Odd move with the position depth at the draft. Maybe he will fit in the cog in the wheel for only Bill's system, but it is not an exaggeration to say this guy could easily get cut. Sign of a hit&miss on Safety FA's from the
+New England Patriots, but more or less an insurance policy? His best year was his first one. This isn't something to boast about regarding additions. But a plug in scheme fit insured policy is far more appropriate.
Strictly a run 2 safety down scheme the
+University of Utah mastermind Whittingham has really been the architect (to stifle the zone-read or at least cover the assignment of the zone read QB keeper on the edge. Safety sitting on each to help. This cannot be to assist in pass defense much or they failed on the rookie SS talent out there. They've got 3 of 5 (some may even say six) secondary spots locked down though and no doubt this is more arbitrary. Don't get too delusional about this and don't have blinders on regarding Chung. He's walking a thin line of a career being done obviously. A return to Bill's system could be exactly what he needed to reignite it. That, or cement it...? Our thoughts on it... S/O to
+UTES CR3W
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+The Associated Press
Chung said he's excited to be in the same secondary as Revis and Browner.
"You've got two playmakers like that on the outside," Chung said. "It definitely helps."
Chung, 26, was released by the Eagles on March 11, the same day they agreed with former New Orleans Saints safety
Malcolm Jenkins on a three-year contract. Both were drafted in 2009, Jenkins with the 14th pick and Chung with the 34th.
"I can't really tell you why things didn't work out in Philly. I don't make those decisions," said Chung, who praised the city and the team's coaches and personnel, "but I feel now that this has happened, I feel like it's a better fit here. I've been here for four years. I know the system. I know the coaches. The coaches are cool. I know most of the players.
"Now I'm back in the city that gave me my very first chance."
Chung started 10 of the 12 games in which he played last season, making 56 tackles with one fumble recovery and no interceptions.
In four seasons with the Patriots, he had seven interceptions while playing in 50 of the 64 regular-season games with 30 starts.
Chung was plagued by injuries and never showed the consistency expected of him when the Patriots drafted him out of Oregon. He missed seven of the last eight regular-season games in 2011 with a foot injury and was sidelined for four games in 2012 with shoulder and hamstring problems.
He became a free agent after the 2012 season and signed with the Eagles on March 12, 2013.
He said he doesn't feel he's a different player than he was before leaving the Patriots and has no expectations for what his role might be.
"I feel I'm the same," Chung said. "The scheme, I guess, would fit a lot better."
When the Eagles released him he had "no clue" he would return to the Patriots.
But then, "I got the call and I was excited. I was happy. I was relieved."
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+CSNNE.comFormer
+Philadelphia Eagles safety
Patrick Chung is returning to the
+New England Patriots.
The
Patriots have
agreed to terms with Chung, Tom Curran of
+CSNNE.com reported. The team later announced the signing.
Chung lasted just one year into a three-year, $10 million contract signed with Philadelphia last March. He was a weak link in the
Eagles' secondary, failing to generate a single turnover and often getting lost in coverage.
Although he's still just 26 years old, Chung has regressed since showing signs of promise after the
Patriots selected him in the second round of the 2009
+NFL Draft. Increasingly injury prone, he's missed at least four games in each of the past three seasons.
The
Patriots were in the market for safety depth after releasing
Steve Gregory, but Chung is unlikely to be guaranteed a roster spot -- much less a starting job.
Look for
Duron Harmon to start opposite star free safety
Devin McCourty this season.
