Though the pipeline between New England and New York typically involves former Patriots players and employees sliding through to the Jets, there’s one member of the Pats who swam against the current in 2009.
Tight end Chris Baker.
And Baker has jumped into the pro wrestling verbal runup to Sunday’s game.
In his first year with the Pats after seven with the Jets, the Queens native was asked by Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald whether it was difficult for Baker to divorce himself from his hometown team.
“Honestly, I had already divorced myself from them when I went through my contract thing with them last year,” Baker said. “I was there to do my job, but I knew I was going to be moving on after the season, so it didn’t take me very long. I was more than happy to come here and I had moved on. I still have a lot of really good friends, but as far as being part of the being part of the organization, I divorced myself a long time ago from that. That wasn’t a problem.”
Baker was one of three veteran players during the Eric Mangini era who claimed that promises to address their contracts had not been honored. Baker ultimately received a deal that either would get him paid more money or give him freedom.
In his Week One debut with the Pats, Baker had one catch for seven yards. He’ll likely be ready to do a lot more when he gets a chance to play his old team on Sunday.
