FOXBORO — Having the sport’s greatest head coach and quarterback wasn’t the one cause the Patriots constructed a dynasty.
Along with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the Patriots at all times had different particular gamers, difference-makers on offense, protection and particular groups.
They had shutdown corners, tough-as-nails slot receivers, and clutch third-down backs.
Sifting via the six Super Bowl wins, one of many constants was having an incredible third-down again, a participant who may ship within the clutch.
Kevin Faulk was considered one of Tom Brady’s main go-to-guys through the first three championships. Shane Vereen, who caught a game-high 11 passes for 64 yards through the Patriots’ comeback win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, was a big-time participant in that sport and extra.
Then, there was James White, one other from the Patriots’ fabulous third-down again secure. He was one of many unsung forces behind the final three championships.
Of course, he’s most famous for his efficiency within the best Super Bowl comeback of all time in opposition to the Falcons.
It solely appeared becoming that his additional effort two-yard plunge into the top zone sealed the deal in the one walk-off landing in Super Bowl historical past.
White, who introduced his retirement on Twitter on Thursday due to the devastating hip harm he suffered early final season, had 139 yards from scrimmage, (29 speeding, 110 receiving) in that memorable sport. He scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion, setting a document for many factors in a Super Bowl with 20.
All of these got here after the Patriots trailed 28-3 halfway via the third quarter.
Thinking of all of White’s contributions, it was laborious to not instantly flash again to that sport.
Former Patriots working backs coach Ivan Fears definitely did, when speaking about his former again.
“That Super Bowl game against Atlanta was the epitome of what he was all about,” mentioned Fears, when reached by the Herald. “He did everything he was supposed to do. He did it all. He ran the ball, he caught the ball, he played tough, he blocked, he did it all.”
He did it in regular-season video games. He did it through the post-season. He was reliable, and somebody the quarterback may at all times depend on in a pinch.
“He sure was. He gave you everything he had,” mentioned Fears. “And if there was an opportunity to make a play, he’d make the play. That was James White.
“He was out there to play. He could play at that tempo. We had almost 100 plays in that Super Bowl game. And he played his butt off. That was James. He was dependable every week.”
Sweet Feet, as he was recognized to his teammates, was that, and a lot extra.
He was an under-the-radar presence within the locker room, ensuring the message from Fears, and Bill Belichick by extension, was not solely heard, however taken to coronary heart.
For many of the previous eight seasons, White, who held the final locker earlier than the exit to the burden room, has been a pillar in the case of management, and steering the group in the appropriate route.
“For me, James was the perfect team player. He really was,” Fears mentioned. “If there’s one factor that I cherished probably the most, he at all times mentioned the appropriate issues to the blokes.
“If the guys didn’t agree with what was going on, James always had my back. And that was very, very important when you got guys whose egos were involved, or had their own opinion about what was right, what was wrong. And I love him for that. He was the best kind of player you could have in your room. He really was.”
Having somebody who was so revered by the gamers, holding teammates accountable is such an underrated aspect of the staff’s success. White could have been tender spoken, however nonetheless managed to wield an enormous stick. He supplied that management, whereas additionally delivering on the sector.
“When I think about James White, I think he left a tremendous, tremendous legacy here,” mentioned particular groups captain Matthew Slater, “not only for what he did on the sector, however once I take into consideration all of the issues we hope to embody right here, all of the issues I hope to embody as a dad, as a husband, as a teammate, as a buddy, James embodied all that.
“It’s tough to say goodbye to someone like that . . . as he transitions to the next phase of his life,” Slater went on. “He’s a true Patriot, but he’s a better human being. We’re all better for having been around him.”
White completed his profession in eighth place on the membership’s all-time receptions listing with 381 and ranked second amongst Patriots working backs, behind the 431 receptions by Faulk. His 3,278 receiving yards are second among the many staff’s working backs, additionally behind Faulk (3,701 yards), who’s a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Fears didn’t wish to single out anybody as being the Patriots best-ever third-down again, however White definitely deserves to be in any dialog.
“He was definitely one of the great ones,” mentioned Fears. “Now, I’ve had some good ones. But he was positively one of many best ones we’ve ever had.
“It would be hard to put a tag on who was the greatest. They all had their strong points … but talent-wise, he was definitely in that group. Those guys were very successful for us. When it comes to that aspect of the game, he was one of the best.”
Brady, who reached out on Twitter to congratulate his former teammate on having “the perfect career,” has at all times thought White ought to have been the MVP of that miraculous Atlanta Super Bowl comeback. He additionally at all times cherished having an incredible third-down again. It was that necessary to him, and nonetheless is as Tampa Bay’s quarterback.
“When you played with Brady, and the kind of player he was, the (third-down back) had to be a very intelligent player, a very dependable player, and we were always able to find that guy,” mentioned Fears. “James was a special player for us. He really was.”
No argument right here. White’s presence can be missed on so many fronts. As one of many staff’s most reliable, and sturdy gamers, it’s powerful to see an harm minimize his profession brief. But what a profession it was. Sweet Feet leaves as the most effective to ever play the place.
And the most effective to ever make a house within the Patriots locker room.
Source: www.bostonherald.com