New England Patriots linebackers breakdown

0 Flares Twitter 0 Facebook 0 Google+ 0 StumbleUpon 0 LinkedIn 0 Pin It Share 0 Reddit 0 0 Flares ×

VIDEO: Great Patriots Linebackers. Watch Epic Video Below..

The Patriots played their home games at Foxboro Stadium from 1971 to 2001, then moved to Gillette Stadium at the start of the 2002 season. The Patriots’ rivalry with the New York Jets is considered one of the most bitter rivalries in the NFL.

“Maybe, but I’m in the ring business,” Hightower said after the Pro Bowlers were selected. “So I’m happy for (Collins), Chandler (Jones), all the guys that made it. But I’m more into team goals and accolades. That’s awesome. Hopefully next year I’ll get there or whatever, but I’m more into team goals.”

The Patriots‘ current coach, Bill Belichick, was hired in 2000, and a new home field, Gillette Stadium, was opened in 2002. Under Belichick, the team won three Super Bowls in four years (2001, 2003, and 2004), and finished the 2007 regular season with a perfect 16–0 record, becoming only the fourth team in league history to go undefeated in the regular season, and the only one since the league expanded its regular season schedule to 16 games. After advancing to Super Bowl XLII, the team’s fourth Super Bowl in seven years, the Patriots were defeated by the Giants to end their bid for a 19–0 season. With the loss, the Patriots ended the year at 18–1, becoming only one of three teams to go 18–1 along with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears. The Patriots’ returned to the Super Bowl in 2012 but lost again to the New York Giants, 21–17. In 2015, they won Super Bowl XLIX, defeating the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 28–24.

The most likely scenario: The Pats do extend him soon, agreeing to a long-term deal with a hefty signing bonus and a low base salary that escalates through the duration of the contract.

Jerod Mayo: The team can save $7 million if it cuts Mayo, who carries an $11.4 million cap hit in 2016. Mayo has a $4 million roster bonus that is guaranteed if he is on the team at the beginning of the new league year.

If the two sides don’t work out a restructure, the Pats are almost certain to pass on his option and make him an unrestricted free agent. Mayo’s past three seasons have ended on the injured reserve.

Jonathan Freeny: Signed through 2016, Freeny is on the books for a base salary of $1 million next season. The Patriots seemed pleased with his play a year ago. He could stand to improve in coverage, but it seems likely that he’ll be around for the 2016 season.

Darius Fleming: Also signed through 2016, Fleming will have a chance to compete for a top backup job in camp. He has been with the organization since 2014.

Jon Bostic: An early season acquisition from Chicago, Bostic never panned out in 2015. He is signed through 2016 but is no guarantee to make the roster.

Kevin Snyder: A Rutgers product, Snyder was promoted from the active roster to the practice squad during the playoffs. His contract is through 2016, a sign that the Pats intend on developing him next season.

James Vaughters: Vaughters was a college teammate of Jordan Richards at Stanford. He signed a futures deal with the Pats late in the 2015 season.