Dependable White

You might think James White would be wary about leaving his house these days.

After a Super Bowl performance in which he scored the winning touchdown in overtime and caught 14 passes for 110 yards, surely he’s reached celebrity status in this area. That’s not the case. In fact, White laughs at the idea he gets treated any differently by fans now.

“It’s not too much different,” he said. “A couple more people recognize you, but I’m not that recognizable.”

Maybe he should be, not just to fans but to opposing defenses. True to his personality, White does not bring a lot of flash to the position, but he is about as consistent as it gets.

The Patriots certainly know his value. They extended his contract during the offseason for another three years with a base value of $12 million, an additional $3 million in incentives and a $4 million signing bonus that exceeded the total value of his fouryear rookie contract.

But the 25-year-old now finds himself in a crowded backfield that includes Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis, all of whom have gathered more attention in the week’s leading up to Thursday night’s season opener against Kansas City at Gillette Stadium.

That shouldn’t necessarily be the case. White is as dependable an option as anyone in quarterback Tom Brady’s arsenal. Two years ago, White caught 40 passes for 410 yards and four