In the end, there was really nothing to be worried about. After nearly a week of anxious waiting for the New England Patriots and its fans, unrestricted free agent middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower eventually decided to return to the New England Patriots, his home for the past five years in the NFL. Dont'a Hightower resigned with the New England Patriots. Apparently, both the New England Patriots and their fans have really nothing to fear all along. Dont'a Hightower was really destined to return all along.
According to a report from Jason Canfora of CBS Sports, the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers offered more money but ultimately Dont'a Hightower turned both offers down and decided to return to the New England Patriots. Dont'a Hightower was a vital cog in the New England Patriots' Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LI title runs. Dont'a Hightower decided to test the free-agent market after the season ended.
Dont'a Hightower, 27, both visited the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Jets offer to Dont'a Hightower was for $11 million per season. If Dont'a Hightower did sign with the New York Jets, he could more than $12 million per season, including incentives.
On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly offered Dont'a Hightower more than $9 million per year. Apparently, that wasn't enough for Dont'a Hightower to consider leaving the New England Patriots.
Dont'a Hightower eventually signed a deal with the New England Patriots worth about $8.7 million a year plus incentives, considerably lower than the initial offer of the New England Patriots. The New England Patriots initially offered Dont'a Hightower at least $10 million a year, via a report from CBS Sports.
It's really hard to read what's inside Dont'a Hightower's mind in turning down the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers offer. Some say that Dont'a Hightower is just using both teams. Never the less, the New England Patriots could care less as they finally got Dont'a Hightower back for another run at the Super Bowl.
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