Britt appreciates help
Group effort benefits receiver
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — At least Kenny Britt is honest.
The Patriots wide receiver, who joined the team last week, was asked for a status update in regard to the overly intimidating playbook.
“How much do I know now? A little bit more than last week,” Britt said yesterday with a smirk.
This was a similar response to the one he offered Sunday after the Pats’ victory in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, as he was asked about his confidence level within the system after three practices and a game. Britt laughed it off and noted there wasn’t a confidence level.
But little by little, Britt has built a foundation, and he has credited the Patriots coaches and teammates with being extremely supportive. They ask if he needs help in the meeting rooms or if he understands why they adjusted a certain play on the field.
“It’s actually blown away my expectations of it,” Britt said of the Patriots organization. “I know this is a great organization, so disciplined and so focused on their job at all times. When I got here, they showed me nothing but love and belief in me. That’s one thing players need regardless of where you are in your career. You need people to believe in you regardless of what you do, big or small. They’re going to praise you for it, and build you up.”
Like tight end Martellus Bennett a year ago, Britt was really excited to point out the way the coaches praise players for little things in the film review, such as backside blocks that don’t get any attention in the big picture of the play. That kind of positive reinforcement drives the players’ desire to do more for the team.
“These guys are all about playing for each other,” Britt said, “and we need everybody in the building.”
Britt played two snaps against the Steelers but caught a 7-yard pass, and he said that calmed the nerves, especially when he returned to the sideline.
“These guys build you up on the little things you do,” Britt said. “They beat me up like I scored a touchdown when I got back to the sideline. It’s quite cool.”
Develin lives ‘dream’
James Develin could have given up a long time ago, but there’s no point in navigating an unconventional path if he didn’t intend to see it through. And this week, the fullback earned the highest individual honor of his career with a selection to the Pro Bowl.
“It was a dream of mine,” Develin said. “I knew if I never gave it a shot, I’d always regret it. Through some hard work and being in the right place at the right time and stuff like that, anything is possible.”
Develin had a great fallback plan as an engineering major at Brown, but his football plan always meant more. He was a defensive end for the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football League before joining the Florida Tuskers of the now defunct United Football League, where he converted to fullback.
Develin, who paid homage yesterday to former Patriots fullback Kevin Turner, signed onto the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in 2010 before joining the Patriots in 2012, and he was released four times in his first four seasons in the NFL, including twice by the Pats. His coaches and teammates have since routinely referred to Develin as the best fullback in the league, and he has served a key role on offense and special teams during two Super Bowl runs.
“It’s cool to kind of look back on things,” Develin said. “It’s definitely a proud journey of mine and something I’ll always look back on with fond memories.”
Slater gracious
Special teams captain Matthew Slater was humbled to earn his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl honor, mostly because he missed seven of the Patriots’ first 12 games this season with hamstring injuries, including a tear suffered in training camp.
Maybe he got the nod on reputation, but he earned that reputation.
“I had this conversation with my dad (Hall of Faner and seven-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Jackie Slater) last night,” Slater said. “You’re just blown away. You never dream of these type of things happening to you as a professional athlete. I’m really humbled that people feel that way about the game that I’ve played, not only this year but over the course of my career. I’ve always tried to go about the game the right way, respect the game. I love the game. I’ve been around it my whole life. It’s very humbling.”
Typical for Slater, he preferred to deflect the praise for another Pro Bowl nod, recognizing the efforts of 11 other special teamers while noting the Patriots “have the best core group in the National Football League.”
Slater tied Buffalo Bills legend Steve Tasker for the most special teams Pro Bowl selections. One advantage for Slater: Tasker didn’t do it in consecutive seasons.
“I think about Steve Tasker, and he is obviously the best special teams player of all-time,” Slater said. “Because of him, guys like myself have a job. To me, he’ll always be in a league of his own, but it’s certainly humbling to have your name mentioned alongside Steve Tasker’s.”
Brady not on list
Tom Brady wasn’t listed on the initial injury report for the first time in four weeks. The quarterback had a bruised Achilles that cleared up last week, and he was removed from the report last Friday, which had become the norm during his recent practice routine.
Defensive ends Trey Flowers (rib) and Deatrich Wise (foot), cornerback Stephon Gilmore (ankle) and linebacker David Harris (ankle) were removed from the injury report.