After weeks of speculation and controversy, Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots was arrested and charged with first-degree murder of Odin Lloyd on Wednesday afternoon in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Shortly after Hernandez was arrested, the veteran tight end was released by the Patriots continuing the trend of an off-season filled with disaster and change for the franchise. The team had no intention or desire of waiting to see the end result of the pending trial for Hernandez. The storied NFL franchise attempted to distance them from the increasingly ugly situation with Hernandez and was able to do just that by simply releasing him.

Although the severity of the situation involving Hernandez’s pending arrest wasn’t revealed until he was arraigned on Wednesday, the NFL veteran’s career in the league is likely over at the age of 23 years old. Hernandez was supposedly heavily involved in the murder and Lloyd with substantial evidence against him making the chances of an acquittal remote to say the least.

Two-time Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis formerly of the Baltimore Ravens went through a similar situation during the beginning of his Hall of Fame-caliber career, but was eventually was able to get past being sent to prison and therefore ending his career.

As for the Patriots, the team has suffered blow after blow during the off-season. New England first learned of perennial Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski undergoing a fifth surgery of the off-season threatening his long-term and immediate future with the team.

Along with Hernandez going through a murder trial and Gronkowski undergoing multiple surgeries, the team failed to arguably the team’s best wide receiver in Wes Welker. The All-Pro decided to sign with the Denver Broncos instead joining forces with Peyton Manning in the Mile High City.

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