Hightower’s injuries are most likely not going to get better. If anything, they could worsen. He has proven that he can play through the injuries, for now, but the Patriots did treat his playing time differently toward the end of the season this season than in years past. Does that signal worsening symptoms, the Patriots’ recent improvements in the realm of injury prevention/management, or a blossoming leadership role for the 26 yo ILB and increased attention to his health?
Source: How does Hightower’s injury history affect his contract negotiations? – BOSTON SPORTS DOC
I’m kicking off the offseason on Monday, but I couldn’t resist sharing this piece from Boston Sports Doc because Hightower is the biggest piece of the offseason puzzle.
This was a really balanced piece that went out of its way to praise Hightower’s toughness. We don’t need to rehash what Hightower has meant to last two Super Bowl teams, the huge clutch plays he made. There wouldn’t be two more Lombardi Trophies in the Patriots Hall if it wasn’t for Hightower. But his injury history is going to be a factor for the Patriots, and that’s even more true when you read how Dr. Flynn breaks down what’s been breaking down in Hightower’s body.
Solely as a football player I want Hightower to be on the Patriots until he retires. It’s not an accident that he’s wearing number 54 and has a respected spot in the locker room. The Patriots seemingly have been actively grooming Hightower to be the defensive captain, but there has seemed to be something missing at times.
I still don’t have a great feel for how Hightower was affected by the Jamie Collins trade. Hightower called Collins his “favorite player” when asked at the Super Bowl. Hightower is no stranger to how the Pats do business but it seemed like the Collins trade hit close to home for him. Will he hold that against the Pats? He certainly could.
Here’s another fact (that the Patriots don’t give a shit about) — they have zero linebacker depth right now. Unless you’re building a defense around Shea McClellin and Kyle Van Noy which seems like a disastrous recipe. I know the Pats would rather roll with those two than give Hightower more money than they want to, but it’s a scary proposition.
Letting Hightower walk would be another reset of the defense, at least a soft reset if not quite the total blow up that 2009 was. We know it took them five full years to put a defense capable of winning a Super Bowl back together after that. Even a two-to-three year soft reset would likely cost Brady another great shot at number six.
The easiest answer might be the Franchise Tag. It gives the Pats another year to develop some linebacker depth and see how Hightower holds up during another season. They just can’t afford to let him walk at this point.
Plenty more to come on this in the coming weeks, this was just a little offseason teaser.
