For McCourty twins, Christmas is about family again

Christmas has always been about trition for Devin McCourty: Dressing kids in matching onesies, letting m open one present on Christmas Eve, and preparing for NFL playoffs.

Patriots safety has h to balance family and football during his 10-year career, with New England winning AFC East every year he's been in league. But since team signed his twin bror, Jason, last year, that's been a little bit easier.

“w we get to do it toger,” Devin McCourty said on Tuesday, when team practiced on usual NFL off-day so it could take Christmas off.

“Last year we took a family picture. It was brutal; we h kids crying. We'll see if we can work on that this year, see if we can get everyone to smile. I highly doubt it,” he said. “But things like that, we didn't get to do before. Christmas meant FaceTiming each or and letting kids talk to each or. w it's a lot of fun just to be able to go to each or's houses.”

A two-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time Super Bowl champion, Devin McCourty has been a stey presence in secondary and in Patriots locker room, serving as a defensive captain for last nine years. But family/football balance changed two years ago, when Patriots signed his bror.

After playing toger in high school and at Rutgers, y spend first nine years of ir pro careers apart. y w live across street from each or and have lockers at Gillette Stium two stalls apart.

“It's a lot of fun to be still doing this 10 years in, playing football,” Devin McCourty said. “You talk about importance of family and being able to cherish some of best moments — we haven't really been able to do over last nine years. To do that two years in a row w has really me playing football special in Year 9 and 10 just because of all of memories we have that really have thing to do with football, just being able to live out our dream.”

Patriots (12-3) beat Buffalo on Saturday to clinch ir 11th straight AFC East championship. With a victory over Miami (4-11) on Sunday (or a Kansas City loss), New England would secure . 2 seed in conference and a first-round bye.

“I love this time of year,” McCourty said. “You're playing for something, you're doing something that's meaningful, but you're also spending it with people you love most.”

McCourty said he will take most of Wednesday off to be with his family. But when kids take ir naps, he might break out his iP to study up on Dolphins.

“It's a part of being a professional,” McCourty said. “You've got tomorrow to spend with your family, and make it special. Thursday and Friday, we've got to be locked in, laser-focused. Because it's Christmas everywhere; Dolphins are dealing with same thing, of making sure you have a special Christmas with your family, but also being a professional and doing job.”

Jason McCourty left Saturday's game against Bills with a groin injury. re was update on his condition, and he was t in locker room during media availability on Tuesday.

Patriots safety Duron Harmon said time off will be good for everyone.

“It will be good to get away from it and spend time with your families,” he said. “But we kw when we step in this building what it's all about.”

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL