Patriots veteran says Tom Bradys decision to leave New England isnt the end of the world
wasn't the only ' starter
Jourdan Lewis Jersey who was facing an unknown future entering the 2020 offseason. Devin McCourty, the team's first-round pick in the 2010 draft, was also slated to become a free agent. But unlike Brady, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, McCourty decided to stay in New England, inking a two-year deal with the six-time Super Bowl champions.Given his own free agency, McCourty said that he "didn't think twice" about Brady's situation. McCourty, who won three Super Bowls with Brady as his teammate, is also following Brady's decision to leave Foxborough."When he made a decision, to me it wasn't like the end of the world," McCourty recently told SiriusXM NFL Radio, via Grant Gordon of NFL.com. "He's a free agent and when free agency hits, there's always a chance a guy could go to another team. I'm happy for him. He played 20 years for one
Ignas Brazdeikis Jersey organization. The knowledge he's pa sed down. How open he has always been with guys learning from him, asking him questions. Always so open. Great teammate. You become a free agent, that's what our league is about. That's what players before us have fought for. Be a free agent and choose. I was happy for him if he did what makes him happy."While McCourty is one of the remaining players from the Patriots' recent dynasty, the team will undoubtedly look different in 2020. In free agency, the Patriots lost linebackers,and, as well as defensive tackle Jamie Shelton and safety. New England addre sed those lo ses by signing formerdefensive tackle, former linebacker, formersafetyand formersafety. They were also able to re-sign safetyand linebacker.New England further addre sed its defense during the draft, selecting safetywith the 37th overall pick. They spent their next two picks on edge rushers, selectingandwith the 60th and 87th picks, respectively.The Patriots, in free agency as well as during the draft, also added new pieces to their offense. They spent both of their third-round picks on tight ends, acquiringand. The Patriots then spent three of their five Day 3 picks on the offensive line, selecting guard Michael Onwenu, tackleand center. In free agency, the Patriots signed formerreceiverand formerfullback. Byrd will help replace(who signed a
Brandon Johns Jr. Jersey one-year deal with the), while Vitale will look to replace , who retired in April.While they didn't draft a receiver, the Patriots did sign several undrafted rookie receivers in(who played with Patriots quarterbackat Auburn),,, and. The team also signed running back J.J. Taylor, who, despite being just 5-foot-5 and 185 pounds, managed to rush for 3,263 yards during his four years at Arizona.As far as their quarterback position is concerned, Belichick appears confident that Stidham, a
Jordan Poole Jersey 2019 fourth-round pick who attempted just four regular season pa ses as a rookie, can get the job done. Last month,, when New England went 11-5 withunder center for the majority of the season."Whoever the quarterback is, we'll try to make things work smoothly and efficiently for that player and take advantage of his strengths and his skills," Belichick said, via Andrew Callahan of theBoston Herald. "Ca sel would be a good example. We geared everything toward what would be best for him, just like we always geared everything toward what was best for Tom to help our offense there. So I don't really see that changing."Like his coach, McCourty is confident that Stidham is more than capable of leading the Patriots to succe s in 2020."I think he's
Taylor Lewan Jersey a young guy who's eager to learn. That quarterback position is always a hard position," McCourty said. "Right away, he worked extremely hard."I'm exciting for that quarterback room. I think they're itching. You get an opportunity to go out there and compete, that's what we all want. I think for us as players at other positions, we need to focus on what we have to do. Not fall into the trap of the media, like everybody worried about the quarterback room. We just control what we can control and the rest will take care of itself."