“So I got the call that I was going to be released,” Jason told the media on Tuesday. “I told him and told my wife and we were all doing us. Then I left to go workout and about an hour later I get a FaceTime from Dev and he\u2019s just like \u2013 well as soon as I got released he showed me he texted Flo [Brian Flores] and was just like, \u2018Man, how do we get Jason to New England?\u2019 Dev said, \u2018I\u2019m going to text Bill [Belichick],\u2019 so I think he hit up Bill about it, but I think at that point the trade was already in the process. Then I get a FaceTime from Dev while I\u2019m working out and he was just like, \u2018Yo, don\u2019t worry about it. We\u2019re going to trade for you. You\u2019re coming to New England.’ I was just kind of looking at him because I thought he was joking around.”<\/p>\n
“Probably about five minutes later I get a call from John Dorsey, the GM in Cleveland, and he\u2019s like, \u2018I got some news for you. We\u2019re not going to release you, so we\u2019re going to trade you to New England.\u2019 It was, I guess, a roller coaster type of day.”<\/p>\n
It’s obvious that the team holds a high regard for McCourty’s opinion and it’s apparently no secret that there was interest on the part of Bill Belichick in Jason based on how things played out previously, despite the fact he didn’t end up here.<\/p>\n
While McCourty still may have been on Belichick’s radar, fortunately, they took advantage of this opportunity and it’s a good first step to help a group that underperformed last season and just lost Malcolm Butler and Johnson Bademosi to free agency.<\/p>\n
Now that he’s here, he’ll just have to build some chemistry and establish himself with his new teammates, which he said shouldn’t be an issue.\u00a0 Jason admitted that visiting his brother over the years while they’ve experienced success has already helped him meet many of them, so he expects it to be an easy transition.<\/p>\n
“Just over the years of following my brother and the team, I walk into this locker room already having a really good idea of a bunch of the guys on the roster,” said McCourty.\u00a0 \u00a0“So that, I think, will help for an easier transition.\u00a0 Over the years of going down to the Super Bowls when Dev goes or coming to visit him at different points of the season, I’ve really gotten a chance to meet a lot of the guys.”<\/p>\n
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Garcia Cleared to Play Again – <\/strong>Tony Garcia’s mysterious disappearance during training camp last season was one of the more curious stories after the rookie ended up on the non-football illness list, but it sounds like he might be headed in the right direction.<\/p>\n Reports recently revealed that Garcia’s situation was more serious than many may have thought, with the second-year offensive lineman having dealt with blood clots in his lungs.\u00a0 He’s since reportedly lost about 40 pounds, which is obviously significant for an NFL offensive lineman.<\/p>\n That’s left the team with some uncertainty, but according to the Boston Herald, Garcia’s finally able to start working his way back after being medically cleared to get back to work.<\/p>\n If Garcia can get back to playing at a high level, that would certainly give the Patriots some much-needed help up front. Prior to his selection in the third round, Garcia was considered to be the 2nd best OT in the draft in Pass Block Efficiency.<\/p>\n The Patriots select Antonio Garcia, OT from Troy, with the 85th pick. #NFLDraft<\/a><\/p>\n Profile: https:\/\/t.co\/DrE6K1GvNS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gHeOsv5EVs<\/a><\/p>\n — PFF (@PFF) April 29, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n