Patriots sign S Adrian Phillips to 3-year contract extension

It’s a Happy New Year in New England.

The Patriots and veteran safety Adrian Phillips agreed to a three-year contract extension Saturday that will keep Phillips with the franchise through 2024, a source confirmed to the Herald. The deal reportedly carries a maximum value of $14.25 million and $7.25 million guaranteed. Phillips is one of the Pats’ top defensive playmakers, ranking third on the team with 76 tackles and second with four interceptions this season.

SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan first reported the extension. In November, Bill Belichick called Phillips, 29, one of the Patriots’ best players.

” He’s one of our most versatile players. He almost always does the right thing,” Belichick said. “When something comes up, maybe you haven’t covered it, maybe you haven’t exactly gone through … he almost always does the right thing, kind of like (Patrick) Chung. Stuff happens, and he’s got a decision to make, and it’s maybe a little gray, and he just does the right thing.

“He does what you would want him to do without really telling him exactly what to do in that situation, so all that’s impressive.”

The Patriots originally signed Phillips in March 2020, a year removed from his only All-Pro campaign as a special teams player with the Chargers. Phillips has started 26 of a possible 31 games since arriving in New England. His pick-six in the fourth quarter of the Pats’ win at Los Angeles in Week 8 helped turn their season around.

Phillips was scheduled to be one of the team’s top free agents this offseason. Safety Devin McCourty, cornerback J.C. Jackson and offensive tackle Trent Brown now top that list. With Phillips back, the Pats can at least expect to field him, Kyle Dugger, Jalen Mills and Jonathan Jones in their secondary next season.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/347AaVv