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Source: O'Connell cut by Pats

In the first surprise move in the NFL cutdown to 75 players on rosters, the New England Patriots informed quarterback Kevin O'Connell that he is being released, according to a source.

A third-round choice in 2008, O'Connell was the leading candidate to be Tom Brady's backup this season after the departure of Matt Cassel. The timing of the release was particularly surprising considering Brady's right shoulder injury Friday night against the Redskins.

Pats considering adding a veteran backup QB

The Patriots opting to cut young quarterback Kevin O’Connell on Sunday caught many by surprise, but New England is one of several teams looking at veteran options at the position.

The Patriots are among the many teams to express an interest in Philadelphia’s A.J. Feeley. Some execs believe New England is where Feeley will end up, but, according to a source, the Eagles do not plan on parting with Feeley until they know how long Michael Vick will have to sit out.

The wait for Vick to be reinstated could range from one to six games, and Feeley is the only other experienced backup on the team, with Kevin Kolb still unproven and largely untested in the regular season.

St. Louis could also be a potential landing spot for Feeley.

Lions flip O'Connell to Jets

The Lions are making full use out of their position as the team with first priority in the waiver process.

They surprisingly snagged quarterback Kevin O'Connell last week. And now they've traded him to a new team.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Lions have sent O'Connell to the Jets.

Compensation for O'Connell isn't known.

Coincidentally, the Jets host the Patriots -- who picked O'Connell in the third round of the 2008 draft and who surprisingly cut him -- on September 20.

The move shows that the Patriots could have (and arguably should have) tried to trade O'Connell in lieu of letting him walk, and this could fuel speculation that coach Bill Belichick was trying to slide O'Connell to former Pats V.P. of player personnel Scott Pioli, whose Chiefs were No. 3 on the waiver priority list.