Former Patriots and Browns executive - and Bill Belichick confidant - Michael Lombardi suggested on a podcast this week that the Pats would benefit from Dont'a Hightower moving from linebacker to defensive end.
“I think what New England needs to do is stop playing Hightower at linebacker and just make him a defensive end because when he’s at linebacker they are really slow," Lombardi said on The Ringer GM Street podcast.
Hightower said if that's what his coaches wanted, he'd be amenable to it.
"That's not my coach," Hightower said of Lombardi, via WEEI.com's Ryan Hannable. "I mean, if that's what Bill [Belichick] or Flo [linebackers coach and de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores] want to do, then we'll handle it at that."
"Whatever it takes," Hightower said. "I've never been one to not do whatever I need to do."
After missing a good portion of last season with a shoulder injury, Hightower told NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry that while disappointed in the Pats' 1-2 start, he's elevating his game each week.
"I feel I'm elevating each week," he said. "Obviously it's still early in the season. We all got a lot of work to do, but me personally, I hold myself to a higher standard than that. Had a good week. Didn't play great but just want to continue to get better each week and that's all I can hope for."
New England Patriots
On this week's Quick Slants the Podcast, former Pats linebacker Jerod Mayo said he thought a move back to the middle for Hightower would benefit the defense.
Listen here: