Jason McCourty Wants to Remain with Patriots

A few days after Devin McCourty announced his plans to play in 2019, Jason McCourty made it clear he will also continue his career.

"I was never contemplating retirement," Jason said. "I got grouped into Dev's thing."

But unlike Devin, Jason is not under contract for next season.
Devin is set to play his 10th season with the New England Patriots. The safety will earn $9.5 million in the final year of his contract. His brother Jason, who won a Super Bowl title in his first season in New England, wants to stay with the Patriots. The 31-year-old cornerback hopes to avoid joining his third team in as many seasons while continuing to play with his twin brother Devin.

“First and foremost, if I could be back in New England and all of that works out, that would be awesome,” (Jason) McCourty said Sunday to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston. “That way it wouldn’t be the third consecutive year I had to move my family. That would be an advantage. But at the same time you realize how much of this is a business and how much of this isn’t dictated by (the feeling), ‘Hey, I just want to play here with my brother and the guys I built a relationship with.’ There’s so much more that goes into it."

McCourty will become an unrestricted free agent on March 13. He spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans, then played for the Cleveland Browns in their winless 2017 campaign, before being traded to New England last offseason.

Jason McCourty would like to continue playing for the Patriots. (NBC Sports Photo)

McCourty made one of the most crucial plays in the Patriots' Super Bowl LIII victory when he chased down a pass from Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, knocking the ball away from the intended target Brandin Cooks, who was open in the back of the end zone.

Per @NextGenStats Jason McCourty was 19.2 (!!!) yards away from Brandin Cooks when Jared Goff released this pass pic.twitter.com/krJDeZoNtV

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) February 5, 2019

Devin McCourty to Return for 2019 Season

Devin McCourty announced he will return for the 2019 NFL season. The 31-year-old New England Patriots safety had said before Super Bowl LIII he was considering retirement, but has decided against hanging up his cleats for now.

"Yeah, I'm gonna play," McCourty told the Sports Spectrum podcast.

Patriots Devin McCourty @McCourtyTwins told us on an upcoming podcast he's planning on playing in 2019.

WATCH 👇https://t.co/EuZU02bVur

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 22, 2019

A three-time Super Bowl champion, McCourty has been the backbone of the Patriots’ secondary since being drafted in 2010.  A team captain since 2011, the safety earned Pro Bowl nods in 2010 and 2016, and was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2010, 2013 and 2016. McCourty has amassed 714 tackles, 80 passes defended, 21 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, three sacks and a defensive TD in his nine seasons with New England.

McCourty has appeared in 139 career regular-season games, starting all of them. He has played in 22 playoff games, as well.

Despite his age, McCourty has remained an effective player and is a leader on defense. McCourty is due $9.5 million this upcoming season—the final year of his contract.

McCourty’s brother Jason is an unrestricted free agent. He won a Super Bowl in his first season with the team. There is no word if Jason is pondering retirement. The Patriots will likely try to retain the cornerback's services.

Miami's Amendola, Parker in Danger of Getting Cut

Changes are coming to the Miami Dolphins’ receiving corps. The Miami Herald's Adam Beasley considers DeVante Parker "all but gone" and reports Danny Amendola is “iffy” to return for a second season with the Dolphins.

Amendola, 33, led the Dolphins with 59 catches and 575 receiving yards in 2018. Those are far from impressive numbers—especially relative to his $6 million salary he earned last season—but demonstrates Miami’s lack of production from their wideouts. Amendola will net $6 million again this season if he is not waived. He has a chance to stick around because of his familiarity with the Dolphins new coaching staff—led by head coach Brian Flores, formerly of the New England Patriots. Amendola played for new offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea in New England when he was the Patriots' WRs coach.

Will Danny Amendola play a second season in Miami? (Getty Images)

Parker carries a $9.387 million salary in the final year of his deal. Selected No. 14 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, Parker has been a major disappointment in the pros. He caught only 24 passes in 11 games played with one TD last year. His salary is not guaranteed if released, giving Miami all the incentive to cut bait with the 26-year-old.

Veteran Kenny Stills could even be on the way out, according to Beasley. The Dolphins would save $4 million in cap space if they release Stills, who turns 27 in April. Stills caught 37 passes for 553 yards in 2018. His 36.9 receiving yards per contest were his lowest since his first year with the Dolphins in 2015. Stills did find the end zone six times, a team-high among Miami receivers.

Before hurting his hip, Albert Wilson was having a career year in his first season with the Dolphins. In seven games played, he logged 391 receiving yards with four TDs and even threw an additional touchdown pass. He was on pace to lead the team in receiving before being placed on injured reserve. Wilson is on track for Miami’s offseason program and may be the only wideout not in danger of getting released.

The Dolphins are expected to explore free agency, trades and the NFL Draft to augment their receiving core.

Bruce Bochy to Retire After 2019 Season

Bruce Bochy has announced he will retire after the 2019 MLB season. The San Francisco Giants manager, set to turn 64 in April, is a three-time World Series champion. The skipper won titles with the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

The 2019 MLB season will be Bruce Bochy's last as a manager. (Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports)

A skipper in the majors since 1995, Bochy first managed the San Diego Padres. He was named the NL Manager of the Year in 1996 and helped the Padres win the NL pennant in 1998. The New York Yankees swept the Padres in the '98 World Series.

Bochy went on to win the NL West in 2005 and 2006—the only time in Padres history the franchise won consecutive division titles—before he left for the Giants after San Diego's front office indicated it wanted a younger manager. In 12 seasons with the Padres, Bochy won four division crowns, highlighted by the NL pennant in '98. He compiled a 951-975 record in the regular season and an 8-16 mark in the playoffs with San Diego.

While Bochy struggled in his first two seasons with San Francisco—losing over 90 games in 2007 and 2008—the team won 88 games in 2009. The following year, the Giants won the NL West—their first division title since 2003—before an unheralded postseason run that ended with the team’s first World Series title since the franchise moved from New York to San Francisco.

The Giants’ subsequent World Series titles in 2012 and 2014 gave them three championships in five years, securing the first baseball dynasty of the 21^st century.

Bochy, a near-lock to make the Hall of Fame, has amassed 1,926 wins in his first 24 seasons, placing him No. 11 on the all-time manager wins list. If the Giants win 83 or more games this season, he would enter the top-10 in victories, surpassing Leo Durocher (2,008 career wins). 

The over/under win total for the Giants in 2019 is 73.5, according to BetOnline.ag. 

Pelicans Lose Davis to Injury, Beat Thunder

Anthony Davis left Thursday night’s home contest versus the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left shoulder injury, but the New Orleans Pelicans managed to secure an upset win.

Without Davis, forward Julius Randle and guard Jrue Holiday led the way. Randle finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Holiday had 32 points, five rebounds and seven assists in the 131-122 victory. Holiday defended Thunder All-Star forward Paul George and held him to 11-of-29 shooting—including 3-of-17 from three-point territory. George scored 28 points with seven rebounds, six assists, one blocked shot and one steal.

Davis exited the Smoothie King Center with his agent, Rich Paul, in the second half. MRI results revealed the All-Star suffered a muscle contusion but "nothing too bad," according to ESPN. Davis will get treatment on the shoulder over the next few days. He will see how he feels before deciding whether he can play in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Charlotte.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry had no interest in discussing Davis—who publicly requested a trade but was ultimately not dealt before the NBA’s trade deadline—and shifted his focus on his players who carried the team to a victory.

"I'm gonna talk about the guys that play," Gentry said. "They did a great job. We found a way to win the game. That's what's important."

Gentry lauded his players for stepping up and winning a game against one of the best teams in the Western Conference, in spite of all the drama surrounding his squad.

"I'm happy for all of them," Gentry said. "Because to tell you the truth, this whole thing has been a dumpster fire. We want guys to be professional and we want them to do this, but it's hard for guys to go through what they've been through. And to be able to come out and beat a team of that quality, I'm happy for all the guys. I just thought they did a great job."

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook accomplished two incredible feats in the defeat. He increased his triple-double streak to 11 games—an NBA record—by scoring 44 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists. Despite the loss, Oklahoma City is 9-2 during Westbrook’s streak. In addition to increasing his triple-double streak, Westbrook became the all-time leading scorer in Sonics/Thunder franchise history. He surpassed Gary Payton (18,207 points) and now has accumulated 18,247 points in his storied career.

3 Potential Destinations for Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Lynch will become an unrestricted free agent in March and has yet to declare whether he will continue his NFL career. Lynch, who turns 33 in April, came out of retirement in 2017 to play for his hometown Oakland Raiders after sitting out the 2016 season.

Here are three ideal free agent destinations for Lynch, assuming the five-time Pro Bowler returns for a 12th season in the NFL.

Oakland Raiders

Returning to the Raiders is a realistic possibility for Lynch. Head coach Jon Gruden said he “would love” to have Lynch back.  And there is certainly reason for the Raiders to re-sign the sturdy tailback.

Before hurting his groin—which sidelined him for the final 10 games of last season—Lynch was carrying the rock with authority and forcing plenty of missed tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, Lynch amassed 23 missed tackles and 311 yards after contact in Weeks 1-6. Among halfbacks with over 50 carries in that time span, Lynch ranked first in forced missed tackles per attempt (0.26) and sixth in yards after contact per attempt (3.46). He gained 72.2 percent of his yards after contact, per Pro Football Focus. Lynch accomplished this despite running behind a dreadful offensive line that was hit hard by injuries.

Marshawn Lynch has yet to decide whether he will continue his NFL career. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Lynch’s age and his inability to stay healthy last year is certainly a concern, but the Raiders’ lack of depth at the position could ultimately pave the way for him to suit up for a third season with the franchise.

New Orleans Saints

Mark Ingram is a free agent and may not return to New Orleans. The versatile Alvin Kamara is now the focal point of the Saints’ rushing attack and Ingram could seek a destination where he can carve out the lead running back role.

If Ingram were to leave in free agency, the Saints would need a replacement to compliment Kamara, who is not an every-down halfback—as evidenced by his 62.61 percent snap count rate in 2018.

Lynch could fit the bill for the Saints, who might be in need of an inside runner. Potentially filling the shoes of Ingram, Lynch would be tasked with goal-line carries and short-yardage situations. He’d be called upon to work in two-back sets in tandem with Kamara and provide solid pass protection.

The only other running back on the Saints’ roster is Dwayne Washington. He rushed for 108 yards in the team’s regular-season finale with the majority of the starters resting, but aside from that has failed to make a significant impact in the league since being drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers ranked 29th in rushing last season and need reinforcements at offensive line and perhaps at running back. Ronald Jones, a second-round draft selection, had a disastrous rookie campaign. He was on the field for only eight percent of the Bucs’ offensive plays and struggled in limited opportunities, rushing for a paltry 1.9 yards per attempt. The team’s No. 1 running back, Peyton Barber, managed to log just one game with over 100 yards rushing.

Lynch could be drawn to the rushing-needy Bucs, especially after they inked Bruce Arians to a four-year contract. While Arians is known for having a pass-heavy offense, he is a respected coach that may lure Lynch to Tampa Bay.

76ers the Biggest Winner of NBA's Trade Deadline

By acquiring Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers now own the best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference. Their starting-five features 2019 All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, along with Jimmy Butler, J.J. Redick and Harris.

Harris has made 43.4 percent of his 3-pointers this season, shooting 49.6 percent overall. He averaged 20.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest with an 18.69 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) with LA. Harris can play on or off the ball, which gives head coach Brett Brown more lineup versatility. The 6-foot-8 forward will be utilized as a stretch four in a lot of lineups.

Mike Scott and Boban Marjanovic were also sent to Philadelphia in the trade. Scott can serve as a backup power forward, while Marjanovic will be used as a center off the bench.

The 76ers’ acquisition of Harris comes just a few months after the team traded for Butler, a four-time All-Star. First-year GM Elton Brand and the 76ers are going all-in for this season.

"We believe we are in position to contend now," Brand said, "and our moves reflect that belief."

Philadelphia did give up on Markelle Fultz—shipping the second-year guard to the Orlando Magic for Jonathon Simmons, a protected first-round pick and a second-round pick—but the NBA's 2017 No. 1 overall pick had no future with the 76ers. Brand said the Fultz trade was made so Philadelphia could add wing depth—and it accomplished that by landing Simmons.

"The goal there, we expected him to be back some time this season," Brand said when asked what went into trading Fultz now. "That was our hope. But right now we had a chance to add a player, wing depth, and so we had to go do it now."

Simmons wasn’t the only wing Brand added at the trade deadline. The 76ers also traded for James Ennis from the Houston Rockets, who viewed the swingman expendable after they acquired Iman Shumpert from the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets saved $2.4 million by trading Ennis to the 76ers and are now $2.4 million above the tax threshold.

The 76ers' flurry of moves at the trade deadline enable them to challenge the East's elite and reach their first Finals since 2001.

15 Best Performances of Super Bowl LIII

Highlighting the 15 best performances from the New England Patriots' 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

15. Jason McCourty
McCourty made one of the most crucial plays in the Patriots' Super Bowl LIII victory when he chased down a pass from Rams quarterback Jared Goff, knocking the ball away from the intended target Brandin Cooks, who was open in the back of the end zone.

Per @NextGenStats Jason McCourty was 19.2 (!!!) yards away from Brandin Cooks when Jared Goff released this pass pic.twitter.com/krJDeZoNtV

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) February 5, 2019

14. Johnny Hekker
Hekker, a Pro Bowler for the Rams in 2018, set a Super Bowl record with a 65-yard punt and had five punts inside the 20-yard line.
13. Dont'a Hightower
The Patriots linebacker recorded a game-best two sacks.
12. Stephen Gostkowski
The Patriots kicker sealed the deal with a 41-yard field goal to put the Patriots up 10 with a little over a minute remaining. He missed a field goal in the first quarter, but made a 42-yard kick in the second quarter and converted his only PAT.

Stephen Gostkowski puts the Patriots up 10! #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/hbBrW2zHPm

— Sports Daily (@SportsDGI) February 4, 2019

11. Jonathan Jones
Jones led the Patriots in tackles (eight) and had one sack.
10. New England's Offensive Line
The Patriots' O-line dominated throughout the playoffs. They paved the way for their running backs to run wild in their Super Bowl win.
9. Brandin Cooks
The former Patriot, Cooks was the only Rams player to produce on the offensive end. He caught eight passes for 120 yards.
8. Rob Gronkowski
Gronkowski's 29-yard reception, which set up Sony Michel's decisive fourth-quarter TD, was the game's longest play from scrimmage. He had six catches for 87 yards. Gronkowski holds Super Bowl records among tight ends in catches (23) and receiving yards (297).
7. Tom Brady
Brady was far from great—throwing an interception on his first pass and finishing with a 71.4 passer rating—but considerably outplayed Goff. He finished with 262 passing yards in the win to claim his sixth Super Bowl title.
6. Sony Michel
Michel rushed for 94 yards and the lone TD of the game. He extended his rookie record with his sixth TD of these playoffs.

Sony Michel scored the only TD of Super Bowl LIII. (Image via Boston Globe)

5. Kyle Van Noy
Van Noy was all over the field on Super Sunday, totaling four tackles, a pass defended, three QB hits and a critical sack. 
4. Brian Flores
Flores, set to be the newest coach of the Miami Dolphins after serving as the linebackers coach of the Patriots and the team's defensive play-caller, put forth a great scheme on Sunday. While it may be Belichick's defense, Flores deserves a lot of credit for holding the Rams, the No. 2 scoring offense in 2018, to three points.
3. Stephon Gilmore
Gilmore had the biggest defensive play of the night, intercepting an errant Goff pass. Gilmore, one of two Patriots players to earn a Pro Bowl nod, had five tackles and three passes defended.
2. Bill Belichick
The greatest coach in NFL history won his sixth Super Bowl title with New England, stiffing the Rams' high-powered offense. The Rams gained just 260 yards (4.3 per play), their second-lowest total of the season and finished 3-for-13 on third downs. The Rams tied the 1971 Dolphins for fewest points in a Super Bowl. LA ran zero plays in the red zone.
1. Julian Edelman
The Super Bowl MVP finished with 10 catches for 141 yards, accounting for more than half of the Patriots' total receiving yardage (262). 

Julian Edelman holds his Super Bowl MVP trophy. (David J. Phillip/AP)

Edelman routinely came up with big plays in huge moments, converting on critical third downs and helping to spark an otherwise ineffective offense. Edelman has 115 career postseason catches for 1,412 yards, ranking second only to Jerry Rice all time in both playoff categories.