Patriots Should Bring Back Fan Favorite James Develin as Coach

The New England Patriots' forgettable offseason continued on Monday when longtime fullback James Develin surprisingly announced his retirement from the NFL after eight seasons.

Though the former Pro Bowler no longer wants to put his body on the line as a blocker, it doesn't necessarily mean that he's finished with football altogether. According to Pro Football Talk, Develin wants to give back to the sport in some capacity.

The Patriots should pounce on this development and persuade Develin to return as a coach.

“I’ve been playing for 25 years and I know a lot about the game, I’ve been through a lot of experiences within the game," said Develin. "So I think that there’s a certain level of knowledge that I have that I can pass on to the next generation of players, wherever that may be."

"Wherever" should be Foxborough and New England shouldn't think twice about giving Develin a shot. After all, history suggests that it would work out just fine.

Shortly after former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo called it a career, the team hired him as its inside linebackers coach. There's no reason to think that Develin couldn't enjoy similar success on the sidelines. Like Mayo, he's familiar with New England's system -- inside and out -- and was also a prominent voice in the locker room.

Develin spent his entire career with the Patriots and won three Super Bowls with the franchise. Not every player has the tools to be a sound NFL coach, but the 31-year-old is certainly one of them.