AceShowbiz -

NFL tight end Aaron Hernandez's troubles are kicking in one after the other, following his alleged involvement in the multiple shooting and eventual death of former semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. After being arrested in his home early Wednesday morning, June 26, the 23-year-old athlete was dropped by his team, the New England Patriots, from their roster, just before he was formally charged with first-degree murder.

Pleading not guilty to the murder charges, Hernandez was arraigned in a Massachusetts courtroom the same day of his arrest, where he was also faced with multiple weapons charges. Hernandez is the primary suspect in the killing of Lloyd after witnesses reported that the two had an argument in a club a few days before the incident, and that the NFL star had actually been in contact with the victim just hours before the body was found dead in an industrial park in North Attleborough last week.

In light of Hernandez's association with the case, the Patriots released him from his $40 million, 5-year contract with the team, saying, "It was the right thing to do." Likewise, the NFL has come out with its own statement expressing concern over the recent killing with, "The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling."

By dropping Hernandez, the Patriots will be removing him from the official roster on the team website and taking all merchandise from the team store that links Hernandez with the team.