Patriots’ McCourty Prefers To Play Safety

New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty is worried about a possible position change in the upcoming 2015 NFL season, but said it’s up to the coaches if they want to move him to cornerback. "I want to play safety, but it's out of my control, so whatever the coaches decide is what it will have to be,” McCourty told Boston.com when asked about a possible shift. "You've got to ask the coaches about that. I'm not in the staff meetings."

Previous cornerbacks for the team included Darrelle Revis (New York Jets), Brandon Browner (New Orleans Saints) and Kyle Arrington (Baltimore Ravens), all of whom left via free agency in this offseason. In the Patriots’ first organized team activities, McCourty was seen playing safety.

"Hopefully that's not what happens," McCourty told Comcast SportsNet earlier. "We got a lot of guys working hard at the cornerback position and hopefully they'll get it done. I feel like I found a home at safety and that's where I would definitely like to stay."

The 27-year-old McCourty signed a five-year $47.5 million contract extension with the Patriots earlier in the offseason and has been with the team since 2010 when New England drafted him as the No. 27 overall pick.

McCourty, who entered the league as a cornerback but has played safety in the NFL, is considered one of the veteran leaders of the Super Bowl champions, being a team captain for four seasons in New England.