New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Christopher Hanewinckel - USA TODAY Sports) Its been a tough week of thank you’s and goodbyes for the Patriots as free agency opens up.
Kyle Van Noy, Danny Shelton, and Duron Harmon all posted thank you messages to the Patriots organization and fanbase over Instagram following their signings or trades elsewhere.
Van Noy signed a four-year, $51 million deal with the Miami Dolphins on Monday reuniting with Brian Flores.
“It has been an honor, a privilege and a blessing to have represented the New England Patriots organization for the past three and a half seasons,” Van Noy wrote. “I am so fortunate that coach (Bill) Belichick brought me in and gave me a chance to contribute and leave my mark.
“Thank you to (Patriots owner) Mr. (Robert) Kraft, Coach, Nick, the Patriots staff and teammates for helping me grow as a player and as a person. I leave with two rings, but hundreds of memories that I will cherish forever.”
In 2019, Van Noy logged 56 tackles and a career-best 6.5 sacks to go with three forced fumbles and three pass deflections. He played in a Super Bowl in each of his three seasons in New England, winning two rings.
Read his full statement below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B94T0BuggRr/
As for Shelton and Harmon, both players reunited with Matt Patricia and the Detroit Lions.
Shelton agreed to a two-year, $8 million free agent deal and Harmon was traded over to the Lions with a 2020 7th-round pick for a 2020 5th-round pick. The trade is pending a physical.
With the acquisition of a 5th round pick, the Patriots now possess at least one pick in every round of the 2020 NFL Draft except the second.
The Patriots draft assets currently consist of 12 total picks, including four in the first 100.
Both Shelton and Harmon add to a growing list of ex-Patriots in Detroit, they join Jamie Collins, Trey Flowers, and Danny Amendola on the roster.
Known as “the closer” for his clutch late game-sealing interceptions, Harmon was drafted by the Patriots in the third round (91st) overall of the 2013 draft out of Rutgers and was apart of three Super Bowl championship teams.
“Pats Nation I love you and will miss you guys!” Harmon wrote in an Instagram caption.
Lastly Danny Shelton departs the Patriots after two seasons and a Super Bowl championship.
“Thank you Pats Nation and @patriots organization! It’s been a great two years and I’m forever thankful for the opportunity. Looking forward to what the future holds,” Shelton wrote on Instagram.
Shelton played a key role in the Super Bowl LIII championship helping shut down the Los Angeles Rams running game and Todd Gurley.
Gurley was limited to just ten carries for 35 yards in the victory.
SITE SEARCH
