When it comes to the Patriots and free agency, all everyone can talk about is Tom Brady.
But, what people forget is the team has a number of free agents on the defensive side of the ball, including some important ones.
Speaking to various outlets on Radio Row at the Super Bowl, Devin McCourty, Elandon Roberts and Kyle Van Noy all shared their approaches going into free agency, which kicks off in just over a month.
McCourty is the biggest name, being one of the leaders on the defensive side of the ball and having spent all 10 of his NFL seasons in New England.
"We'll see how it goes. I think when you're in the league for 10 years now, you see how it's a business... so it's a cool headline if I say I want to be back. Yeah, everybody writes that, but that doesn't really matter, you know what I mean?" McCourty said to NBC Sports Boston. "We're just entering February, we'll still have a full month before you really even kick into gear about free agency. I still got to see who's interested.
"But it's exciting for me. My kids are two and one (years old). They can go anywhere -- we're just excited to be in this position, to have played in my 10th year, had a good year and still have an opportunity to play and further my career."
His twin brother Jason has a team option for 2020, and McCourty said in an ideal world the two would continue playing together.
Meanwhile, three Patriots linebackers will also be free agents -- Roberts, Van Noy and Jamie Collins.
Roberts will be a free agent for the first time in his career and he said while he wouldn't mind a return to New England, he knows it is a business.
“New England, we definitely have some — I mean, that’s where I started,” he said, via NESN.com. “Who wouldn’t want to be back where they started? But at the end of the day, it’s a business. So it’s going to be a great one. … I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s going to go. It’s my first go-round (in free agency), so it’s going to be an experience. Whether I’m back in New England or somewhere else, I’ll just have fun with it."
Roberts added: “I’m just approaching it one day at a time. My film speaks for itself, so it’s not in my hands. I can’t stress about it.”
As for Van Noy, he said the week of the wild card game wanted to stay with the Patriots, but also get paid. Of course, that typically isn't an approach the Patriots like, but roughly a month later, the linebacker still wants to stay in New England.
“For me personally, I want to do what’s best for my family and I would love to stay in New England,” Van Noy said to CBS Sports HQ. “It’s going to be home forever. I won Super Bowls there now, the fans have embraced me like their own, I feel like I’m a Bostonian at heart. The food, the culture, everything. I’m in it with them when I go to the Bruins games, the Celtics games, so I’m very, very confident in regards to staying at home. That would be an honor to finish out my career with the New England Patriots.”
These players can re-sign with the team at any time, but they cannot speak to other teams until the legal tampering period begins on March 16.
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