Devin McCourty is Returning, Bringing Ring No. 7 One Step Closer to Reality

“Yeah, I’m gonna play. … It was media night when Deion [Sanders] said that to me, and it’s like, ‘Yeah man, if we win a Super Bowl, I don’t know what else can top that.’ And I think in that moment I kind of forgot like, I don’t play this game just to win Super Bowls. There’s so much more that comes from me playing the game that I love. And I think once you get a chance to step away for a couple weeks, now you’re like, ‘Yeah man, I still want to be around these other young guys that come in. …’

“I remember me and Nate Solder had that conversation after we won our first Super Bowl. Both of us had been on the team in 2011 when we lost. And after losing the AFC championship twice. And there’s this feeling like ‘Man, we won the Super Bowl?!?’ And then I remember coming in in April and the first thing you hear from Bill is how much you suck and how much last year doesn’t matter. And it kind of made you realize that if you only play this game for Super Bowls you’re gonna be very empty. Because as soon as you win it, it’s all about how you can win it next year. I’ve been five times and won three. But all anybody cares about is if you can win a seventh for the New England organization. So you have to play for so much more.”
- Devin McCourty

I’ll be the first to admit that in the normal course of things, a 31-year-old announcing he’s not retiring isn’t newsworthy. I mean, it’s not often that you’re walking out the door on Friday and tell your fellow cube monkey have a nice weekend and he gathers everyone together, stands on his desk and dramatically announces he shall be returning to work on Monday. The next time you’re stepping out with the fellas some night, try formally announcing to you wife that you will staying on as her husband in the morning and see how fast she grabs your keys.

But with Devin McCourty, it’s significant. It’s of major significance. That conversation he had with Deion Sanders was this one during Super Bowl week, when it sure as hell sounded like he was considering retirement if the Pats won:

Well he thought about it. And we have our answer. And it’s the best possible one. You can’t overstate the significance of McCourty’s decision or its positive effect on this team as it takes its first step on what some people are starting to call the Stairway to Seven. (Note: I’m not sure about that as a slogan. But if it gains traction, I’ll take full credit.)

There is nothing Belichick likes better than to answer a question about roster-building than by saying each year you have to start over. And no metaphor he embraces with more passion than the one where he compares it to building a house. You lay the foundation. Then you start framing it out, etc. Well McCourty’s decision to return is nothing less than laying the cornerstone that you can build the rest of the house around.

With all due respect to Stephon Gilmore, Dont’a Hightower, Trey Flowers, Pat Chung or anyone at any level of the Pats defense, no one plays a role more significant than Devin McCourty’s. A scheme that likes to work from the top, down. Taking away the opponent’s deep-shots first, then forcing them to move the chains repeatedly with underneath stuff and limited yards after the catch needs a great free safety. Plus he’s the guy who quarterbacks the secondary. Makes all the adjustments. Calls out the coverage rotations.

Not to mention what he brings in terms of legitimate leadership. Not just “Hey look at me” bullshit when the cameras are around. But real moral authority based on having a total understanding of the system. Listen to Devin talking about the adjustment Jason McCourty made to break up that Brandin Cooks catch in the end zone:

And his pregame talk, which still makes me want to run through my computer screen, three weeks later:

Losing D-Mac to retirement would have left a Marianas-sized trench in the middle of the Patriots secondary. One that would’ve taken years and probably dozens of draft picks out of Rutgers to fill. And caused a ripple effect throughout the defense, as they probably would’ve had a hard time keeping J-Mac, who played 100 percent of the snaps in one of the top defensive performances in Super Bowl history. Now, we don’t have to worry about it. Undoubtedly the McCourty twins won’t want to split up again. The first big roster move of 2019 had happened, and it is a pure positive. That seventh ring McCourty talked about is that much closer, thanks to him.