RB Harris to prove he can play, maybe start
Patriots running back Damien Harris has his blinders on.
He won’t look back, he refuses to glance forward, he won’t acknowledge his fans, his teammates’ opt-outs or their injuries. All of this, Harris made abundantly clear during a video call after the Pats’ second padded practice Tuesday.
But would he acknowledge his increased workload in training camp, while fellow backs Sony Michel and Lamar Miller sit on the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list?
Actually, yes.
“It’s been good. It’s given me an opportunity to improve,” Harris said. “That’s what I think is most important: coming in and showing that I can be dependable, I can be competitive, I can play the game at a high level.”
Last season, Harris didn’t play at all outside of five offensive snaps. On Sundays, he was dependable only in the sense he could routinely be found on the inactives list. Behind the scenes, running backs coach Ivan Fears offered his support, telling reporters in December he believes Harris has a great NFL future.
Earlier this month, Fears updated his view to say Harris is a “doggone good runner.”
Since then, during two padded practices, Harris has done Fears one better, by proving himself as a receiver. All three quarterbacks vying for the Pats’ starting job have targeted Harris on check-downs during team periods or 7-on-7s. He’s shown soft hands and now claims he’s ready to take on pass protection -- the most difficult aspect of his position -- if called upon.
“I feel comfortable,” Harris said of working in blitz pick-up. “Obviously, there’s still room for improvement.”
To see the field this season,
Harris must edge out Michel,
Miller and Rex Burkhead for early-down snaps. If he can continue growing as a receiver and pass protector, that should give him a leg up on Michel heading into
Week 1. Until Miller sees the field, coming off an
ACL tear, he’ll be an unknown. And a year ago, despite playing 13 games,
Burkhead was only worthy of seeing 23% of the offensive snaps.
Opportunity is clearly knocking, and Harris could be first to the door.
Just don’t ask him about it.
Former Patriot’s pep talk
Shortly before the Patriots’ tight ends and fullbacks hit the field Monday for their first padded practice, they heard from an old friend.
Former Pats fullback James Develin addressed the group with a message he hoped would inspire them before they trotted out to deliver their first blocks since January. A longtime starter, Develin retired this offseason following a neck injury that eventually required surgery. According to his likely successor, Jakob Johnson, Develin’s pep talk did the trick.
“It’s always good to know, when you have a great in a game like that, that he’s watching,” Johnson said. “And so we’re all in the tight end room. We know the legacy of the room. Great people that played this position here, this team. So we’re just trying to uphold the standard.
No fans through September
On Tuesday afternoon, Gillette Stadium officials announced the stadium will not host fans at any event through the end of September, including two Patriots games.
The Pats will play in an empty stadium during their season opener against the Dolphins on Sept. 13 and on Sept. 27 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Officials arrived at their decision after consulting with the Massachusetts Reopening Advisory Board, which also informed the Red Sox on Tuesday they will not be able to host fans at Fenway Park through September. It is unclear if/when the statewide ban will be lifted.
McCourty: Social justice fight ongoing
As one of the league’s more outspoken players, Patriots safety and defensive captain Devin McCourty has been at the NFLPA’s forefront of calling for social justice. Now, almost three months after the death of George Floyd, McCourty was asked Tuesday about his thoughts on how far the country has come on racial justice. To McCourty, the push for progress, as it has always been, is still ongoing.
“It’s about just a oneness. An understanding of we’re all humans, and let’s make it better for everyone, no matter what you are, what you’ve been through, no judgment here,” he said. “So that’s always going to be something we’ve gotta continue to try to improve each day, and we all gotta play a part in it.
“I’m excited for the season coming up. I think guys want to be involved. I think guys want to try to create change. We saw with a bunch of us getting (inaudible) from Willie McGinest and the Kraft Group doing the Be The Change (voting initiative) they did in early August. So I think those things will continue to show up and guys want to be active and involved, so I’m excited about that.”