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Patriots defense needs Ja’Whaun Bentley to live up to the ‘field general’ label this year

Built around Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins Sr., the New England Patriots fielded one of the best linebacker groups in all of football last year. The trio played a key role in the team’s defense finishing first in scoring, and consistently proved its value against both the pass and the run — so much so that both Van Noy and Collins left New England the following offseason after seeing big free agency offers come their way.

Van Noy eventually joined the Miami Dolphins on a four-year, $51 million deal; Collins signed with the Detroit Lions on a three-year, $30 million pact.