Ex-NFL Star Admits Biggest Career Regret Is Not Signing With Patriots

The New England Patriots are able to get players on discounts. Yes, they signed a lot of talented players for little money. Head coach Bill Belichick can persuade above-average veteran players to sign with the Patriots over NFL teams making a bigger offer. What’s his favorite selling point? That player could easily win a Super Bowl. Not everyone comes to New England though. And they all have that career regret.

Well, this wasn’t enough for former cornerback DeAngelo Hall to come to New England over a decade ago. The three-time Pro Bowl selection decided to sign a long-term deal in 2009. Well, if you ask him, he will say that the decision to skip Belichick’s team was a big mistake.

“When I signed to play half the season with Washington in 2008, there was a line in my contract that said the team could not franchise tag me that next season,” Hall said, per NFL. com. “I remember negotiations for a new deal with Washington weren’t going well, and there were other teams in the picture, including New England. At that time, players didn’t take short-term deals, but Randy Moss had just signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Patriots. I couldn’t believe it.

“In my own contract discussions with the Pats, I recall Bill Belichick telling me they couldn’t give me the contract Moss signed. Being a young and greedy knucklehead, I chose to stay in Washington on a long-term deal (six years, $54 million), which ultimately had me making the same per-year salary as Moss. Over a few million, I could’ve changed my legacy by being part of that dynasty. That was on the table for me, and I wish I would’ve made the decision to take less money and play for Belichick.”

Hall will always have this career regret

The Washington Redskins made the playoff twice in the period between 2009 and 2017, and that’s Hall’s final year in the capital. New England won the AFC East in every season and made four Super Bowls. Yes, they won two. Well, mistakes do happen and Hall has a one major regret. He will have to live with it for the rest of his life.

Is Hall kicking himself? You can bet he is. The Patriots have a good chance to win more games now. They will play with a new leader in September. Belichick will have to make a decision between Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham.