Longtime NFL veteran cornerback Jason McCourty signed a one-year, contract with the Miami Dolphins. McCourty, a one-time Super Bowl champion, spent the past three seasons with the New England Patriots. Mike Garafolo first broke the news on the deal.
The #Dolphins are signing veteran CB Jason McCourty, source says. The 12-year veteran heads for a reunion with Brian Flores.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 6, 2021
Jason McCourty, Miami Dolphins, Agree to Contract
After two years of above-average play with the Patriots, the 33-year-old McCourty started to show signs of age last year. While he was still a solid player, the 12-year NFL veteran finished his season with 42 tackles, three passes defended, and no interceptions in 16 games (11 starts). This was the first time McCourty didn’t record an interception since his injury-plagued 2015.
McCourty initially entered the league as a sixth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Selected by the Tennessee Titans, the Rutgers product made the 53-man roster and even started a few games. He expanded upon his role in the coming seasons, as McCourty became a full-time starter midway through the 2010 season. While he never lit the world on fire, the former late-round pick become a solid starter for the remainder of his six years in Tennessee.
McCourty received a decent amount of interest as a free agent in 2017, and almost reunited with his brother in New England. However, Jason McCourty ultimately decided to sign with the Cleveland Browns. Despite the 0-16 season, McCourty actually played well, breaking up 14 passes and hauling in three interceptions.
In the following offseason, the Patriots acquired McCourty in exchange for a late-round draft pick. Now reunited with his twin brother, McCourty went from 0-16 to being a crucial piece of a Super Bowl champion. During his first year in New England, McCourty recorded one interception and broke up 10 passes while appearing in all 16 games. However, his biggest play of the season came in Super Bowl LIII. Late in the contest, McCourty broke up a wide-open touchdown to Brandin Cooks by covering 20 yards in seconds in what will go down as one of the greatest hustle plays of all time.
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