FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots have released cornerback Tim Mixon and linebacker T.J. Slaughter.

Slaughter, 30, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons and has played in 78 career games with 32 starts since being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft (92nd overall). He was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on Feb. 12, 2008. The 6-foot-1-inch, 233-pound linebacker has played for Jacksonville (2000-03), Green Bay (2003), Baltimore (2003-04), New Orleans (2005) and San Francisco (2006). He spent the 2007 season out of football. Slaughter has recorded 358 career tackles (172 solo), two sacks, one interception, eight passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 47 special teams tackles.

Mixon, 23, was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Oct. 9, 2007 and spent the remainder of last season as part of the squad. He was signed to the active roster on Feb. 5, 2008. Mixon was originally signed by the Chicago Bears on May 7, 2007 as an undrafted rookie free agent from the University of California. The 5-foot-9-inch, 184-pound cornerback was released by the Bears on Sept. 1, 2007. He was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad on Sept. 4, 2007 and was released from the Browns practice squad on Sept. 14, 2007.