FOXBOROUGH – Mac Jones appreciates Stephon Gilmore. He just hopes to stay away from the cornerback on Sunday evening.
Back in 2021, Gilmore never suited up for the Patriots before being traded to the Carolina Panthers. That offseason, however, the veteran cornerback dolled out advice to Jones, who was a rookie. Jones and Gilmore talked at different points that offseason – in the training room or even at Gilmore’s locker.
Of course, the first time they played each other, later that season, Gilmore intercepted the then-rookie quarterback when he was with the Carolina Panthers. The pair will meet again this Sunday when the Patriots take on the Dallas Cowboys.
“He’s great,” Jones said on Wednesday. “I never really got to practice against him. He gave me great knowledge when I was here and I really appreciate it.”
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A free agent signing in 2017, Gilmore is one of Bill Belichick’s greatest offseason acquisitions.
From 2018-to-2020, he was the best cornerback in the NFL. Gilmore earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in 2018. In 2019, Gilmore led the NFL with six interceptions along with 20 passes defended and two defensive touchdowns. That led to him winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the first Patriots player to win the honor and the first cornerback since Charles Woodson in 2009.
Gilmore’s time in New England came to an unceremonious end. In 2021, Gilmore skipped OTAs and held out of minicamp due to his contract. He was also at odds with the Patriots over the rehabilitation of a quad injury that required surgery.
The situation came to a head when the Patriots traded Gilmore to the Panthers for a future sixth-round pick. Before playing against the Patriots that season, Gilmore explained why he was unhappy.
“I wasn’t ready at the beginning of training camp, I’ll be completely honest with you, but the only thing I just didn’t like how they handled my situation with my injury,” Gilmore said. “You know, a lot went on with that, that I didn’t agree with it… I just didn’t like how they handled my situation with my injury.”
It remains to be seen if the bad blood has subsided, but that seems to be the case on the Patriots end. This offseason, according to The Athletic, the Patriots attempted to re-acquire Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts. According to the report, the Patriots and Cowboys showed the most interest in the veteran cornerback.
Dallas ultimately traded a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Colts for Gilmore’s services. The Patriots went on to draft cornerback Christian Gonzalez in the first round.
This season, Gilmore has started all three games for the Cowboys. With Dallas cornerback Trevon Diggs out for the season, Dallas will rely more on the veteran.
“Steph’s had a great career,” Belichick said. “He plays on (their) right side. Diggs played on the left, and then last week they moved (DaRon) Bland out there and [Jourdan] Lewis played inside. But, yeah, Steph looks kind of how he’s always looked – long, disruptive, and really good ball skills. You’ve got to be careful throwing the ball around him. He’ll catch it.”
The Patriots know all about Gilmore’s ball skills. He finished with 11 interceptions to go with 52 passes defended in four seasons in New England. Gilmore’s a player that Patriots offensive players say they’ll have to be aware of on every snap.
“Steph is just incredible. He’s a great player. He’s so smart,” tight end Hunter Henry said. “Obviously, his career speaks for itself – just production and everything that he’s done. And what he brought here, too. Just a special player, special person, and definitely a guy we have to be ready to go against. He’s seen this scheme, this offense, different guys over the years. He’s very, very smart. He studies well and knows different tendencies.”
Added Jones: “You look at their defense as a whole, obviously everybody is really good starting with Gilly. “He’s played a lot of football and does a great job reading the quarterback and is really instinctive.”
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