Koutouvides remained a Patriots fan after release

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FOXBORO -- His return was not so heralded as compatriot Deion Branch, but Niko Koutouvides is just as happy to be back.
The linebacker didn't go far after being cut August 31. A Connecticut native, Koutouvides not only continued working out, but kept track of his former team as New England embarked on the regular season.
"I'm a big fan of, not only my teammates, but of the Patriots," he said Wednesday. "The first game, in Connecticut we had it, but this last game for some reason, the game wasn't on TV there, so I had to go down to a local bar to watch the game."
Koutouvides smiled at the memory.
"t was at a place called The Wooden Tap. So I had to tell the wife I had to leave for a couple hours to watch the second half."
Nobody recognized him.
"But it was flooded with Patriots fans in there, and let me tell you what they can get a little rowdy," he laughed. "It was pretty fun."
From Patriot to bar patron. Imagine what kind of perspective that will give a guy.
This August marked the second cut for Koutouvides. He was originally signed August of 2011, was cut in September, then re-signed in November of the same year.
After playing no fewer than 12 games in any of the seven NFL seasons he had before coming to New England, this yo-yo business is still relatively new. And the 31-year old isn't ready to get used to it.
But, hey, that's the business.
"Last year was kind of the first time I've dealt with it. I wouldn't say it gets any easier, but the mindset's a little different," he said. "In this league, you're not going to play forever so I'm starting to understand that. You want to go out kind of on your own terms, but obviously the league we play in and the way the business works, very rarely do guys have the opportunity to leave on their own. So I was staying in shape and hoping for a call back and I'm back.
"I'm getting excited and ready for Baltimore."
He doesn't think the transition will be that difficult. Last year, Koutouvides missed more than nine weeks of time with the team. This time? Less than three.
And he can't wait to put the pads back on. As fun as that night at the bar may have been, being back with the Patriots is better. Much better.
"t's always good to be back to work."

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