Patriots Release TE Nate Byham

The Patriots released TE Nate Byham Friday, according to the NFL transaction release.

• New England signed Byham to a contract back in June.

Byham, 26, spent the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being drafted by the 49ers in 2010.  Byham is a blocking specialist, having caught only six passes in 15 career games with the Bucs.

Byham was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last October at the time he joined the Patriots.