6 best New England Patriots that only spent one year in town
By Mike Luciano
No. 2: DE Chris Long
A former No. 2 overall pick, Long never became the All-Pro the St. Louis Rams expected. However, he was a quality pass rusher in his prime, recording 54.5 sacks in eight seasons and topping 10 sacks in a season twice. However, after years of anonymity in St. Louis, Long wanted to chase a championship in New England.
As always, you have to produce if you want to stick around in New England. Long certainly did the job, as he recorded 35 tackles and four sacks as a valued member of Belichick’s deep defensive line rotation.
Long was perfect for the New England Patriots defense
What made Long so great was the fact that he was able to blend solid pass-rushing ability with enough skill as a run defender to stick as a defensive end in a scheme that moved him around the line frequently. Long got his ring, as the victory over Atlanta helped him become a champion for the first time.
Long quickly went from fan favorite to pariah, however, as he left New England to join a Philadelphia Eagles team that took down the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Still, he contributed to a champion, and you can’t take that away from him.