New England Patriots
“They all the time say the grass is greener on the opposite facet. New England introduced me in, they usually watered me. They let me develop.”
A key member of the Patriots’ protection underneath Invoice Belichick within the late 2010s and early 2020s known as it a profession Friday.
Lawrence Man, a defensive lineman who helped New England defeat the Los Angeles Rams in Tremendous Bowl LIII, signed a one-day contract to retire as a Patriot on the workforce’s facility in entrance of his household.
Man performed for New England from 2017-2023 and held an important function within the trenches by means of the tip of the Patriots’ dynasty period.
“I wish to thank the Patriots group and [Robert Kraft], it’s a full circle second,” Man stated. “I wished to [retire] in New England as a result of New England was my house.”
Emotional at instances, Man defined how particular it was to not solely play for the Patriots, but in addition to be part of the family-like environment in Foxborough.
“They all the time say the grass is greener on the opposite facet. New England introduced me in they usually watered me. They let me develop. They made positive I used to be gonna be the place I wanted to be,” he stated. “The Patriots care about their gamers, they care about their alums, they care concerning the individuals which might be on this constructing as a result of when you’ve entered this constructing, you’ve got turn out to be a household of a singular group that appears at you not simply as an individual, however appears at you as a human being.”
In the identical vein, Man mentioned how completely different it’s to play in New England in comparison with different NFL organizations. Previous to becoming a member of the Patriots, he performed for the Colts, Chargers, and Ravens. Man performed for the Bengals in his remaining season in 2024.
“I’ve been by means of completely different groups. There isn’t a different group much like the group that’s right here,” he stated. “There are specific groups which have historical past, however no one has a workforce that’s like this group. They’re gonna aid you and develop you not (solely) on the sector, however off the sector. And that’s what you really need once you go to a corporation. Are you able to be a greater man on and off the sector? Should you can obtain that, that’s it.”
In his profession enjoying for New England, Man began 103 video games, logged 10.5 sacks, 37 quarterback hits, 202 solo tackles, and 22 tackles for loss. He even recorded the only real interception of his profession as a Patriot – picking off then-Browns QB Baker Mayfield in Week 8 in 2019.
Man’s stats aren’t flashy, which is fairly par for the course for a D-lineman. It was his reliability and flexibility that made him a family identify in New England for seven seasons.
Whereas visiting Foxborough, Man stated he watched the workforce follow Friday forward of its Week 8 matchup with the Browns. He stated he favored what he noticed out of the Patriots, providing them excessive reward amid their four-game win streak.
“You may see the chemistry. You may see each final individual doing it for the individual subsequent to them,” Man stated of the 2025 New England workforce. “And you may see the communication, the joyfulness that you just’re having. If you’re capable of have that joyfulness on the sector and on the sideline, you may see how the workforce’s going to construct.
“I stated this to start with earlier than the season even began. I stated, ‘This can be a workforce that’s going to come back in right here, they’re going to construct this brotherhood and also you’re going to see them on the rise.’ And that’s what you’re doing. They’re studying each single recreation. They’re rising to get to the achievement that they wish to get to. We will’t inform how far they’re going to go. We’re not there but. However we are able to see each recreation they’re getting higher. Each follow they’re getting higher, to carry one another accountable. And once you maintain one another accountable, all you may do is develop as a workforce. And that’s what you need when you’ve got a brand new head coach, new employees.”
As for what’s subsequent for Man, he stated to anticipate to see him on tv “giving my opinions about groups and gamers.”
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