645 yards, returned seven for touchdowns.

His most important interception was probably in the 2002 Super Bowl, when he picked off St. Louis’ Kurt Warner and ran the ball back 30 yards to set up a field goal that gave New England a 17-3 lead in the third quarter. The Patriots won 20-17 for their only NFL title.

He originally signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie free agent in 1990, and spent five seasons with the team before joining the Jets in 1995. He signed with the Patriots in 1996, starting nine games, including the playoffs and 1997 Super Bowl loss to Green Bay.

He rejoined the Jets in 1997 and was re-signed by New England just before the 2000 season.

“I was a sixth-round pick and I think every day I am trying to earn it. That mentality never leaves you,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. “Otis is a guy who nothing has ever been handed to. Otis came and worked every day.

“If you guys could have seen him this summer, the way he worked out, the way he conditioned himself, for a guy who is going into his 12th or 13th season that type of physical shape is pretty unbelievable.”