McCourty, Patriots ready for season to start
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. (AP)
Devin McCourty made it safely through one of the most difficult days an NFL
player can experience during the grind of a long season.
With final cutdown day now behind him, the New England Patriots
cornerback is focused on one of the best days.
And he's not alone.
''Definitely
anxious. I'm always excited to get the season started. Tennessee's a
good opponent,'' Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said Sunday of next
week's opener against the Titans. ''First game of the season, always
got the jitters, always ready to go and always excited for the game to
come.
''As you can see, college football started this week and
it was exciting watching all that. It's just getting you more excited
to get going.''
That eager anticipation was more a feeling of anxiety for a handful of
players just a few short days ago.
 |
| Devin
McCourty New England Patriotsvs Vincent Jackson San Diego Chargers 9/18/2011 (Jim Rogash/Getty Images) |
When
the Patriots trimmed their roster from 75 to 53 on Friday, it was more
emotional than usual, as current players said goodbye to a few
veterans, including wide receiver Deion Branch, longtime center Dan Koppen and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer.
''It always humbles
you. I think you've got to realize how blessed you are to have the
opportunity to continue to play,'' McCourty said. ''We come into camp
with 90 guys and all those guys I think they put it all out on the line
to be on the team. To get released, you definitely feel for those guys.
''Like
I tell a lot of people, it's one of the worst days of being in the NFL,
going through and seeing your friends and stuff, some of those guys you
might never see again, but it's a part of the business,'' he added. ''I
think we're excited to go on, now we've got our team and go out there
and start playing.''
Most players realize it's a business with no guarantees.
Rookie defensive end Chandler Jones already recognizes the differences
between college and the pros.
''A
lot of people have different approaches to their job. As far as me and
my job, it's definitely a business,'' said the first-round pick from
Syracuse. ''Like I said previously, it's how I'm paying my bills from
here on out and you got to approach it the same exact way.''
Perhaps
nobody understands that more than Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who in
a rare moment of candor Sunday expressed the challenges of cutting
players.
''That's the hardest part of the job,'' Belichick said.
''To take players that have played for you, won for you, and players
that have been with us since in the spring, the whole offseason, done
everything we asked them to do, worked hard, sweated, been banged up,
kept going out there, kept playing, kept trying to do everything they
could to make the team, to do what we asked them to do, to give into a
team-first attitude and fashion, to tell those players that they can't
be a part of the team, it's very difficult.
''On the other hand, we all know when we get into this business, that
that's the way it's going to be.''
Branch
was a beloved figure in the Patriots' locker room, a member of two
Super-Bowl winning teams in New England, including the Super Bowl
against the Philadelphia Eagles when he caught a record-tying 11 passes
and was chosen MVP.
The 33-year-old had spent all or parts of
six seasons with the Patriots, developing into one of the most
charismatic and engaging players on the team. Despite being released
Friday, his nameplate was still above his locker Sunday and his
personal belongings in it, including gloves and a portable speaker.
Belichick wouldn't comment on whether Branch would return.
''He
taught so much on the field - how to practice, how to stay motivated
out there, how to always do the rep right so we don't got to repeat it
and everything,'' Gronkowski said. ''He's a great guy, always loved
talking to him and will always be in touch with him.''
The
thought even set in, Gronkowski added, that it could be him down the
road that finds himself in the perilous position of fighting for a
roster spot.
''I think of that on the days like last Friday when
you see people go. It's like, `Man, it could be me someday,' " he said.
''It's definitely the business side of the NFL and you just got to keep
working hard every week, keep working out, keep practicing hard, keep
doing what you got to do so you can stay around.''
With cuts
behind them, the portable lockers gone and familiar faces bidding
farewell, the promise is palpable as the regular season draws near.
''You
dig in big - physically, mentally, everything. You're getting ready.
It's game time now,'' Gronkowski said. ''This is what counts, this is
what starts the season is this game. Everything from here on out
matters.''
Devin
McCourty News
Patriots News
|