Patriots To Retain Safety Devin McCourty

The Superbowl Champion New England Patriots were able to re-sign all-pro safety Devin McCourty to a new contract. The deal is for five years worth $47.5 million, 28.5 being guaranteed. NFL.com’s Ian Rapport first reported the story.

The Eagles were pushing hard for McCourty following the departure of Jeremy Maclin. The Jaguars on the other hand are having trouble finding anyone to take their money. The Jags have a league high 67 million in cap space yet have yet to convince a free agent to come to Jacksonville. In the end McCourty smartly decided to stay for slightly less with a classy organization. McCourty confirmed the agreement later on Comcast SportsNet.

“I’m blessed to say we had other teams that
were interested but I said all along that I knew in my heart that I
wanted to be back in New England. But I also knew the business side of
football, and I had to do what I had to do. I’m back, but I’d be lying
if I said there wasn’t possibilities over the last two days that I was
going to be somewhere else. I’m happy it all worked out.”

Interestingly enough McCourty ended his interview with a sales pitch to free agent Darelle Revis. When speaking about his hopeful return, McCourty had this to say.

“I actually spoke to him,” McCourty said on Comcast Sports Net New England’s “Sports Sunday”. “I told him, I feel like, the same thing he would tell me … I want him back here, I want to play with him, he’s a great teammate and the best corner in the game, but I also know it’s a business. I would never hit him up and try to pressure him into doing something. I told him I already gained a teammate for the rest of my NFL career anyway because we already train together. I’ll see him again in Arizona, and hopefully I’ll see him again in July in training camp.”

Devin McCourty has been with the team ever since he was selected in the first round (27th) of the 2010 draft. McCourty has elevated himself as one of the games best safety’s after struggling as a corner. His brother Jason McCourty is a corner for the Tennessee Titans. Devin McCourty will now become the second highest paid safety ever averaging 9.4 million per season only eclipsed by Earl Thomas when he signed a 4 year, 40 million dollar extension last season.