The New England Patriots traded cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday morning.
Earlier in the day, New England leaked that it was preparing to release Gilmore for nothing. This prompted reports of how the 31-year-old would go join the Green Bay Packers, who he apparently wants to play for.
. @AlbertBreer tells @ZoandBertrand he’s hearing Stephon Gilmore wants to play for the Packers pic.twitter.com/kfJ1MCKVlW
— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) October 6, 2021
As it turns out, though – it was all a ploy. Bill Belichick and Co. were simply trying to get a trade suitor for Gilmore to step up, and that’s precisely what Carolina did.
It was Belichick’s most recent cut-throat chess move, but not the first one he has pulled in recent weeks.
The Panthers ultimately agreed to part with a 2023 sixth-rounder in return for Gilmore, who has been on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list since this past summer with a quad injury.
Gilmore will be permitted to come off the list after Week 6, potentially making his Panthers debut in Week 7 against the New York Giants.
Between the Gilmore acquisition and the C.J. Henderson trade from late September, clearly Carolina is trying to load up at the position.
McKayla Maroney knows how to go viral. https://t.co/ugyzOr3RqA
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 5, 2021
The Panthers are currently 3-1 on the year, but would’ve been undefeated if they hadn’t been cheated out of victory against the Dallas Cowboys.
Who will ultimately walk away as the winner of this trade? Time will tell.
Related: Steelers Player Publicly Blames Ben Roethlisberger For Struggles
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
