By The Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Wide receiver David Terrell was released Saturday by the New England Patriots, one of 17 players cut as the defending Super Bowl champions got down to the regular-season roster limit of 53 players.

Terrell, who played with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at Michigan, was signed in the offseason as a free agent after playing for the Chicago Bears.

The Patriots also cut wide receiver P.K. Sam, a fifth-round draft pick last year out of Florida State, and veteran tight end Jed Weaver.

The others released were linebackers Eric Alexander, Grant Steen and Andre Torrey, defensive linemen Rodney Bailey and Tom Sverchek, running back Kory Chapman, wide receiver Bam Childress, fullback Kyle Eckel, tight end Joel Jacobs, tackles Victor Leyva and Jeff Roehl, offensive lineman Gene Mruczkowski, safety Raymond Ventrone and guard Billy Yates.

After noon on Sunday, the Patriots can sign players to a practice squad of up to eight players. Some of the players who were cut are expected to be on it.

Eagles ax Douglas

While veterans Hugh Douglas, Jon Ritchie and Sean Landeta were released by Philadelphia, Kansas City offensive lineman John Welbourn, Cincinnati defensive end Duane Clemons, and Cleveland defensive back Michael Jameson.

Welbourn was suspended for four games for violation of the league’s steroid policy. Jameson and Clemons were suspended for an unspecified violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

And running back Ricky Williams, who sat out all of last season, was officially put on the suspended list by Miami, which had known all along he would miss the first four games.

The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, signed wide receiver Peerless Price, cut this week by Atlanta.

The Eagles also signed former Washington wide receiver Darnerian McCants and activated punter Dirk Johnson from the physically unable to perform list. The second move led to Landeta’s release.

“Releasing players that have worked their tails off for the team is one of the toughest days for me,” coach Andy Reid said, echoing the remarks of 31 other coaches on cutdown day.

Among the other veterans released were running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala, linebacker Nate Wayne and defensive tackle Tony Williams by Jacksonville; and wide receiver Kevin Dyson and punter Chris Mohr by Washington; running back Mike Cloud and linebacker Kevin Lewis by the Giants, who also signed kick returner Chad Morton.

Cincinnati kept Craig Krenzel as its third-string quarterback behind Carson Palmer and Jon Kitna.