Oh, brother: Devin McCourty's twin Jason brings new perspective to Patriots

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FOXBORO -- When Devin and Jason McCourty strolled out of the tunnel at Gillette Stadium and onto the sidelines to meet with reporters, they were asked one of those questions that twins are typically asked by non-twins. 

Can they communicate, like, telepathically? 

Both immediately answered something along the lines of, well we've been together a while . . . but wouldn't acknowledge any more than that. 

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"I guess there's some similarities to us," said Jason, "but we just shared the egg."

"Similar to how I am with Bill [Belichick]," Devin said. "We've been together a while."

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"So I guess," Jason replied, "him and Bill are fraternal twins."

The back-and-forth was partly The McCourty Variety Hour -- both twins showed up trying to trick the media into thinking they were the other -- but it was also an opportunity for Jason to explain how having Devin as a teammate will help him get adjusted. And it was an opportunity for Devin to explain why Jason will be a good addition to everyone else in the Patriots locker room. 

The Patriots traded for Jason back in March, adding him to a cornerbacks room that will also include Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones and Ryan Lewis. 

"He brings leadership that I think we don't have on this team," Devin said. "He's been on some winning teams, some losing teams, he knows how to deal with adversity. I think that's the biggest thing. We get in a routine, we've won a lot of football games, and it's always good to get a perspective of what it takes so you're not kinda getting worn down or thinking, 'We're working hard, this is too much.' You get a perspective from him of going 0-16. Like he always tells me, last year [with the Browns]: Worst year ever. I think hearing that motivates you, lets you know you're doing the right things and pushes you. So I'm excited to have him."

And Jason is excited to be with the organization that he's watched closely since his brother was drafted in the first round in 2010. Having the perspective of going 0-16, having the perspective of a nine-year veteran who has never made the playoffs . . . that may help the current Patriots on the roster to realize how good they have it. But at the same time, Jason doesn't want to be stuck with those perspectives for long. While he's enjoyed watching his brother have so much professional success in New England, it hasn't been easy. He wants some for himself.

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"When you don't make it to the playoffs and you're watching those games, I think there's envy in every game you watch," he said. "As you're watching other teams, whether it's Dev as my twin brother or maybe a team you beat throughout the season, or a team you came close to, or you just missed the playoffs, and they got in, and you watch them take the field on Sunday in those playoffs, there's definitely professional envy because you want to be there. That's what you train all offseason for. That's what the tough days in camp is for, to get to that postseason and be able to make your run. Super Bowls, you always want to be in that position as a player and as a team."

Now Jason is embarking on his 10th season and hoping it'll be loaded with experiences that will be new to him, even if they're old hat for his brother. Devin has been to four Super Bowls and seven straight AFC title games. 

"For me," Jason said, "it's been exciting to be here in the offseason just to see how they train, what things they do, from talking to them over the years, for me to actually go through it and to show everybody I'm just as good as him, I've been excited."

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