New England Patriots Release 2011 Draft Selection Markell Carter

The New England Patriots have released defensive end Markell Carter, a league source tells ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss.

Carter was a Patriots' sixth-round draft pick last year out of Central Arkansas. He spent his entire first season with New England on the practice squad, where he earned practice player of the week honors seven times.

Carter had this to say via his Twitter account:

"

It was too real Boston. I'll never forget those #BostonLights. When God closes one door he opens a new one. #STAYFOCUSED

— Markell Carter (@Kell_Carter_49) June 7, 2012"

Coming out of a small Division I FCS school, Carter was an undersized pass rusher at 6'4", 248 pounds. Yet since joining the Patriots, the Bartlesville, Okla. native beefed up to 275 pounds in order to stand his ground on the defensive line, reports the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe formerly of NESN.

Although he never was on the 53-man roster during the 2011 regular season, Carter still was a highly regarded player in the Patriots organization. In fact, he received a pay raise from $150,000 to over $306,000 while on the practice squad, according to Mark Daniels of the Boston Herald.

Unfortunately for the 22-year-old, the Pats are currently jam-packed with defensive ends vying for roster spots.

On the depth chart, Carter was listed behind 2012 first-round pick Chandler Jones, Trevor Scott, former second-rounder Jermaine Cunningham, Jonathan Fanene, Brandon Deaderick and 2012 third-round pick Jake Bequette.

"I mean, I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or anything like that," Carter said last month on the Patriots Football Weekly radio show. "So all I can do is come in every day, and hopefully the hard work that I put in the weight room and on the field will show on Sundays."

It didn't pan out for Markell Carter in Foxboro, but his effort will bode well for him wherever he plays next. No. 49 will be placed on waivers and another NFL team can claim his rights.

In a corresponding move, New England announced the signing of veteran tight end Bo Scaife, formerly of the Tennessee Titans. Per CSNNE's Tom Curran, the Patriots now have 88 players on the 90-man roster.

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