Chris Long says goodbye (won't be re-signing)

[Double TE]

So long....

 

[ViperGTS]

Hey lunk head, he was classy as could be. It has nothing to due with $, he just wanted more playing time

Ya don't say? I'm done defending people/agents/media who toe the player line.

Notice I said for even less money, as he stated. I don't care if he leaves, just don't b*tch about playing time etc when you are 31 and injury prone.

 

[2000army]

I have a feeling this was BB's way of letting him go (not resigning him) and letting him save face. BB usually has a deep respect for Vets. Otherwise players will usually test the market first before eliminating a team from their mix

 

[PatsBoy12]

Thanks, Chris! Wish you the best.

 

[SuperStang83]

This says a lot about Belichick's way of doing business as well. Love that he's so transparent with the players.

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

as a competitor, I'm itching to do what I do best.

I find this very interesting. He was on a Rams team that accomplished very little as an organization while he was there (either a 13+ loss season or the patented Jeff Fisher 7-9). When he came here, the Patriots won a lot of games, including all of the most important ones.

I guess the point is that he didn't feel like he contributed to those wins as much as he would've liked to, given the role was asked to perform and the manner in which he was asked to do it.

I'll be curious to see where he signs and what % of snaps he gets and the role he plays. What system is it out there that will be superior for him?

I wish him good luck & health. Thanks for the fond memories.

 

[tasmlab]

I find this very interesting. He was on a Rams team that accomplished very little as an organization while he was there (either a 13+ loss season or the patented Jeff Fisher 7-9). When he came here, the Patriots won a lot of games, including all of the most important ones.

I guess the point is that he didn't feel like he contributed to those wins as much as he would've liked to, given the role was asked to perform and the manner in which he was asked to do it.

I'll be curious to see where he signs and what % of snaps he gets and the role he plays. What system is it out there that will be superior for him?

I wish him good luck & health. Thanks for the fond memories.

I think it's more of what 2000army says above, that he was probably told that he wouldn't be signed in NE next year. Otherwise, why right the obit/goodbye if there was a chance that NE was still the best place for playing time, money, opportunity, etc. He could write that note after he got the new offer.

 

[Fixit]

Yet another moron. He makes no sense. He finally played on a playoff team. Won a SB. His Dad thought it's a great place for him.

Glad to show you the door. Appreciate everything you did, but you are a moron. Nowhere else is going to give you what you want. And for less money even?

Have fun when the realization that you are .500
or worse come December and most likely missing the playoffs.

You're handling this well.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Ya don't say? I'm done defending people/agents/media who toe the player line.

Notice I said for even less money, as he stated. I don't care if he leaves, just don't b*tch about playing time etc when you are 31 and injury prone.

Can you quote for us where he was *****ing about playing time?

 

[AtomicDawg]

@MikeReiss
On Instagram, free-agent DE @JOEL9ONE (grateful for time w/ Patriots) explains why he won't be re-signing with NE. bit.ly/2lUHDyH

Looks like he wants to start somewhere

We thank you Chris for drawing the holding call that sent the Falcons out of field goal range.

He explains it a bit more here.



Seems like he's saying he wants to play as a 5 or 5 wide tech and play on 1st and 2nd down. A true 3 down DE.

 

[luuked]

I don't fully understand why he has an issue with the role he had last year given that he actually played 60% of the snaps. It's not like he was a 30% sub rusher. One would think that he'd be happy at this point in his career to have more breaks and not on the field for 80% of the snaps like he did with the Rams.

Whatever, it's his right to say no to that. Hopefully someone signs him to a stupid contract and we get a nice compensatory pick out of it.

EDIT:

He explains it a bit more here.



Seems like he's saying he wants to play as a 5 or 5 wide tech and play on 1st and 2nd down. A true 3 down DE.

At least this makes more sense in terms of how he sees things... I guess..

 

[Horace's Ivories]

As a Pats fan and UVA alumnus I sincerely appreciate Chris Long's time here...

 

[primetime]

One of the classiest guys to ever wear a Patriots uniform.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Really liked having him on the Patriots and I would have liked to see him back in a back-up role but I can definitely respect his desire to start somewhere. Good luck to him.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think a large part of it was that he prefers attacking to the contain that the Pats often emphasize.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I defended Long as a signing, and I defended Long during the year, so I want to be clear that I'm not attacking Long here, in any manner, and I wish him nothing but the very best (short of a SB win, because that's for the Patriots). Having said that, is there anyone who thought Long was coming back?

I wasn't sure. I was hopeful Long saw the opportunity to extend his career by being a rotational player here ala Anthony Pleasant.

With that said I think he's full or crap. He's going after more money. If the Pats paid him starter money but gave him 50% of the snaps I bet he'd stay.

 

[Tony2046]

I defended Long as a signing, and I defended Long during the year, so I want to be clear that I'm not attacking Long here, in any manner, and I wish him nothing but the very best (short of a SB win, because that's for the Patriots). Having said that, is there anyone who thought Long was coming back?

Part of the draw to play for the Patriots is that they give players a chance to win a ring. We all know that and enjoy that. So knowing that we have to also recognize and welcome those players when they come and congratulate them when they leave.

 

[FourierSeries]

Contributed to a SB title, so I'm thankful for that. We used him up for all he's worth and got what we wanted out of that transaction. But along with every other play not currently in a Patriot uniform, I couldn't care less about him now.

 

[FCB02062]

Sounds like Chris Long isn't a fan of setting the edge and maintaining lane integrity

he'll be a 5 or 6 sack guy next year

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

I think it's more of what 2000army says above, that he was probably told that he wouldn't be signed in NE next year. Otherwise, why right the obit/goodbye if there was a chance that NE was still the best place for playing time, money, opportunity, etc. He could write that note after he got the new offer.

Maybe, but given the below tweet - I thinking it really is about what role he's being asked to fill. Patriots coaching staff / FO probably saw this coming though - given the likely conversations they had throughout the time Long was on the team.

He explains it a bit more here.



Seems like he's saying he wants to play as a 5 or 5 wide tech and play on 1st and 2nd down. A true 3 down DE.