Hightower retires

brandonchristensen

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He was still active?
Yeah really had to think about this one.

Great career! Funny enough he was the one I least wanted to retain out of him, Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins (which I viewed similarly to the Sox Killer B’s). So of course he’s the one that plays for his career here and thank god he did.
 

Kliq

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The forced fumble in the 28-3 comeback was the biggest play of that game, which puts it close to top of the list when it comes to biggest plays in Patriot history. They absolutely needed a turnover if they were going to come back and Hightower provided it (with an assist from Alan Branch).
 

Euclis20

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Game-changing plays that directly led to two Super Bowl wins. Always kind of an understated player, but showed up when it mattered most.
And he was one of three guys (along with Edelman and Gilmore) with a legit argument for SB MVP in 53 (he had two sacks and one pass defended). He was the mirror version of the steady, reliable McCourty - since coming into the league he missed 44 games in his 10 seasons (not counting 2022), compared to just 5 games missed in 13 seasons for McCourty. Despite that, he did always seem to come up with huge plays when it mattered the most (he was definitely missed in 2017). In addition to the super bowl memories, I'll always remember the Jets trying to woo him with cupcakes in 2017, only for him to re-sign with the Pats. Delightful.
 

DeadlySplitter

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What a great article as well.

Every ring tells a story.

When I look at that first ring, I think about the Marshawn tackle.

When I saw Seattle line up in that I-form, I knew Beast Mode was getting it, and I knew they’d been gashing us with that strong-side lead all game. I knew he was going to walk through a huge hole if I didn’t take a risk. It’s funny how things come full circle, because when I was at Alabama, Kirby Smart used to always tell us, “Never ever go behind a block unless you’re sure you’re going to make a play.”

Well, I wasn’t sure. But I figured we had nothing to lose. So I ripped up under Okung and shot my shot. All I saw was Marshawn’s two legs churning, and I just prayed to God that I could clip him up or something. I reached out ... and you already know what happened next.
 

SoxVindaloo

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What a clutch money player he was when it mattered the most. They need to figure out a ring of honor situation because now you have two #54s who are clearly worthy of that honor.
 

E5 Yaz

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Thank you for not knocking the ball loose from Malcom ... even though I think you're going to every time I see that play
 

BaseballJones

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It's actually an interesting question as to which #54 was better or more impactful. Both guys have three rings and made huge plays in big spots for the team.

Bruschi played longer (13 seasons to 9 for Hightower).

pro-football-reference AV: Bruschi 88 (6.8 per year), Hightower 76 (8.5 per year).

Best season:
- Bruschi: 2003 - 133 tackles, 3 int, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 TD, 8 passes defended, 2 sacks, 8 TFL, 15 AV
- Hightower: 2019 - 71 tackles, 0 int, 0 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 TD, 4 passes defended, 5.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 17 AV

Really hard to pick between the two.
 

Spelunker

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Thank you for not knocking the ball loose from Malcom ... even though I think you're going to every time I see that play
I hear this a lot, and I have to admit I don't get it. To my eye, he barely touches Butler, mainly with a hand on his hip, as Malcolm is going down. There's a bit of a push at the end but Butler's knee looks to already be down, and it's just making sure he *does* get down and doesn't trip over the Seahawk or run into his own man (which would be more likely to jar it loose).
 

E5 Yaz

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I hear this a lot, and I have to admit I don't get it. To my eye, he barely touches Butler, mainly with a hand on his hip, as Malcolm is going down. There's a bit of a push at the end but Butler's knee looks to already be down, and it's just making sure he *does* get down and doesn't trip over the Seahawk or run into his own man (which would be more likely to jar it loose).
You're far more rational than the rest of us
 

Spelunker

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You're far more rational than the rest of us
Eh, in the moment my irrational mind was mostly worried about him getting tackled back into the end zone, or running it out and coughing it up. I get the feeling that was DH's worry as well :D
 

SoxVindaloo

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It's actually an interesting question as to which #54 was better or more impactful. Both guys have three rings and made huge plays in big spots for the team.

Bruschi played longer (13 seasons to 9 for Hightower).

pro-football-reference AV: Bruschi 88 (6.8 per year), Hightower 76 (8.5 per year).

Best season:
- Bruschi: 2003 - 133 tackles, 3 int, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 TD, 8 passes defended, 2 sacks, 8 TFL, 15 AV
- Hightower: 2019 - 71 tackles, 0 int, 0 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 TD, 4 passes defended, 5.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 17 AV

Really hard to pick between the two.
Great question. Emotionally I would go with Hightower mainly because of Super Bowls 49,51 and 53.
 

Euclis20

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It's actually an interesting question as to which #54 was better or more impactful. Both guys have three rings and made huge plays in big spots for the team.

Bruschi played longer (13 seasons to 9 for Hightower).

pro-football-reference AV: Bruschi 88 (6.8 per year), Hightower 76 (8.5 per year).

Best season:
- Bruschi: 2003 - 133 tackles, 3 int, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 TD, 8 passes defended, 2 sacks, 8 TFL, 15 AV
- Hightower: 2019 - 71 tackles, 0 int, 0 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 TD, 4 passes defended, 5.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 17 AV

Really hard to pick between the two.
With respect to Hightower, I don't think it's that close. Bruschi had both the longevity/reliability of McCourty (among all Patriots, only DMC has more career tackles) and the big play ability of Hightower. Bruschi was the heart and soul of the defense in the first half of the dynasty, in a way that Hightower just wasn't. Add in the fact that he played in 5 super bowls for NE (to 3 for Hightower) and the fact that he came back from a stroke just 8 months later...his story is better, and he was a more important player for the Pats.
 

Spelunker

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With respect to Hightower, I don't think it's that close. Bruschi had both the longevity/reliability of McCourty (among all Patriots, only DMC has more career tackles) and the big play ability of Hightower. Bruschi was the heart and soul of the defense in the first half of the dynasty, in a way that Hightower just wasn't. Add in the fact that he played in 5 super bowls for NE (to 3 for Hightower) and the fact that he came back from a stroke just 8 months later...his story is better, and he was a more important player for the Pats.
Maybe if Hightower wasn't hurt for the 4th Superbowl he was on the team for they would have actually won it ;)
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Why argue? They're both starters on the Patriots all-time 3-4 defense.

I just don't want to see Hightower on the field when they go nickel.
 

Ale Xander

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The forced fumble in the 28-3 comeback was the biggest play of that game, which puts it close to top of the list when it comes to biggest plays in Patriot history. They absolutely needed a turnover if they were going to come back and Hightower provided it (with an assist from Alan Branch).
Yup. 3rd biggest play in team history?
1. Malcolm Go

Off the top of my head
2. AV in the snow, longer one (45YD) to tie it.
4-5-6. Brady to Troy end of 4th quarter to set up AV, AV to win it, TLaw TD
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Yup. 3rd biggest play in team history?
1. Malcolm Go

Off the top of my head
2. AV in the snow, longer one (45YD) to tie it.
4-5-6. Brady to Troy end of 4th quarter to set up AV, AV to win it, TLaw TD
Edelman catch has to be up there.

The Edelman to Amendola TD was a needed spark also.

I went through so many in my head...goddammit were so lucky.