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Sheard Looks to Make Big Splash in Second Year with Patriots

Gary Reis

Gary Reis has served as president of Med Tech, Inc., a private ambulance service, since 1996, and as president of Triton Fleet Services since 2006. Outside of his work life, Gary Reis follows NFL football and is an avid fan of the New England Patriots.

Trading away big-name talent is old hat in New England. When Bill Belichick shipped Chandler Jones to the Cardinals last March, analysts immediately began trying to figure out what the master plan might be. As it turns out, the plan likely consists of two words: Jabaal Sheard.
Sheard was third in the rotation for the Patriots defensive line last year, playing a little more than half the overall snaps. Expect that number to climb this season.
Coming off a disappointing four-year stint in Cleveland, Sheard signed a two-year deal with the Patriots before last season. If one only counts last season, he has already outplayed the $11 million figure he’s set to make over the life of that contract, and it appears the Patriots are banking on more of the same this year.
If he continues to impress, the question then becomes whether or not the Patriots will pay big money to sign him after the deal expires at the end of this season. For his part, Sheard hasn’t indicated whether he would like to extend his deal before the season starts, or take his chances on the open market in the off-season.