New England Patriots: Dont’a Hightower’s return 

by | Jul 1, 2021 | NFL | 0 comments

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola) AP

I love to say I told you so, while most were hemming and hawing about Zeus Hightower’s return to Mount Olympus. I was in complete confidence that this man would be back quarterbacking the hoodies defense in 2021. People read into Instagram posts between the lines of tweets from experts and tea leaves. I went with my gut. And my gut said -no doubt. And this one I got you may be the most significant move to this patriots defense (excluding Gilmore contract) that has happened this off season. 

Patriots old, Patriots new

New and old faces grabbed the headlines the entirety of the offseason. Kyle Van Noy returns, WOO-HOO! The Pats signed Matt Judon, Alert the Media. The Hoodie drafted Christian Barmore and Ronnie Perkins, LFG!!!. And people asked, “Who is Henry Anderson?” Trust me, we will get to him in another column. But the most significant addition was the return of Boom-Tower.

The gaping hole in last year’s defense was leadership. Okay an ability to stop the run sure, but yea leadership, and Dont’a Hightower is a man that oozes leadership from every pore of his body. A trait that will be needed when molding the young Patriots this coming season, a trait that could have stopped the regression of a player like Chase Winovich last year and hung Bill Belichick with his fist losing season in two decades. 

They’re just not Hightower

Now don’t take this little piece as a slight to Devin McCourty or Mathew Slater. I am not running down Lawrence Guy or what David Andrews brought to the field every single day. But when it comes right down to it. These men don’t command a locker room, a huddle or a football field in the same way Zeus does.

As always you can follow/give me grief on Twitter @Tmuph207

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