Trade well-received by TE O’Shaughnessy
FOXBORO — When he learned he’d been traded to the Patriots, James O’Shaughnessy was excited, but he didn’t necessarily look at it as a fresh start.
The 25-year-old tight end spent two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing mostly special teams, before being traded to the Pats for a fifth-round pick prior to April’s draft. He seems to be looking at his new situation no differently than if he were still in Kansas City or anywhere else.
“Coming to an organization that’s had such success recently, it’s a great feeling,” O’Shaughnessy said. “To tell you the truth, the only thing that really mattered is that I had another opportunity. Whether it was here or anywhere else, I was just happy to have more opportunities in the NFL. But obviously, you get an opportunity on a team like this, is that much more exciting. This organization is a great one, I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Rob Gronkowski and another newcomer, Dwayne Allen, are the two locks at tight end to make the roster, but beyond that, it’s an open competition for the third spot. O’Shaughnessy is firmly in that mix.
Matt Lengel, who was signed midway through last season, would seem to have the edge, but O’Shaughnessy has had a strong spring, too. Weirdly enough, O’Shaughnessy actually caught as many passes from quarterback Tom Brady as Gronkowski during minicamp this week.
In the middle of a crowded tight end room, O’Shaughnessy seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to stand out.
“It’s going great,” he said. “I can’t say enough about this opportunity to play with this team and play with this group. We have a great tight end group with a good mix of young guys and veterans. I think we’re all trying to learn from each other and become the best tight end group in the NFL. I think I just have to do my job to the best of my ability, and do my best to contribute in every facet they ask me to, whether it be special teams or offense. Just do whatever they ask me to and do it to the best of my ability, and let the chips fall where they may.”
Still months away from the season, O’Shaughnessy has plenty of time to prove himself to a coaching staff that was already impressed with him while meeting with him before the 2015 draft. So far, he’s off to a good start.
“You’ve got to (embrace the competition),” he said. “In the NFL you’re always going to have that competition, so that’s just part of the game, and if you don’t embrace it, I don’t think you’ll be very good at this job. So without a doubt I’m embracing it. I think everybody in the room is. Right now I don’t focus on necessarily that I’m competing with another guy, I’m just focused on myself getting better and how that can lead to me contributing to this team. And like I said, when the time comes let the chips fall where they may. But right now I’m just focused on having this opportunity and making the most of it.”