Patriots' Devin McCourty to make retirement decision next month

New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty said he will announce a decision next month on whether he will play in a 14th NFL season or retire.

McCourty, a pending free agent, made his intention known this week on The Patriots Report podcast.

"I've gone back and forth," McCourty said. "I think the good thing is I actually have a vacation coming up with the family, and then I'm going to go hang out with (brother Jason McCourty) for a week. I think just being able to get away from football, especially as you kind of get older, I think it helps you put things in perspective, doing other things."

McCourty's decision is due to come early in March, thereby giving the Patriots time to address the situation should he elect to retire.

McCourty, 35, totaled 71 tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery while starting all 17 games last season.

A three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowl selection, McCourty has 971 tackles, 35 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries while starting all 205 career games in which he has played with the Patriots. He was selected by New England with the 27th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.