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Patriots play tag with Thuney but lose Van Noy, Collins

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Mar 17, 2020

AP photo The Patriots placed the Franchise Tag on veteran guard Joe Thuney on Monday.

The New England Patriots made a couple of moves late Sunday and Monday, but none of them included re-signing/extending soon-to-be free agent Tom Brady.

First, on Sunday night the team

extended the contract of safety Devin McCourty agreed to a reported two-year, $23 million deal, reuniting him with his twin brother,cornerback Jason McCourty, whose option the team recently picked up.

Then on Monday, the team placed the franchise tag on veteran offensive guard Joe Thuney.

Also Monday night, the Patriots lost two of their top linebackers, as the Miami Dolphins reportedly agreed to a four-year, $51 million deal with Kyle Van Noy. Then the Detroit Lions inked Jamie Collins to a three-year deal.

The franchise tag move will give Thuney about $14.7 million for the coming year, unless the parties can agree to a long-term deal. It also gives the Patriots a chance – albeit a slight one – to perhaps trade Thuney for more than maybe the 2021 third round pick the team would have likely received had he signed with someone else as a free agent.

“Joe has been a model teammate and an essential element to our success since joining the team in 2016,” the Patriots said in a statement Monday. “Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach the goal of a long-term agreement.”

Thuney arguably had his best season last year with 17 starts and a second team All-Pro honor. He became the first player in NFL history to start the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the NFL.

The signings of Thuney and McCourty fueled specualation the Patriots are trying to keep their veteran nucleus, including Brady, in tact. But on Monday there was no word that the Patriots and Brady have even formally discussed a new deal, and he officially becomes a free agent at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

There was not much news on Brady during the day on Monday except an NFL Network report that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had made their intentions to want to sign Brady “well known” during the beginning of the legal tampering period. If he does not return to the Patriots, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Chargers appear to be the top two – and maybe only two – options for a landing point.

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The Patriots formally announced the McCourty deal late Sunday night, but McCourty, 33, announced the deal himself a couple hours earlier on a podcast with his brother Jason, reportedly saying “Breaking news! Breaking news! I will be staying in New England. Sign me up.”

Remember, the team had already picked up corner Jason McCourty’s option. Devin McCourty was drafted by the team in the first round in 2010, and has been a captain the last nine seasons, during which he’s played for three Super Bowl champions and four Pro Bowls, all while moving from corner to safety.

Over his Patriots career, McCourty has 26 regular season interceptions, 772 tackles, 86 passes defended, 12 forced fumbles, and three sacks. He has two playoff picks, 111 post season tackles and 10 passes defended.

Now the Patriots world waits to see if another popular veteran is next.

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Van Noy was coached for much of his time in New England by Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who was the linebackers coach and then de facto defensive coordinator with the Patriots. Van Noy and Flores had a love-hate relationship that right now looks like it’s turned to a lot of love.

Van Noy was acquired by the Patriots in a 2016 mid-season trade with the Detroit Lions and developed into one of the better defensive players on the team, thanks in part to the tough love shown him by Flores. He had a career high in total tackles with 92 in 2018 and a career high in sacks last season with 6.5.

Collins was in his second tour of duty with the Patriots and thrived with 81 total tackles, seven sacks and three interceptions. But he, too, reunites with another former Patriots defensive coordinator, Lions coach Matt Patricia.

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