After a super busy start to free agency that saw the Patriots agreed to terms with seven players on the first day of legal tampering, the Pats have continued to compliment a reloaded 2021 roster by taking care of their own free agents.
In the last weekish we've seen Dave Andrews shock the world by resigning with the Pats to a Brady-like team friendly deal (perhaps all those years of Brady rubbing up on David Andrews rubbed off?); Nick Folk, twice a winner of AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in 2020, is back on a one-year deal and DL Deatrich Wise, Jr. is locked up for the next four years. Next up for the Pats, resigning two members of their All 2010s team; Super Bowl LI should've-been CO-MVP, James White and defensive tackle Lawrence Guy.
Done and done (pending a physical); LFG!
I assumed James was going to be another potential Ex-Pat that heads to Tampa, and with all the signings the Pats have made on defense, I figured Guy was leaving too. Like the chorus of today's song of the day, I WAS WRONNGG and thank God I was! Both Guy and White were team captains last season so it's great to have some leaders on both the field and in the locker room back in the fold. As of now, Jason McCourty is the only captain from last season not under contact. I still think Duron Harmon deserved a spot on the All-Decade Team over Guy, but in a base 4-3 defense, I understand why it worked out the way it did. I know 2018 is "a long time ago," but both James White and Lawrence Guy were MONSTERS that season.
I'm not holding James White's drop in statistical production against him. The dude fucking lost his dad in a car accident and Cam,,,struggled at times which contributed to James having over 30 fewer targets in 2020 than he did in 2019 catching passes from Tom Brady. Since entering the league in 2014 and becoming an actual contributor to the offense the following season, James White has been in a class by himself in terms of versatility.
In the playoffs, James White has cemented himself into NFL lore. Of course, there's his record-setting 14 receptions for 110 yards, three total touchdowns, AND a two-point conversion performance in Super Bowl LI, but during the Patriots 2017 playoff run, he scored a touchdown in every game. In the 2018 Divisional round, he had 15 receptions. In 12 career playoff games, James White has scored eight touchdowns. Of all the receiving backs the Patriots have employed over the last 20 years IMO James White is the best. After a poor showing the 2015 AFC Championship Game, James White has done nothing but produce in the playoffs. I'm so happy to see the Patriots reward him with a fully guaranteed deal for 2021. He deserves it after all he went through last year.
I'm not trying to wish my summer away before it even starts, but I cannot wait for football. It's great to be offseason champs, but I'm all in on the Patriots being legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2021. Just gotta resign JC Jackson and pray Cam can throw!
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