The Patriots' top priority this offseason appeared to be retaining offensive tackle Nate Solder, but they lost out on him as he signed with the Giants earlier this week.
His reported deal is for four years and $62 million, making him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
Speaking on a conference call with the Giants media Friday morning, Solder explained how he ultimately decided to sign with the Giants.
"Yeah, so it was a tough decision," he said to reporters. "There were three really good teams that were kind of in the running and it came down to a couple things. The money was all somewhat equal and it just came down to where my family was going to be most comfortable. My wife's family lives here [Southbury, Connecticut]. This organization is incredible, just the reputation that we know and the reputation that precedes them. At about 2 a.m. we kind of worked out a deal and kind of took our time figuring out what we're going to do and we're so fortunate to be where we're at."
Solder didn't name the three teams that were in the running, but without knowing for sure, the fact that he said "where my family was going to be most comfortable" and mentioned his wife's family being from Connecticut, that seems to say the Patriots were not one of those teams. Foxboro is equally as close to Connecticut.
Besides New England, Cleveland and Houston were also reported to be interested in Solder.
The offensive tackle also gave an update on his son Hudson, who is battling kidney cancer.
"He's doing awesome, really awesome," he said. "We're so thankful. He has one more treatment left. ... So maybe for now he'll be done with chemo and they do that all very conservatively because they know that things can change and it's never over, but we're all very encouraged and very excited with the way his treatments have gone."
The Patriots have yet to find a replacement for Solder at left tackle.
