Slowly but steadily the New England Patriots have entered the free agency frenzy. So far today, the club made three moves: the team brought special teams ace Brandon Bolden back after a one-year stint with the Miami Dolphins, while also re-signing their own free agents John Simon and Jason McCourty. While neither of the latter pair of transactions may jump off the page, they help bring some continuity to New England’s defense.
Retaining Simon helps the Patriots fill the void created by the departure of standout defensive edge Trey Flowers, while McCourty and the club agreeing to a two-year contract ensures that one of the NFL’s best secondaries — arguably the best — stays intact for another year.