Is it already time for the Patriots and Leonard Fournette to continue their annual tradition?
New England played the cat-and-mouse game with Fournette each of the last two seasons, bringing him in for visits on March 21, 2022 and July 19, 2023. Were you surprised he chose to chase championships both times, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills, respectively?
No, of course, you weren’t.
The Patriots might just be an option this time around, however, as the 29-year-old is angling for a job.
Fournette is “motivated to continue his career” and intends to sign with a team before the season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Fournette went as far as re-hiring his former agent Ari Nissim, and Pat Capra to aid in that pursuit.
“Leonard’s in the best shape of his career and I expect he will have a new home soon,” Nissim said, per Schefter.
What are the odds of a union with New England?
Fournette isn’t the player he once was, failing to find a role with the Bills after signing in October. He didn’t debut for Buffalo until December 23, averaging a whopping 3.3 yards per attempt in two games before being released in January. Tampa Bay seemingly knew how best to utilize him, making him a focal point of the passing offense at times. But with more tread on the tires it is unlikely any team would be willing to put any eggs in that basket — including the Patriots, even though they have questions about who will crack the rotation behind Rhamondre Stevenson.
Fournette is kind of like the guy in a rom-com who doesn’t really have interest in the girl until it’s convenient for him. He’s used New England for leverage a couple times now, and if romance movies have taught us anything, it isn’t worth the Patriots’ time to pursue this partnership.
