By Bob Breidenbach Former Patriot player Willie McGinest takes time for a shoe shine while visiting the Media Center at the JW Marriott hotel. He greets fans as he leaves and gets a compliment from Veronica Lodge. Providence Journal video by Bob Breidenbach Mobile users: Having trouble seeing this video? Click here

Willie McGinest previews the matchup between the Falcons and Giants.

Back in April, former Patriot OLB Willie McGinest answered questions on NFL.com from fans and mentioned that he would like to return to the Patriots if possible. Just a few months later in a Q & A session with Sporting News' Albert Breer, #55 again mentioned returning to New England. He is currently training like he is going to play one more season and his preference is to...

Things are getting a little slow in Patriot land. And not just because I’m off today and still reeling from, for the first time in eight years, catching back-to-back bullpen sessions for my new adult baseball team (an under-30 team, thankyouverymuch). But Willie McGinest isn’t going slow at all. The former Patriots linebacker had told Karen [...]

Willie McGinest may now live out on the West Coast, and may be removed from the every day proceedings in Foxboro. But he still watches the games faithfully. Speaking with the former Patriots linebacker today prior to ESPN Monday Night Football’s Chalk Talk luncheon, McGinest has been watching a defense he doesn’t quite recognize. ”They need some work. To be a championship...

Willie McGinest said he wants to retire as a New England Patriot, WEEI reports. McGinest recently worked out with the Detroit Lions, but the 39-year-old issued a statement that said he was not planning on coming back to play. "Even though I looked as good as I did, this number 55 has been retired for three years and plans to stay retired. The only thing that will bring me back...

One of the greatest players to ever grace a Patriots jersey, Willie McGinest won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXIX), was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 2002, and has the most postseason sacks in NFL history with 16. McGinest was one of the longest tenured Patriots in franchise history, spending 11 years there from 1994-2005. McGinest was taken with the 4th overall...

Retired linebacker Willie McGinest says he is considering a return to the NFL.The 39-year-old has been working out with the Detroit Lions while the league and its players association continue to endure a work stoppage following the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.McGinest hasn't played an NFL down since 2008 with the Cleveland Browns. He presently serves as...

This may not come as much of a surprise, but it would seem that LB Willie McGinest is done in Cleveland, barring any unforseen and improbable return.? Despite the fact that he was contemplating staying in the league another year, he referred to the Browns as ?they? in a recent interview on NFL ...

Willie McGinest highlights to get you through an offseason Monday…

Ex-NFL linebacker Willie McGinest is now saying he is not contemplating a comeback. McGinest, in a statement through his publicist, said: "Even though I looked as good as I did, this No. 55 has been retired for 3 years and plans to stay retired. "The only thing that will bring me back is a 1-day contract with New England to retire as a Patriot." On Friday, the 39-year...

Once again, for the second consecutive draft, the Patriots may be searching for a hybrid 3-4 outside linebacker, one who can rush the passer and set the edge against the run. One who can draw double teams and still make players, while being versatile enough drop into coverage. Essentially, they are looking for Willie McGinest. The original elephant linebacker, McGinest became a Patriots...

Despite their clear needs on the edges of their defense, the Patriots waited until the sixth round to select a pass-rusher. That led to some questions about how seriously they addressed that issue and whether they made a big mistake. For an educated view, colleague Karen Guregian talked with former Patriots OLB Willie McGinest as the lead to her Sunday NFL Notes. On the subject of...

…Just not to the Cleveland Browns. He didn’t play last season and rookie center Alex Mack took his jersey number, but former Browns outside linebacker Willie McGinest – now 39-years old -  is entertaining the idea of coming back to the NFL if given the right situation.  McGinest, in a report from the Boston Herald, has [...]

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Willie McGinest will consider playing another NFL season if he receives an interesting offer, and he would prefer to get it from the New England Patriots.

…Just not to the Cleveland Browns. He didn’t play last season and rookie center Alex Mack took his jersey number, but former Browns outside linebacker Willie McGinest, now 39-years old, is entertaining the idea of coming back to the NFL if given the right situation.  McGinest, in a report from the Boston Herald, has yet to [...]

While former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest has made it clear that he would be open to a return to the Patriots and told Albert Breer of...

Former Pats and Browns LB Willie McGinest is thinking about an NFL return. He’s been working out recently with the Lions, and says that if he gets offered a contract, he’s ready to get back on the field in 2011. Willie McGinest retired three years ago after 15 NFL seasons, but the 39-year-old analyst for NFL Network might be ready to give football another try. “...

Patriots vs. Colts 2003 regular season… aka the Willie McGinest goaline stop game. In many ways this is the game that started one of the greatest rivalries of the 00’s.

Veteran outside linebacker Willie McGinest has reached an age where most football players are contemplating their next 18 holes of golf. Yet, McGinest, 37, is thinking about playing one more season. After recording only one sack last year for the Cleveland Browns during a 4-12 season, McGinest would like to go out on a winning note that matches the [...]

Willie McGinest retired three years ago after 15 NFL seasons, but the 39-year-old analyst for NFL Network might be ready to give football another try. "We're going to see if I get offered a contract now," McGinest said Friday after taking part in the Lions' player-organized workout at Birmingham Detroit Country Day. "After I send this tape out to a few teams...

Willie McGinest retired three years ago after 15 NFL seasons, but the 39-year-old analyst for NFL Network might be ready to give football another try.

Chatted with former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest for the lead item in Sunday’s NFL notebook. Given he was one of the more prominent leaders during the team’s three championship campaigns, we talked about the leadership void in the Pats room this season. He had some pretty interesting things to say. ”When teams and organizations start getting [...]

Among the players working out with the Detroit Lions was a guy who hasn’t played with the Lions, or any other NFL team, in the past three seasons. Linebacker Willie McGinest is interested in trying to make a return to the game, and he’s hoping that his effort during the Lions’ lockout workouts will result…

Willie McGinest will consider playing another NFL season if he receives an interesting offer, and he would prefer to get it from the New England Patriots.