Kyle Van Noy’s comments after Dolphins release make you wonder about Patriots reunion
By Jerry Trotta
The early stages of the offseason have unfortunately failed to break in the New England Patriots’ favor.
Not that things have gone off impossibly bad, but it can’t sit right with fans that numerous teams around the league have already improved before the start of free agency.
However, that narrative started to flip when it was revealed that safety Patrick Chung, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and offensive lineman Marcus Cannon will all report to the team this offseason after opting out of 2020 for various reasons.
Fast forward about a week later and former Patriots edge rusher Kyle Van Noy was shockingly released by the Dolphins just one year into his four-year, $50 million deal.
While this transaction no doubt helped bring a smirk to Bill Belichick’s face after last offseason, has anybody considered that a reunion could in the cards?
If you take a look at the statement Van Noy released in the wake of being cut, it really makes you wonder if the Patriots will consider bringing him back. After all, he’s clearly motivated to stick it to Miami and he absolutely flourished as a key component of New England’s defense.
Kyle Van Noy, cut by Dolphins today, releases statement saying he is "surprised and disappointed in their decision" to release him.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 2, 2021
Should the Patriots consider a reunion with Kyle Van Noy following his Dolphins release?
Can anybody honestly think of a valid reason for the Patriots to steer clear of Van Noy this offseason? It’s not like his production regressed. Across 14 games in 2020, he registered 69 tackles, six sacks, 10 QB hits, 18 pressures, six passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Could you imagine the numbers the former second-round pick could produce now that he seemingly has something to prove … again?
Perhaps more important is the fact that the Patriots are in dire need of a proven pass rusher after they ranked 27th in the league in sacks per game (1.5), total sacks (24) and QB knockdowns (43) in 2020. You really think it’s a coincidence they blitzed just 24.4% of the time last season?
They were so terrible at creating pressure that Belichick often didn’t want to risk taking defenders out of coverage. After all, doing so without generating pressure would leave gaping holes in the secondary and that’s just a disaster waiting to happen.
For Kyle Van Noy, who has been told he's no longer wanted in Miami, a return to the Patriots would be in the realm of possibility, according to a source.
— Karen Guregian (@kguregian) March 2, 2021
What more needs to be said? Not only is Van Noy already acclimated to the culture, but he’s familiar with most of the players in the locker room and would offer another veteran presence on the field, which the defense sorely missed thanks to opt outs and injuries.
You just know that Belichick is somewhere in Foxborough licking his chops at the thought of re-signing the two-time champion after he refused to overpay for him on the open market last offseason. And with the start of free agency fast approaching, fans shouldn’t be surprised if rumors about a potential reunion start emerging from the shadows before long.
