Soon enough, he could be more well known around the NFL and with any luck, it will be with the Pats. Today, Love received a contract extension through the 2013 season. That carries a maximum value of $3.09 million and also comes with a signing bonus of $500,000.
Those numbers might not sound like much but let's remember where Kyle Love came from: he was an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State so he's had to fight for everything he's received so far in Foxboro. After barely playing in nine games and having limited impact his rookie season, he really started to come on last season as he played in all 16 games then all three playoff games.
Combined in those 19 games, Love had 40 tackles (23 solo, 17 assists), three sacks and one fumble recovery. Since Albert Haynesworth never did anything before he was released, Love's emergence was valuable since they needed another guy that could play defensive tackle next to Pro-Bowler Vince Wilfork.
His game is more centered around power but for a guy his size (6-foot-1, 315 pounds), Love has some quickness. Just look at the play he made on Monday night against the Eagles. He collapsed the pocket and forced Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick to hold the ball, allowing Love's teammate Jermaine Cunningham to crush Vick.
To get back to the Super Bowl and ultimately win one for the first time since 2005, New England's defense needs to continue its relative improvement from last season. Make no mistake, you probably haven't noticed him that much before but odds are if the defense is good then Love will have a significant role in that.
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