FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Maye’s mates: As soon as the Patriots knew that quarterback Drake Maye could be their choose at No. 3 total within the NFL draft — a choice that in the end was anticlimactic by the point it was introduced April 25 — they’d one other aim in thoughts.
Draft a receiver, or two, who might develop with Maye.
Chemistry between a quarterback and receiver takes time to develop, and the concept that Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk (second spherical, No. 37) and UCF’s Javon Baker (fourth spherical, No. 110) could be signing four-year contracts was interesting to government vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf and the Patriots’ brass — offering an extended runway to hopefully see that QB-WR development evolve.
This team-building strategy is well timed to spotlight after the Patriots’ first week of voluntary organized group actions. One of the crucial notable issues reporters noticed was how Maye, Polk and Baker have been the final three gamers on the sphere, staying properly after follow had ended, to increase their work collectively.
Maye would name out sure throws he needed to work on — “again shoulder!” — and the receivers would then run routes at half velocity as Maye principally delivered in stride.
“It is tremendous helpful,” remarked former Patriots receiver Deion Department, the MVP of Tremendous Bowl XXXIX. “These younger males coming in, they’re on this collectively and I feel that may be superb for them, if all of them commit.”
Department had an analogous expertise in 2002 when the Patriots chosen him within the second spherical out of Louisville. He and seventh-round receiver David Givens of Notre Dame developed a right away bond, which additionally prolonged to tight finish Daniel Graham, the group’s first-round choose from Colorado.
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“We have been very tight. These are guys you possibly can undergo the rut with. ‘Hey man, I am making errors in the present day’ and your teammate, particularly your draftmate, goes to tug you up,” Department stated.
“You may lean on one another. Bounce concepts off one another. Research collectively. All these items, these younger males may have the chance to do with each other. It is magical if these guys purchase into every little thing.”
Though quarterback Tom Brady was coming into his third NFL season in 2002, he was nonetheless nearer in age to the draft class than nearly all of veterans on the group, which Department stated helped rookies develop an analogous reference to him. Department remembers Brady stressing the significance of creating the transition from “amateurism to professionalism.” Department recollects soaking it up “like a sponge,” and it did not damage that the group was coming off an surprising Tremendous Bowl overcome the closely favored Rams, with Brady having changed the injured Drew Bledsoe after which protecting the job upon Bledsoe’s return to well being.
In order that half is notably totally different from what Maye, Polk and Baker are at the moment dwelling in New England, the place the group is coming off a 4-13 season and is led by first-year coach Jerod Mayo, with longshot odds to contend for the AFC East championship.
Along with their prolonged work after final week’s follow, there have been different indicators of how the three are leaning on one another. Throughout large receiver drills at rookie minicamp, Polk took the preliminary repetitions, adopted by Baker. When Baker let a go slip by his fingers — which was one of many knocks on him in faculty, as he totaled 14 drops over the previous two seasons — he reached out his proper arm in Polk’s path and the 2 slapped fingers as Polk supplied his encouragement.
And as Maye completed an interview with reporters, Polk waited for him to stroll down the steps to the locker room. Earlier than departing the sphere, a smiling Polk flashed his proper index finger towards Maye and stated to reporters, “That is the man proper right here!”
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Patriots WR Ja’Lynn Polk’s prospect profile
Try among the prime faculty highlights for brand new Patriots large receiver Ja’Lynn Polk.
Maye and Polk attended a Boston Bruins playoff recreation collectively, and on the sphere throughout aggressive parts of follow, all three have began to make performs.
“They appear good,” Maye stated at rookie minicamp. “I threw a pair behind them and so they nonetheless made the catches. These guys are going to be some particular gamers.”
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Polk performed in 41 video games (30 begins) in faculty — starting at Texas Tech earlier than shifting to Washington — and is coming off a career-best season of 69 catches for 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns. Baker (6-1, 202 kilos) started his profession at Alabama earlier than transferring to Central Florida, the place over the previous two seasons he had 108 receptions for 1,908 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Department factors to the Bengals’ duo of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase as a shining instance of a gifted quarterback and receiver rising collectively and serving to raise a whole group within the course of.
“The chance is there and these children have the potential,” stated Department, who at the moment serves as director of participant growth and alumni relations at Louisville. “They only have to grasp there are going to be some powerful instances and push by it. That is soccer. If that occurs, they will be nice and this may work.”
2. Dungy at follow: Former NFL head coach and present NBC “Soccer Night time in America” analyst Tony Dungy visited Patriots follow on Thursday, addressing the group. Mayo has stated he’s open to varied views as he embarks on his head-coaching profession, and Dungy’s presence is an instance of him performing on that. Dungy additionally has a powerful faith-based reference to Matthew Slater, who’s serving as a right-hand man to Mayo.
3. Attendance excessive: Mayo stated he was happy with the general attendance at voluntary organized group actions, noting that the few gamers who weren’t there — comparable to exterior linebacker Matthew Judon — have been “true professionals” who would know what to do to report in form for coaching camp.
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Veteran defensive sort out Davon Godchaux, who two weeks in the past at an occasion for his charitable basis stated soccer does not actually begin till August, was the opposite projected starter not noticed on the day reporters have been current. Reporters are scheduled to be current at Wednesday’s follow this week.
4. Maye admirer: Rely former ESPN analyst and 14-year NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck amongst those that imagine the Patriots obtained it proper with Maye.
“To me, he is rather a lot like Justin Herbert. So when you like Justin Herbert, I feel you will like Drake Maye. And I actually like Justin Herbert,” Hasselbeck stated in an interview.
“I feel his finest soccer is forward of him. I like his persona. I like his demeanor. I like his toughness. I like his athleticism. Athleticism can get you in bother generally, and it does not at all times translate from faculty to the NFL, however I feel his athleticism does. I feel, greater than something, I feel I actually just like the particular person. He has a contagious factor about him.”
5. Brady night time: Department is trying ahead to June 12 when the Patriots formally induct Brady into their Corridor of Fame as a part of a first-of-its-kind, sold-out ceremony inside Gillette Stadium. He’ll be among the many lots of of former gamers readily available, saying he is most trying ahead to the camaraderie.
“There’s nothing like being across the guys that we did phenomenal issues with, and most significantly, simply to present congratulations to Tom. Celebrating this man. He deserves all of it,” he stated.
6. They stated it: “Final 12 months [at this time], I used to be in all probability at 60%. Proper now I am like 100%, so it is a large distinction. It is not straightforward coming off a knee harm having a protracted season and coming again [with a quick turnaround the next year]. I really feel nice. I’ve by no means felt higher.” — WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who enters his second Patriots season and might be combating for a roster spot
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7. Okorafor’s intro: Left sort out is among the main query marks on the Patriots’ roster, and free agent signee Chukwuma Okorafor took the highest repetitions there as OTAs opened final week. Okorafor additionally addressed reporters for the primary time since becoming a member of the group and expressed confidence he’ll fill the void whereas additionally acknowledging “it should take time” for him to regulate.
Contemplate that of Okorafor’s 4,077 profession snaps in six seasons with the Steelers (together with two playoff video games), solely two got here at left sort out.
8. Mafi at heart: Atonio Mafi, the 2023 fifth-round choose from UCLA, took snaps at heart behind starter David Andrews within the lone organized group exercise open to reporters final week. Mafi transformed from defensive position to offensive line in faculty, beginning 13 video games at left guard and three at proper guard, so his presence within the pivot (along with later working at guard) stood out as a brand new wrinkle underneath first-year line coaches Scott Peters and Robert Kugler. Mafi made 5 begins as a rookie in New England, all at left guard.
9. Dugger distraction: Security Kyle Dugger, who signed a four-year, $58 million contract with $32.5 million assured after being assigned the transition tag within the offseason, acknowledged that compartmentalizing his contract standing was generally simpler stated than accomplished. It’s a good reminder of how the enterprise facet of the sport generally bleeds into preparation and on-field play. “Only a reduction,” he relayed. “It is nothing you possibly can utterly ignore, as a lot as you attempt to, if I am being sincere.”
10. Do you know: The Patriots’ season opener on the Bengals marks the fourth time in franchise historical past they’ll open a season in opposition to Cincinnati. The opposite instances got here in 2010 (a 38-24 dwelling win), 2001 (a 23-17 street loss) and 1972 (a 31-7 dwelling loss).
