You might need to forgive new Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois for his enthusiasm. After all, Friday’s opening day of training camp was the first time he had stepped onto a football field since February, when he played in the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots.
Jean Francois said this when he was asked how the Patriots compare to the Lions:
“They have the same thing,” said Jean Francois, who signed a one-year deal Wednesday. “They've still got the championship pedigree. Ain’t nothing really changed.”
The Patriots have defined professional sports excellence under coach Bill Belichick since 2000, playing in eight Super Bowls and winning five.