New England Patriots fans will zero in on one play when it comes to Jason McCourty. In Foxborough for three seasons – just long enough to quench his unwavering thirst to be like twin brother Devin and call himself champion – Jason was celebrated in these parts on Friday for his preservation of victory in Super Bowl LIII vs. the Rams.
Honestly, it was a hell of a play – McCourty leaving his man to barely swat an easy touchdown away from Brandin Cooks at the absolute last instant.
But Jason’s impact was more intangible, or at least immeasurable, to the game overall in his 13 pro seasons.
Never once covering this football team did you catch McCourty expending negative energy in that locker room. His brother had set the tone – at least among the DBs – for years.
Jason, dealt to the Patriots from Cleveland in March of 2018 with a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round pick – basically for free – was like a booster shot of attitude. Bill Belichick knew it.
By 2018, Devin was a two-time Super Bowl champ and was held in reverence in these parts, first and foremost by the coaching staff.
Jason was so happy with the move, in the run to Super Bowl LIII, he expressed his delight by penning a January 2019 column in “The Players Tribune.”
McCourty had two interceptions in three seasons. He didn’t register a playoff tackle.
But everyone remembers the breakup on Cooks.
"These past 13 seasons have been one hell of a journey," Jason McCourty said in an Instagram post on Friday. "And as I reflect and look back on my career, I have far surpassed any and every expectation I set for myself back in 2009 -- and that's what I'm most proud of when I look back at my career."
When I think of Jason McCourty, the Patriot, it won’t be that play, though. It will be about his community impact, his activism and his vibrancy around his teammates.
Character matters in the NFL. His 13 seasons are proof —and that shiny ring he picked up at Robert Kraft’s house is proof.
Fascinated by Bailey
I submerged myself in film work this week in an attempt to dissect and determine if Patriots fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe is to be taken seriously this August or whether the Western Kentucky product is a mere distraction from the development of Mac Jones.
Zappe threw for nearly four miles during his one year at Western, following four years at Houston Baptist.
A couple of quick thoughts on him. He was as patient a QB in the pocket as you’ll see.
That could be good. He doesn’t panic, finds the right guy and fires.
It could also mean that the gears don’t mesh, they grind, and it takes some time for him to process.
The latter has sunk many an aspiring QB in the game before they get started.
Honestly, though. He’s going to get real preseason snaps – along with a pair of combined practice weeks (with the Raiders and Panthers -- and Belichick and his staff will get a clear read early).
For the record, remember the name Zach Kittley, Zappe’s OC at both schools and now the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech.
You don’t throw 62 TD passes in a season without your coach creating some wide-open throwing windows.
Kittley is a rising star in the coaching game.
Zone it up
The Sports Hub’s Scott Zolak continues to drop hints here or there that the elimination of the fullback from the Patriots roster is less of a thought that tight end Jonnu Smith will get pushed into more of a hybrid type of role and is more about the offense moving to a more spread, one-back, zone-blocking scheme.
Zolak is the team’s radio color commentator and has tremendous sources at Patriot Place.
The Patriots gave Smith nearly $32 million guaranteed when they lured him away from Tennessee heading into last season.
He’s committed to the offseason program, and you know that Belichick has his staff working to get all they can out of the investment.
Just because a man gets paid like a blue-chipper doesn’t mean he is one. Smith’s numbers with the Patriots a year ago – 28 catches for 294 yards – were only slightly off his season averages in four years at Tennessee – 28.5 catches for 325.5 yards.
Dead cap talk
If Belichick happens to sour on the once-sparkling, recent free-agent purchases, a couple of which have gotten lost in his Foxborough junk drawer, Spotrac.com provides the “dead cap value” for each.
So, say Jonnu Smith is a lost cause? He’ll be kept around, for certain, considering his dead-cap hit is $26.5 million this year.
What if Matt Judon’s late-season disappearance – zero sacks in the final five games of 2021 – continues, and he became expendable? Well, he’s not, not at a dead cap hit of $24.5 million.
Even a guy like Jalen Mills ($5.375 million) would hurt for a team that is currently pinned against the number.
And for those of you looking to move on from Nelson Agholor to let the rookie Tyquan Thornton grow? You should know that his dead cap hit is $10 million.
Do you truly believe in Pats?
Finally, with training camp approaching, there remains absolutely minimum love for these New England Patriots.
According to betonline.ag, the Patriots' over-under win total remains at 8.5 with the over costing you -125 as a price.
The Pats are now +4000 (100 to win 4000) to win the Super Bowl, +2200 to win the AFC and +600 to win the AFC East division.
Moral of the story? If you truly believe in Mac Jones and Bill Belichick et al, it’s a good time to put your money where your mouth is.