In order to fill a critical position that arose during the offseason, the Patriots added Riley Reiff to their depth offensive room. The offensive tackle also appears committed to his new team and wants to help it win a championship.
In the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Detroit selected the offensive tackle out of Iowa with the 23rd overall pick. Later he became a part of the Minnesota Vikings’ roster as an unrestricted free agent in 2017 and before joining the Patriots he also played one season for the Bears.
What is the motive of Reiff to join the roster of the Patriots?
With 11 Super Bowl appearances and six victories, including the most recent in 2019, the Patriots are among the most successful NFL teams ever. The teams have reportedly signed veteran Riley to a one-year, $5 million contract as they become more committed to being a Super Bowl contender this year. The offensive tackle recognized their tenacity and desire for a repeat of the Super Bowl.
When asked on Tuesday what inspired him to sign with the Patriots, he confidently responded, “A ring,” in his first public remarks.
What keeps Riley Reiff going?
"A ring" pic.twitter.com/FSM4tfzZgC
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) May 16, 2023
The 35-year-old previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals for one season, starting the first 12 games at right tackle, before joining the Bears team. Sadly, his time with the Bengals did not end with a successful career.
“It was tough,” he said about his Bengals career. “(I) just wanted to keep going. That was a fun year. Good group of guys. You guys know this, but to have fun, you’ve got to win.”
The best way to characterize the former Bears player is as a reliable and trustworthy professional and he would best fit on New England’s right side. He considered himself to be a good fit for the team and the position given his twelve years of experience in this capacity.
“I’d like to think I’m a little bit smarter. I’ve seen quite a bit,” he added. “There’s always something to learn whether you’re a rookie or Year 12. I’m just excited to work with the group of guys we have, the coaches, and that starts here in offseason workouts.”
Reiff’s comment about his capacity cannot be disregarded because, according to Pro Football Focus, he had a 96.8 pass-blocking efficiency rating, allowing a total of 21 pressures and four sacks.
However, the Pats can now feel a lot of relief after observing the determined level of their recently added OT in achieving their team goal.
