Unsung hero: Kyle Arrington

[VJCPatriot]

We've given a lot of love to studs like Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker, heck even Brian Waters who stepped in from free agency and had a pro bowl caliber season. Gronk's record-breaking performance speaks for itself. And Welker is the little engine that could who just took it to the next level this season. Now considered among the BEST wide receivers in the NFL. Not just the best slot receiver but among the best receivers in the league, PERIOD, end sentence.

But what about Kyle Arrington? An undrafted free agent out of Hofstra, Arrington has arguably been one of the best surprises of 2011. He leads the league in interceptions tied with the likes of Charles Woodson (7.85m) and Eric Weddle (8m avg, 19m gauranteed). Both of these other players are paid tens of millions in comparison to Arrington who easily offers the best bang for the buck performance in the NFL - Arrington signed a 2 year contract with the Pats worth up to 3.2m over 2 seasons.

So let's put the money aside for the moment. Did anyone expect Arrington to be leading the Pats secondary and leading the leage in interceptions when the year was over? If you did, I'd say you must be psychic because I sure did not! Looking at Arrington's background, isn't his story great? He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008. After getting waived and released a bunch of times between the Eagles and Bucs, he finally made it to New England in 2009. He did not start for the Patriots until 2010. In 2011 he was slated to be our nickelback until Leigh Bodden lost his job (due to sucking). Then Arrington not only became our starter for 2011 but led the way to an NFL leading 7 INTs for the season.

Arrington is one of the few players in our secondary who can swing the momentum of the game with his ball skills. Any time you can get Brady and our potent offense an extra possession, that is HUGE because that ofen leads to instant points. Although the Pats secondary has been much maligned, and perhaps rightfully so, Arrignton is one of the bright spots on defense. Let's give this guy some love! Perhaps it is time to be thinking extension before his pricetag gets too high, or do we wait for him to 'prove' himself for another season and then pay a bigger price then?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Arrington was pretty good..well the best CB for us. A few of those were tips to him..i want to say 3? it's nice to having him leading INT's..but that stat doesn't show everything. It's a nice stat..but not everything

 

[VJCPatriot]

Arrington was pretty good..well the best CB for us. A few of those were tips to him..i want to say 3? it's nice to having him leading INT's..but that stat doesn't show everything. It's a nice stat..but not everything

Sure when you are talking tipped balls, there is some luck involved. But you still need to have awareness and hands to catch a tipped ball. In fact catching a tipped ball is arguably more difficult then catching one directly thrown to you. And yes it is true the INT stat is not everything for a CB. But think about it, from where he came from, to leading the league in a defenstive statistic, that is really impressive. I'm not saying he's Charles Woodson, but could he be our next Asante, minus the 'pay me' attitude? I'd take that!

It is amazing that an undrafted free agent could step up and perform like Arrington has done this season. If he were a 1st round pick like McCourty, that would be expected. But here's a guy who didn't even get drafted and stepping up his play! I just want to see this continue into the playoffs. If Arrington proves his value there too, people will finally start talking him up. I find it curious that there has been so little props given to Arrington thus far though. I guess he's not as flashy or 'sexy' as the offensive studs we have on the Pats right now.

 

[Sydney]

I'm giving major props to Arrington, I don't think anyone had expectations this high for him. He showed flashes last season that he could atleast be a competent CB and that's pretty much all you can ask for from an undrafted player, but every once in a while you get those special players who just love to prove everyone wrong.

I have no idea of the accuracy of this, but I remember reading somewhere that atleast at some point midway through the season he was second only to Revis in terms of passer rating against/defended passes or something along those lines. I have no idea if that still holds up, but he has had a phenomenal year regardless. He has been our only consistent defensive back this season and pretty much the glue of the secondary.

 

[Fencer]

Arrington is not really "League leader in interceptions" good, but to say that is to praise him with faint damns. He's been a well-above-average starting CB this season, in a year that the team desperately needed that from him.

...

By the way, IIRC Arrington's first two INTs, or in any case two of his first three, were rather bogus -- one on a Hail Mary, and the other on a 4th-down heave that he should have just knocked down and in fact did not successfully return all the way to the original line of scrimmage.

 

[PatsBoy12]

He absolutely deserves his props. In fact, I thought he played well enough to be named to the Pro Bowl this season. It wasn't perfect, and there were definitely plays that he DIDN'T make, but he was still the best corner on the team this season by far and played on par with the bigger names around the league.

 

[memento]

League lead in interceptions is league lead in interceptions.

I am very happy to see the team continue to find hidden gem defensive backs, even though we all hate defending the bend but dont break defense to friends and family.

Comparing Kyle to Asante when he lead the league in picks is fine, but more important than Asantes "pay me" attitude is the ability to tackle. Arrington has come a long way from his silver bullet special teams days. Both Arrington and McCourty are in the top 5 cornerbacks in tackles.

"Dont give me a defensive player who can't tackle. What am I going to do with them?"

 

[PatriotReign]

I like him but I still can't forgive the pass interference call he got in the Giant's game.

 

[satz]

He also leads the team in passes broken up.

when the season started , dowling and devin started with bodden as the 1st off the bench guy.He was the 4th CBin the chart. Even now when some one completes a catch he is right there competeing unlike some the cb who are miles from them.

our safety play killed the CB .

satz

 

[USCPatriot]

Yes, I feel like he really stepped up this year. He has given up some plays but not nearly as much as last year. This kind of feels similar to Ellis Hobbs, when Samuel left, Hobbs stepped up big time. They may not be superstars but they do a good enough job helping the defense.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm luke warm on the year Arrington has had. That said, it all comes down to his next 3 games IMO.

 

[satz]

Take yesterdays game even though brees is being shown as unstoppable.

1) Interception dropped between the CB hands in endzone - 3 pts
2) Interception dropped between the CB hands in the 20 yrd line - 7 pts
3) Interception dropped by the CB around 40 yd line with penality - 7pts

there was 1 more the cb dropped that hit his hands. this was before the game changed into a blow out.....i am sure the Lions wish had a CB who could catch the balls.

i am always amazed when people say the ball hit his hand and he caught it. what a BS.