Jake Bailey Wins Punter Battle After Patriots Reportedly Release Ryan Allen

Ryan Allen will have to adapt to the new changes, and it looks like he is changing teams. The New England Patriots decided to release Allen as confirmed by Jim McBride of The Boston Globe. This leaves enough room for fifth-round rookie Jake Bailey, and he is the team’s punter for the upcoming 2019 season.

Allen played six seasons with the team after joining them as an undrafted rookie in 2013. He won three Super Bowls and played in another. In this year’s Super Bowl, Allen pinned three punts inside the 10-yard line, and helped the Patriots keep the Los Angeles Rams’ packed offense under control.

The Patriots signed undrafted rookie Corey Bojorquez to compete with Allen ahead of the 2018 season, but he was an easy bite for Allen. Bojorquez didn’t play a single snap in the preseason. Bailey is a stronger opponent, and the Patriots made a decision.

Allen and Bailey had to split their time in the two preseason games. Allen punted five times and Bailey did two. Bailey’s punts were much higher and farther than Allen’s, and he also had a 67-yard free kick after a Patriots safety in Saturday’s win over the Tennessee Titans. He shared kickoff duties with Stephen Gostkowski.

Will Bailey be given double duty for the Patriots? Gostkowski is more interested in kicking off.

Bailey was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2017 and 2018. He finished his college career as Stanford’s all-time leader in punting average. Pro Football Focus reported that 37 of his 68 punts last season were downed inside the 20-yard line. Bailey had touchbacks on 173 of 291 collegiate kickoffs, including 60 of 72 as a senior.

When it comes to Allen, he knows it’s just “business.”

““Business is business. There’s a lot of turnover each year. There’s a lot that goes into it,” Allen told The Herald in February. “I’m just grateful to have been able to play six of my years, especially my younger years, in such a first class organization to learn how to be a mature professional, how to train like one…do your job, that goes in all facets of life. I truly believe that.”
. There’s a lot of turnover each year. There’s a lot that goes into it,” Allen told The Herald in February. “I’m just grateful to have been able to play six of my years, especially my younger years, in such a first class organization to learn how to be a mature professional, how to train like one…do your job, that goes in all facets of life. I truly believe that.”