Patriots DL Gerard Warren: “Hopefully I’ll be able to return and complete the mission.”

When I sat down and wrote an in-depth feature on veteran defensive lineman Gerard Warren earlier in the season, he said he wanted to stick around with the Patriots for another year. Warren was a surprise draft-day signing, and the 6-foot-4, 325-pounder was a key part of the defensive line. He played all spots and finished with 28 tackles and four sacks. His future is in doubt, however, as the team may try to get younger. But he knows what he wants. I asked him if he’d like to return on another contract, and he said, “I’d like to.” “The professionalism, the guys being focused on the same plan, one purpose,” said Warren, rattling off what he likes about the Patriots. “Just the way it was. We couldn’t put that last two steps together. Hopefully, I’ll be able to return and complete the mission next year.” Figure it wouldn’t be a high-risk move to bring back the 32-year-old. Asked if he’d heard the Patriots are interested in him...