FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced that they have released veteran TE Bear Pascoe, first-year S Cedric Thompson and rookie free agent DB V'Angelo Bentley. 

Pascoe, 30, was signed by the Patriots on July 27, 2016. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons with the New York Giants (2009-13), the Atlanta Falcons (2014) and the Detroit Lions (2015). He originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick (184th overall) by San Francisco out of Fresno State in 2009. After being released by the 49ers at the end of training camp, Pascoe was signed to the New York Giants practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster for the final weeks of the season. He signed with Atlanta as an unrestricted free agent in 2014 and with Chicago as an unrestricted free agent in 2015. Pascoe was released by Chicago at the end of training camp and signed with Detroit for the final weeks of the season. He has played in 85 regular-season games with 34 starts and totaled 40 receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns. He has also appeared in four postseason games as a reserve and posted five receptions for 39 yards and one touchdown.

Thompson, 23, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Jan. 12, 2016, for the postseason. The 6-foot, 210-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round (150th overall) draft pick by the Miami Dolphins out of Minnesota in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was released by Miami at the end of training camp and spent the regular season on the Miami practice squad. 

Bentley, 22, was signed by New England as a rookie free agent out of Illinois on May 6, 2015. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder, played in 46 games with 32 starts and registered 132 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed.