It was a surprise since I had read last week that he visited with the Tennessee Titans and I figured that meant his career with the Pats was over. After getting hurt (breaking his left fibula) in Week 1 last season against Miami, the former Pro Bowler went on IR. Dan Connolly took over for Koppen and did a perfectly fine job. More interesting, he recently signed a three-year deal with New England.
I guess the Pats figure that you can never have enough quality linemen. After all, I have no numbers to back it up but it feels like they go down with injuries more than at any other position. It's no wonder since they have such a brutal, grunt job. Connolly is more versatile while Koppen has only ever played center so I don't think they'll shift him around at this point but you never know.
A graduate of Boston College, Koppen is 32 and he's spent his entire career with the Pats after getting drafted in 2003 (5th round, 164th overall). The team has won two Super Bowls and been to another one with him as Tom Brady's last line of protection so he's doing something right.
The other offensive linemen in the mix are Pro Bowl guards Logan Mankins and Brian Waters, newcomer Robert Gallery, Ryan Wendell (3 starts at center) and Nick McDonald (2 starts at center). All I know is that's a lot of fat guys that the Patriots trust.
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