David Andrews, Duron Harmon earn captains’ honors for the first time

Winslow Townson | AP

Earning the title of team captain takes hard work, dedication and ultimate respect from your teammates.

Since the captains’ roles are appointed by player vote, it takes a lot of admiration and high regard from your peers to earn the honors.

The New England Patriots announced their 2017 captains on Tuesday and two first-timers made the list.

Third-year center David Andrews and fifth-year safety Duron Harmon join the group for the first time. The other captains for the season include quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Devin McCourty and special teamer Matthew Slater.

Andrews started the first 11 games of the 2015 season when he stepped in for the injured Bryan Stork. Stork regained his position later in that year. It was then in a 2016 training camp competition that Andrews beat out Stork for the starting role and has become a strong and powerful presence ever since.

He signed a three-year contract extension through 2020 in May.

Harmon is a prime example of the way that head coach Bill Belichick can take lesser known players and turn them into high-performers. Harmon was not highly rated in the 2013 draft, but the Patriots’ mastermind selected him anyway. Last season, he played 48.6 percent of the defensive snaps and has become one of the most reliable and dependable players.

Harmon signed a four-year contract back in March.

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