Pats extend safety Chung
Can earn up to $12.8M over life of deal with two more years
The Patriots and safety Patrick Chung reached a two-year contract extension Wednesday, a league source confirmed to the Herald.
Chung will receive $3 million upon signing and can earn up to $12.8 million over the life of his revised deal, per ESPN. The restructure freed up vital cap space for the Pats, who needed room to sign top draft pick Kyle Dugger. Dugger had been the only member of the Patriots’ 2020 draft class who wasn’t under contract. He signed later on Wednesday.
It is unclear if Chung’s additional years are void years — which would exist solely to spread out his money over the team’s future books — or actual seasons he is expected to play. If the two new years are void years, Chung’s contract would run through 2021, as previously designed. The veteran safety will turn 33 this summer.
Chung also received a one-year extension last spring and agreed to a restructure in 2018. During an injury-riddled 2019 regular season, he posted 51 tackles and three pass breakups. Chung then recorded a single tackle during the team’s Wild Card playoff loss to the
Titans, a game he was forced to leave due to a hurt ankle.
Pats defensive captain Devin McCourty spoke to Chung’s value post-game, as one of the most versatile and respected players in the locker room.
“Pat’s always an integral part of our defensive plan. We lose him and guys just have to rotate and fill the different roles he has,” McCourty said before later adding: “Pat’s a great player, and whenever you don’t have good players out there, it’s always tougher.”
Despite being listed as a safety, Chung took the majority of his defensive snaps in the box last year at linebacker. At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, he battled offensive linemen on running plays and tailed running backs and tight ends in pass coverage. His contributions helped found the Patriots’ topranked pass defense, which led the league in all major categories.
Without Chung’s physicality and versatility, the Pats would have been unable to deploy as many as six and seven defensive backs so frequently and successfully.
However, it’s possible Chung’s playing time could wane in 2020. The Patriots not only drafted Dugger, but inked former Chargers safety Adrian Phillips in free agency. Like Chung, Phillips is known for his ability to play across the back seven, seamlessly switching between safety and linebacker. Another Pats safety, Terrence Brooks, carries a similar skill set.
In all, Chung is joined on the Patriots’ depth chart by fellow safeties McCourty, Phillips, Dugger, Brooks, Cody Davis, Malik Gant, Adarius Pickett,
Myles Bryant and Brandon King. The Pats currently have more safeties than any team in the NFL.
McCourtys named finalist for humanitarian award
On Wednesday, Patriots defensive backs Devin and Jason
McCourty were together named a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award presented at the annual ESPY awards.
The McCourty twins have been recognized for their community work backing several causes, including Massachusetts criminal justice reform, education reform and fighting against institutionalized racial inequality. Together, they’ve donated hundreds of thousands of dollars, raised even more, written multiple op-eds and spoken at the Massachusetts State House. Both McCourtys are also leading figures in the NFL’s Players Coalition. Back in 2013, they started the Tackle Sickle Cell Initiative, which to date has raised more than $1 million through fundraisers and increased blood donations across the community.
Other nominees include Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, Minnesota Lynx star Maya Moore and Titus O’Neil of the WWE. The winner will be announced on June 21, at which point his or her charity of choice will receive $100,000 in support. ESPN has already pledged to donate $25,000 to charities selected by each finalist.