Patriots kick-off 2016 in 95 days: Profiling No. 95 Chris Long
Welcome to another installment in Musket Fire’s annual jersey number-dictated New England Patriots kick-off countdown series. For the duration of the summer, we will be profiling the player whose jersey number corresponds with the number of days left until the New England Patriots open the season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 11. Since today marks 95 days until the Sunday Night Football opener, we are profiling No. 95, veteran defensive end Chris Long.
Size: 6-foot-4, 275 pounds
College: Virginia
2015 stats (with Rams): 19 combined tackles, 3.0 sacks
NFL experience: Eight seasons (age 31)
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Long turned down more money elsewhere to sign a one-year deal with a team that he knows will give him a chance to win. After the departure of Chandler Jones, it was a brilliant move on the Patriots’ part to bring a proven veteran pass rusher on board for such a low cost. The Patriots took the No. 95 shirt off Jones and tossed it to Long.
Jersey number updates: Chris Long gets No. 95
Now, before getting over-excited at the thought of Long playing in New England, let’s remember that the son of Howie Long is a few years removed from his best production. Long’s glory seasons of 2011 (13.0 sacks) and 2012 (11.5 sacks) are probably behind him, as evidenced by his four combined sacks over the past two season. That being said, Long certainly still has gas left in the tank.
Recent installments in Patriots kick-off countdown series:
98 days – No. 98 Terrance Knighton
And look, it’s not like the Patriots need Long to reconjure his 2011 and 2012 magic. He will be entrenched in a rotation with proven Pats vets Jabaal Sheard and Rob Ninkovich, and if Geneo Grissom rises up through the ranks, Long may see dip in playing time. The overarching point here is that the Patriots wisely picked up a still-above average pass rusher who wants one thing more than any other at this point in his career: to win a Super Bowl.
Next: 10 Best Names on 90-Man Roster
Tomorrow marks 94 days until the Patriots open 2016 in the Arizona desert. Be sure to stop by Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we profile No. 94, defensive tackle Markus Kuhn.