Chris Long took less money to sign with Patriots

Chris Long could have gotten more money if he signed with a team other than the New England Patriots, but his father is pleased with the decision the veteran defensive end made.

Howie Long, a Hall of Famer and well-known NFL analyst, recently told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com that Chris chose the Patriots because he wants to play in “meaningful” football games.

“I know he could have gotten more money in other places,” Howie Long said. “He probably would have been slotted right off the bat, but you go there for less money and you go there knowing you have to earn everything you get, and he’s excited about that opportunity with that one goal in mind — having the opportunity to be there at the end and playing relevant games and having a shot at a championship.”

At this point in his career, Chris Long is looking to prove he is still a capable pass rusher. After recording 8.5 or more sacks in four straight seasons from 2010-2013, he suffered two unfortunate injuries — an ankle injury and leg fracture — and was limited to just 18 games over the past two seasons.

Howie believes this is a perfect time in Chris’s career for him to be joining the Pats.

“At this point in his career, why do you play? You play to have an opportunity to win,” he said. “It’s an organization, in the last 15 years they’ve won 13 divisions and been to six Super Bowls, winning four. They came very close to winning the other two. So if you want to have an opportunity to swing for the fence, and be around like-minded people, they have that in abundance there.”

Chris Long is not the first veteran (here’s another) who has taken less money this offseason for an opportunity to win. The truth is there’s a chance he might not even make the 53-man roster in New England, but that was a risk he was willing to take after Chandler Jones was traded. If Long can remain healthy, it’s a risk that could really pay off.