Patriots offered David Harris more than the Jets did

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The specific details of the contract to be signed by linebacker David Harris with the Patriots inevitably will come out. For now, they’re not.

But here’s what we know, per a source with knowledge of the situation: The Patriots offered Harris more than the Jets did on a reduced deal, before the Jets cut him.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was one of six coaches who spoke with Harris last week. Ultimately, he chose to visit the Patriots today. And he signed with them today. The contract already has been negotiated; this was simply a matter of confirming that Harris and the Patriots are a fit.

And they are. He’ll be their first true middle linebacker since Jerod Mayo, and he decided that he was only going to continue his career if he had a chance to win a Super Bowl.

Harris, we’re told, doesn’t need the money. He’s playing at this point for love of game and legacy. He’ll have a chance to add to it with the Patriots, and he’ll have two shots at the Jets along the way.

56 responses to “Patriots offered David Harris more than the Jets did

  1. Waiting for the eventual comments, “Belichick just wanted to steal the Jets playbook.” Like the jets have a playbook. And if they do, the Pats probably know it better than the Jets.

  2. LOL!!!!!

    I called it.

    3-4 MLB on 1st and 2nd downs. With the money offered, you’d like to think they have something in mind for him.

    I wonder if this means Hightower sees more time at 3-4 OLB now with Elandon Roberts and Harris down the middle at MLB?

    Serves the scumbag Jets right.

  3. Cool. I was sort of hoping this would happen. Fills a need. Plus I like the added bonus of singing other AFC East guys that have been competing in the AFC East for some time now. They have prior experience vs the division we are trying to win. I like it.

  4. textbook Patriots move…get a guy who is sick of playing for a trash franchise and only wants one thing at this point….to win a ring…

  5. if he doesn’t “need the money” then why didn’t he accept the Jets reduced offer?

  6. not a pats fan (far from it) but I respect them: this signing illustrates perfectly why the Patriots have their success, and the Jets have their failures…

  7. This is going to wind up being the deepest team in the history of the NFL, if it’s not already. And that’s on top of already being one of the most talented. Sucks for the rest of us haha…

  8. The Jets only paid him $55,000,000 during his time with the team. Who wouldn’t want to get some revenge after being treated so badly?

  9. Great signing, vet leadership and durability at the thinnest spot at the roster. Don’t think he’ll rack up 100 tackles (nor do we need him to), but the fact that he can sub in for Hightower to keep him fresh is key.

  10. Didn’t Harris say when he was cut that he never got an offer from the Jets. This is a bunch of agent speak again.

  11. This is exactly what I expected.

    … but I’d at least like to be lied to and be told that the Packers reached out to this guy. Which I know is bunk.. but he’s a leader, who has been productive, not overly expensive, and fits in the 3-4. He’s at least a small peice of what is missing in GB.

    It’s good to be the King I guess. Congrats Pats fans.

  12. I am a big Jets fan and at first I was angry at them cutting Harris, but now I think it’s for the best.
    Let Adams and Williams take over their leadership roles sooner rather than later.
    Harris wasn’t going to be around next year anyway – pull the bandaid off right now.

    Jets are going to be better than people think.
    Defense has talent and the team is motivated.
    Just sayin.

  13. Wow, the Jets “hitman” and longest tenured player, green-blooded and one of their most well liked. And whilst he’s lost a step he’s still got a few solid years in him as an ILB. How much of a salary-reduction did Jets want to make – because $6.5M is not excessive for a guy like Harris (it’s only half what Hightower gets this year). Or did Harris weep at the huge clearout and decide he wanted to see another playoff game? But this is mega for the Pats because of the flexibility to make more of Hightower’s versatility.

  14. Everytime I want to hate on the Pats they do something like this…David Harris is a dog, period…BB might get a solid final 2 years out of this guy playing 50% of snaps

  15. Can’t wait to hear Michael Lombardi spin this positively for the Patriots after trashing him for three weeks for being too slow to play MLB.

  16. .
    The Patriots have provided a textbook example of how to assemble a roster with depth in the salary cap era. They have quality veteran depth at every position except tackle and center.
    .

  17. For the Patriots, it’s like the Bryan Cox signing circa 2001. A very good player in the twilight of his career that has one more shot at a ring. Brings a little more toughness and leadership to the Pats “D” and the younger players on the defense.

  18. “if he doesn’t “need the money” then why didn’t he accept the Jets reduced offer?”

    Because he wants to win, plain and simple. Every move the Jets have made this offseason seems to be with the goal of getting the #1 pick next draft. That does not add up to winning.

  19. This s the Patriots just being the Patriots. They’re a little vindictive and petty at times. Aside from that, Jets are in LOSE NOW – LOSE BIG mode. So, does all this really matter?

    Who knows? Maybe the Jets will be better than expected. It’s probably good they cleaned house and start from scratch.

  20. Cannot wait until we return to the 80’s and 90’s when no one ever heard of a patriot. It will happen, everything runs in cycles.

  21. Pats are going all in. This is it for Brady and possibly Belichick. They will finish with another dynasty winning 3 of last 4 super bowls!

    They would have traded Jimmy G if Brady was staying. Gronk will be gone after next year for a 1st round pick…

  22. Great signing when you consider a few factors from a Pats perspective:

    #1. Donta Hightower is NOT durable: Hightower misses on average 2-3 games every single season over his now 5 year career.

    #2. Weak Depth at LB after Hightower: Last season, after trading Jamie Collins the Patriots basically replaced him with a patchwork effort from Roberts, Van Noy and McClellan. That’s may not be as easy to do over a full season, and when Hightower inevitably gets banged up, they’ll be happy they have an experienced, veteran LB to help fill the void short term.

  23. Don’t know why Jets fans hate Belichick so much. He’s doing his best to bring Jets players to super bowls.

  24. alan226 says:

    Jun 21, 2017 11:29 AM

    For the Patriots, it’s like the Bryan Cox signing circa 2001. A very good player in the twilight of his career that has one more shot at a ring. Brings a little more toughness and leadership to the Pats “D” and the younger players on the defense.
    —————-
    Also reminds me of the Roman Phifer signing. That guy was such an under appreciated player in those early Pats SB’s.

  25. “Cannot wait until we return to the 80’s and 90’s when no one ever heard of a patriot. ”

    Well except for 1985 and 1996 when they made the Super Bowl, even though they lost those games.

    As long a Belichick is coaching the Pats there will be no “return” to the days of no playoffs most years.

  26. Why would the Jets pay him when they know they won’t compete this year? They would sign him for a bargain if they could, otherwise it’s a salary dump.

  27. Looks like the Eagles…… I mean the Pat’s are loading up a “Dream team” to push for a few more title runs. Funny thing about signing anybody they can, if they win then nobody cares, cheaters gonna cheat, but if they lose…..

  28. The Jets are in rebuild mode. I am happy that Harris gets a chance to be on a winning team at the end of his career, possibly culminating with a SB ring. I wish him the best. As for the Jets, he would just waste away there while we retool. By the time we would have anything possibly built, it would be too late for the Hitman to contribute as we are a good 3 to 4 years away from being a playoff team IMO.

  29. Todd Bowles and Woody Johnson will be working in the concession booths at Gillette next year. Their Super Bowl rings will not be as nice the rings received by the players and coaches, but hell they are still championship rings.

  30. urmomsmyho says:
    Jun 21, 2017 11:05 AM
    I am a big Jets fan….
    Jets are going to be better than people think.
    ————————-
    I think you are right. Most think they will lose 17 games but it might be only 16.

  31. tylawspick6 says:
    Jun 21, 2017 10:45 AM
    LOL!!!!!

    I called it.

    3-4 MLB on 1st and 2nd downs. With the money offered, you’d like to think they have something in mind for him.

    I wonder if this means Hightower sees more time at 3-4 OLB now with Elandon Roberts and Harris down the middle at MLB?

    Serves the scumbag Jets right.

    154 33

    Dude, I am a die hard Pat’s fan as I know you are as well. Have a Snickers Bar and chill. You sound like Betty White in your postings.

    In all seriousness, posts like yours are why man people hate Patriots fans. Chill out with spewing venom every time. Save it for those posters who you know are real haters.

  32. Dont you Pat fans remember when Harris picked Brady in 2010 divisional, won easily by Jets in Foxboro, that Harris had no one to catch him except Crumpler, who ran Harris down like he was going backwards. That was 6 years ago too.
    Speed not there. .

  33. terripet says:
    Jun 21, 2017 11:28 AM

    Too old and slow can’t cover anyone
    ————————————————————
    It’s a close call, but I’m going to go with Belichick’s talent evaluating over a guy on the internet named terripet who posts some jealous remark in every NE article.

  34. Solid move by the Pats, I was hoping the Raiders would take a look at him as they really could use MLB help.

  35. Great move. Like I’ve told friends when you compare the greatest franchises. The argument that free agency makes the Patriots the best dynasty is mute, time after time the Patriots have benefited from free agency when a guy chases the ring. If the 70’s steelers had free agency i can only imagine how mamy more rings they would have won

  36. speed3me says:
    Jun 21, 2017 4:55 PM
    Great move. Like I’ve told friends when you compare the greatest franchises. The argument that free agency makes the Patriots the best dynasty is mute, time after time the Patriots have benefited from free agency when a guy chases the ring. If the 70’s steelers had free agency i can only imagine how mamy more rings they would have won
    ——————————-
    That’s wishful thinking. The Rooney’s don’t spend to keep free agents, the only thing that would have held that defense together was their advanced use of steroids.

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