It's been eight exciting years in blue, red and gray for defensive end Jarvis Green, but whether he sees a ninth year with the Patriots will be up to New England as the 31-year-old lineman is testing the free agent waters.
"Definitely this year, I'm going to experience the market," Green told ESPN.com. "I think for any player in their NFL career they need to experience that, and this will be my first time. I had the chance five years ago but I re-signed with the team, so this has been different for me, and it's been cool not being obligated to anyone but my family, my wife and kids."
For the majority of his stay in New England, Green has played second fiddle to such d-line stars as Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour and Ty Warren. This year Green stepped up and set a career high with 12 starts but that doesn't mean the 2009 campaign was easy.
"This year was rough for me. I had four to five surgeries between the
offseason and also during the season. I went through a lot of stuff
people don't know about," he said, telling ESPN reporter and NESN insider Mike Reiss that he had two
procedures on his elbow, one on his wrist, one on his left knee and one
on his right knee. "I went through a lot of stuff, and the first thing
you understand as a football player is that nobody plays 100 percent.
There is no such thing."
The Louisiana State alum has appeared in 121 career regular season games to go with 15 postseason tilts. He has accumulated 232 total tackles to go with 28 sacks including a career-high 7.5 in 2006, the same year he notched three forced fumbles.
Green not only has the stats to stack his resume, he has thrived on championship teams and hopes that will be a big factor when clubs coming knocking on his door this offseason.
"Playing in a championship program, being with the Patriots, things I've learned here I could take with me — the winning attitude, knowing how to win," he said. "That could go anywhere, and I think teams look for that in the quality of a player."
