Patrick Chung: Ability to play special teams makes you valuable

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For Patriots safety Patrick Chung, the ability to play on special teams means job security. When asked about the importance of special teams, Chung said "It's big man. As far as staying on the team, it's huge." 

2018 will be Chung's tenth year in the league and his ninth with the Patriots. The safety has five seasons of 80 or more tackles and 10 career interceptions. But for Chung, his play on special teams is just as important as his contributions to the defense. "If you can play special teams and defense, the more valuable you are," he told Megan O'Brien, adding: "if you're not on defense, [but] you can play special teams at a high level, you're very valuable there also. To be able to play special teams adds value to your name, and they can plug you in wherever you're needed."

Besides the job security, the versatile safety seems to enjoy the grunt work. "Just go out there and play," Chung smiled, "It's a 40-yard fistfight."

Head coach Bill Belichick raves about Chung's versatility. "He can go hard all day," Belichick said in a news conference at Gillette Stadium last week. "He's a very, very well conditioned athlete with good playing strength, good instincts, good toughness. He's just a very versatile guy."

Chung played on nearly 33% of special teams snaps last season and 45% in 2016. Chung has been fielding punts in practice this week after the Patriots released Week 1 punt returner Riley McCarron. Should his name be called, rest assured Chung will be ready.

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