Patriots release Gostkowski

The New England Patriots released longtime kicker Stephen Gostkowski, the team announced Monday.

The three-time Super Bowl winner is the Patriots' all-time leading scorer. His release will save New England around $3.49 million toward the cap, per Over The Cap.

Gostkowski replaced Adam Vinatieri in 2006. He made four Pro Bowl appearances and was named an All-Pro twice in 14 seasons.

The veteran appeared in only four games last year due to a hip injury. Nick Folk was New England's kicker for most of the campaign, with Mike Nugent and Kai Forbath also seeing action.

The Patriots will need to sign a replacement for Gostkowski. Folk, Vinatieri, Ryan Succop, and Greg Zuerlein are the biggest free-agent names on the market.