San Francisco Chronicle

Jean Francois, Guy appreciate their journeys

- By Kyle Hightower Kyle Hightower is an Associated Press writer.

BLOOMINGTO­N, Minn. — The Patriots have had a knack for getting sometimes unexpected production out of late-round draft picks and undrafted free agents during head coach Bill Belichick’s tenure.

From Tom Brady to Julian Edelman to Danny Amendola to last season’s Super Bowl star James White, the list is long and lauded.

This season has been no exception with 2011 seventhrou­nd draft pick Lawrence Guy and Ricky Jean Francois, a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2009, each providing contributi­ons that have helped solidify New England’s defensive line that has thrived during the second half of 2017.

The Patriots want to make life as miserable as possible for Philadelph­ia quarterbac­k Nick Foles in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

It puts the spotlight on Guy and Jean Francois, with Deatrich Wise (concussion) and Malcolm Brown (foot) both dealing with injuries.

Jean Francois appeared in six games after signing with the Patriots in early November and started New England’s AFC Championsh­ip Game win while playing defensive end.

“My appreciati­on is high for this,” said Jean Francois, 31, who came to the Patriots following stops in San Francisco, Indianapol­is, Washington and Green Bay. “I’m having fun. Clowning around with my teammates. Sitting down, watching film. Just appreciati­ng the moment.”

Jean Francois will be getting his second shot at a Super Bowl. He was on the San Francisco team that lost to Baltimore in the Super Bowl to cap the 2012 season. It’s an opportunit­y he acknowledg­ed he wasn’t sure he’d get again.

“It’s crazy. I never thought there’d be a point when I’d be starting in the AFC Championsh­ip Game again,” Jean Francois said.

“I started in one for the Colts (2014 season), but the next year, I was gone. But to be on a team like this and be able to start again in a short period of time, that shows you how much trust and how much I had to do to be in that position.”

Guy said experienci­ng his first Super Bowl has validated the path he took to get here.

“My journey’s still going,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking about this a couple of years ago. I was just thinking about doing what I could do to play harder and harder, study film and stay on the team and contribute. But now I’m blessed to be here.”

Guy started 15 games during the regular season at either defensive tackle or defensive end, and he started both playoff games.

Since starting with Green Bay in 2011, each of Guy’s subsequent stops in Indianapol­is and San Diego ended with him getting waived. He had his longest run after being acquired by Baltimore in 2014. He played 11 games for the Ravens in 2014, and appeared in every game over the next two seasons.

The Patriots grabbed him in free agency in March, signing him to a four-year, $20 million deal. He had one of his best seasons, finishing with a career-best 34 tackles and a sack.

Guy said he hasn’t been deterred by the “ups and downs” he’s experience­d.

“It can happen at the beginning of your career, it can happen at the end of your career. But sooner or later, you’re probably gonna get waived here and there,” he said.

Defensive coordinato­r Matt Patricia says Guy’s attention to detail has allowed him to play several positions in the Patriots’ system. Patricia said Guy has been able to help not only against the run, but he has been able to transition “into a little bit more pass rush into the pocket and push and be up in the quarterbac­k’s face.”

Even in his sixth season, Guy said he has tried to keep learning from older players around him.

“Everything I’ve gone through made me more of a man and made me better as a player,” Guy said.

“To experience this type of week is great. It’s a once-in-alifetime situation that you can never get back.”

 ?? Winslow Townson / Associated Press ?? Former 49er Ricky Jean Francois, who held the AFC title trophy on Jan. 21, will play in his second Super Bowl.
Winslow Townson / Associated Press Former 49er Ricky Jean Francois, who held the AFC title trophy on Jan. 21, will play in his second Super Bowl.

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