The Patriots still have deep safety, with rookies Devin McCourty and Adrian Phillips, and the team’s first choice in the 2020 draft, Kyle Dugger, is back this year.
FOXBOROUGH – Veteran safety of New England Patriots, Patrick Chung, who expected to play this season after choosing not to play the 2020 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, reversed course and announced his retirement on Thursday.
GeneralThe 33-year-old wrote on his Instagram account that “it’s time to start a new life”.
It would have been the twelfth campaign of NFL for General, and the eleventh with Patriots. He played in 153 games in the regular season, with 122 starts, in addition to 23 games in the playoffs, with another 20 starts.
After initially signing with the team as a draft pick in the second round of 2009 Oregon, General was part of three champion teams at the Super Bowl in New England. Spent a campaign with Philadelphia Eagles, in 2013, but returned the following season and said that the only coach he intended to play for was Bill Belichick.
In his Instagram post, General he said he was making his retirement announcement with tears, thanking him Belichick because “he taught me life on and off the field.”
General, whose toughness, versatility and work ethic have often been praised by Belichick, is the only player in history NFL to appear in the playoffs in each of his first 11 seasons. He was selected as a member of the Patriots’ team in 2010.
General he chose not to play in 2020 for family reasons, noting in an interview with CBS: “It was a difficult decision. You want to play football. I’m on the last step of my career, but when it comes to that, I feel like money doesn’t matter. I have a pregnant girlfriend, a baby soon, my son has asthma, my father is 75 years old. I felt it was the best decision for my family and to keep everyone healthy. I don’t know it’s over, it was just a little delayed. “
Given the General had recently trained in Gillette Stadium, suggesting he wanted to play in 2021. But, things have obviously changed in recent weeks.
Patriots have depth in the safe position with the titles Devin McCourty Yes Adrian Phillips, and the team’s first pick in the 2020 draft, Kyle Dugger, turning me around. They also reached a four-year, $ 24 million contract with the free agent’s defensive back. Jalen Mills, which was changed from corner to safety last season with eagle.