NFL roundup: Patriots release Ochocinco

Chad Ochocinco's inglorious tenure with the Patriots is over..

At 4:20 ET, he confirmed the transaction via Twitter.

"Thoroughly enjoyed the oppurtunity to play for the "Patriot" organization... fans were ... wicked awesome, I wish all of you the best..."

Earlier reports that Ochocinco was still on the roster and left the team facility early for a dentist appointment were quickly debunked.

The Patriots first attempted to trade the veteran receiver but found no takers. Since he's not subject to waivers, he's a free agent as soon as the transaction is submitted to the NFL.

Ochocinco struggled to acclimate to the Patriots' playbook and openly voiced frustration last season when he remained a starter late into the season despite limited contributions.

Ochocinco didn't practice with the team Thursday, and a source told initially told Boston Herald that Ochocinco was at Gillette Stadium in the morning but left within 10-15 minutes. The fact that Ochocinco's Twitter bio didn't include any information about the Patriots led to speculation that he was cut.

The Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders could have interest in Ochocinco. He teamed with Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer during their glory years together with the Bengals. The Dolphins run a West Coast-style offense and don't have a No. 1-type receiver.

---Running back Brian Banks, who had an audition with the Seattle Seahawks Thursday two weeks after he was exonerated from charges of rape and kidnapping, has been invited back for a second look, then Seattle Times reported.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll had offered Banks a scholarship to USC almost 10 years ago, before he served a six-year jail sentence after pleading no contest to the rape charge. He was exonerated last month when the accuser admitted the allegation was fabricated.

So Carroll offered him a chance to try out for the Seahawks. Banks ran the 40-yard dash, but didn't know the time the team logged. Banks told the Seattle Times he has been running in the mid 4.6s, low 4.7s in training for this.

Carroll saw enough that he knew he wanted to see more. Banks has been invited to the team's three-day minicamp, which begins Tuesday. Banks has been offered tryouts with at least five other teams.

---The Philadelphia Eagles organization sustained a significant front-office shift on Thursday. Joe Banner is no longer the team's president.

Banner, who has been with the organization since his childhood friend, Jeffrey Lurie, bought the team in 1994, will become a strategic adviser to the owner. He will be allowed to pursue other opportunities outside the organization.

Chief operating officer Don Smolenski will replace Banner as president and run the day-to-day operations. General manager Howie Roseman will assume Banner's tasks in managing the team's salary cap and contract negotiations.

---Appeals for the four players suspended for their parts in the New Orleans Saints' bounty program will be heard June 18 by commissioner Roger Goodell, according to an NFL.com report.

The meeting will be the first between Goodell and the players since punishment was handed out.

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the 2012 season, and is suing Goodell for defamation. Goodell also suspended Saints defensive end Will Smith for four games; former Saints defensive end Anthony Hargrove, now with Green Bay, for eight games; and linebacker Scott Fujita, now with Cleveland, for three games.

---Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Ramon Humber has been suspended for the first three games of the season, according to Scout.com. A reason for the suspension was not revealed, according to the report, which used league sources.

Humber, 24, had 21 tackles and a sack last season in 13 games with three starts for the Saints.

Humber currently is a free agent, and the Saints have not made him a contract offer. He will have to serve his suspension with the team that signs him.

----An arrest warrant has been issued for former Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers because he did not appear in court as scheduled on Wednesday in Michigan, according to MLive.com. Rogers reportedly threatened his mother to "blow her mouth out."

---Veteran defense end Aaron Kampman has been released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced Thursday.

Kampman signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Jaguars before the 2010 season. He had four sacks in eight games in 2010 before tearing an ACL in his right knee. Kampman was limited to three games last season before he was placed on injured reserve Dec. 9.

The Jaguars will save the $11.45 million in base salary that remained on Kampman's contract, including his $4.975 million base salary in 2012 that is also the amount of cap space the Jaguars will save by releasing him.

---Quarterback Luke McCown was signed by the Saints, who needed another veteran arm behind Chase Daniel with Drew Brees' prolonged holdout.

The Saints also signed rookie free agent running back Joe Banyard.

---The Raiders signed three draft picks: defensive end Jack Crawford (fifth round, Penn State), defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi (sixth, Georgia State) and linebacker Nathan Stupar (seventh, Penn State).

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

They are the first three of the Raiders' six draft picks to sign contracts.

---Brandon Weeden continued to get the most reps with the first team offense Thursday, but Browns coach Pat Shurmur continues to hold off on naming the rookie his starting quarterback.

While the quarterback battle is still an open debate, Shurmur did allow that it's "probably fair to say" that rookie Trent Richardson is the starting running back.

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