It’s difficult to picture former New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty in anything other than a Patriots uniform. Nevertheless, he almost left the organization for a few select teams.
McCourty appeared on Chris Long’s “Green Light” podcast and talked about the free agency process following the expiration of his rookie contract in 2015. New England wanted to keep cornerback Darrelle Revis, who had signed a one-year deal the previous year, on the roster.
Meanwhile, McCourty had his sights set on other teams, after it initially seemed like New England wasn’t going to make him a priority.
Of course, he ended up coming back to the organization, but there was a period of time where things did not look that way.
“The first time I was a free agent, [Darrelle] Revis also came for that one year, and Revis was a free agent,” said McCourty. “So I think the team [thought], ‘I’m the born-in Patriot, we got to keep him. But it’s like, we got a chance to keep Darrelle Revis.’ I think once it fell through with Revis, I think that’s when they came back. But that year, talking to Philadelphia and Jacksonville, I was pretty close in leaving.”
One has to wonder how things might have played out if McCourty ended up leaving the organization. However, things worked out pretty well for him in winning multiple Super Bowls and retiring with the same team that drafted him.