Decker jetting over to Patriots
Tom's got a new weapon.
A day after working out with Tom Brady and the Patriots, former Jets wide receiver Eric Decker is expected to sign with New England on a one-year deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The signing comes a year after the Jets released Decker last June to avoid paying the final two years and $14.75 million on the five-year deal he signed in 2014. Decker signed a one-year contract with the Titans days after his release, and played all 16 games with Tennessee last season, totaling 563 receiving yards and a touchdown.
In three injury-plagued seasons with the Jets, Decker, now 31, caught 163 passes and 19 touchdowns. Opposite Brandon Marshall in 2015, he racked up 1,027 receiving yards as the Jets finished 10-6 and just missed out on the playoffs.
If he sticks with New England, Decker will get to say he caught passes from two of the greatest QBs in NFL history. Decker opened his career in Denver, including two seasons with Peyton Manning under center. Decker totaled 2,352 yards on 172 catches with 24 TDs when paired with Manning.
Decker had gone unsigned this offseason, but the Patriots needed help at wide receiver after Jordan Matthews went down with a hamstring injury earlier this week. On Wednesday, New England released Matthews and worked out Decker who they hoped could replace him.
Decker joins a Patriots wide receiving corps that lacks depth after the departure of Brandin Cooks. While Julian Edelman serves a fourgame PED suspension, Brady only has Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and rookie Braxton Berrios at full strength. Kenny Britt, Malcolm Mitchell and Cordarrelle Patterson all could potentially contribute, but each has a questionable injury history leaving the Patriots in search of more help.
Decker is the latest in a long line of former Jets to sign with Gang Green's biggest rival after leaving New York.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick (he of 'I resign as HC of the NYJ' fame) has made a pattern of signing long-time Jets to New England, just keeping them on the Patriots for a year or two. Defensive end Shaun Ellis, safety James Ihedigbo and quarterback Vinny Testaverde all moved to New England after lengthy stays with the Jets.
Cornerback Darrelle Revis played his first six seasons in New York, reaching four Pro Bowls in that time. After a season in Tampa Bay, Revis signed with the Patriots for the 2014 season, winning a Super Bowl in his only year in New England. Revis returned to the Jets for two more seasons after winning his ring with the Patriots. After a disappointing stop in Kansas City last year, Revis signed a one-day contract with New York on July 24 so he could retire as a Jet.
Running back Danny Woodhead signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent and stayed on the roster for two seasons before he was waived early in the 2010 season. Woodhead had to wait just four days before Belichick signed him a day before the Patriots' Week Two loss to the Jets. Woodhead scored 14 touchdowns over his three seasons with New England before he moved on to San Diego.
Last season, the Patriots signed David Harris 15 days after the linebacker was released by the Jets. Harris, who had played 10 seasons in New York, played sparingly for Belichick and the Patriots and he retired a few weeks after the 2017-18 season ended.