McCourty ‘would definitely like to stay' at safety

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The Patriots cornerback overhaul this offseason has generated skeptics. What if importing Bradley Fletcher and elevating Malcolm Butler doesn't work out? Would Devin McCourty - a Pro Bowl corner as a rookie - possibly move from the safety of his safety spot and return to play on the edge again?

The idea was broached over the weekend by Karen Guregian of The Boston Herald, who wondered if the corner crop on the roster currently was good enough.

Our buddy Mike Florio seized on Guregian's story and wondered if it would wind up being a smart business move to get McCourty at safety money (a lot of it) and use him at corner. 

Tuesday night on Quick Slants, an astute viewer checked in to ask, "How does Dev feel about the chatter about him moving back to cornerback?"

Smiling, McCourty said, "Devin's not really excited about that chatter. Hopefully that's not what happens. 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."

While cornerbacks is generally a more difficult and, as a result, higher-paid position, the case can be made that elite safeties are as indispensable.Whether itsMcCourty, Earl Thomas, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu or Charles Woodson after converting from corner, the last teams standing usually have great safety play. And part of that may be because they can cover up for average corners. While there may be logic on paper to moving McCourty and any switches can't be ruled out in early June, a transition from safety could potentially weaken the Patriots at two spots.

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