Meyers gets ‘answers to the test’ from Edelman
Attributes boost in production to Newton pep talk
Years ago, Cam Newton was a hero to Jakobi Meyers.
Months ago, he became a teammate.
And a couple of weeks back, Newton served as Meyers’ personal soothsayer.
In a private conversation, Newton told Meyers a lack of self-belief was holding him back. That his minimal playing time and slow start were consequences of failing to tap into an obvious on-field potential. If Meyers simply believed like Newton did, he would soon thrive.
Sure enough, as the Patriots’ top wideouts succumbed to injury last month, opportunity came knocking for Meyers. Since then, all he’s done is lead the Pats in catches and receiving yards in back-toback games.
“I just remember (Newton) pretty much telling me that I was selling myself short. That I have potential, all I have to do is just live up to it and go out there and show coaches what I can do,” Meyers remembered Wednesday. “It was crazy because right after that, I got my opportunity, I actually played a couple plays and made a couple plays here in the San Fran game, a couple plays here in the Bills game and then I got the opportunity to play a major role in the last game.”
Thanks to his breakout performance against the Jets, Meyers now ranks third on the team in catches and receiving yards after riding the bench for most of September and October. On the season, he’s only three receptions and 43 yards behind team leader Damiere Byrd, despite playing almost 300 fewer snaps. Meyers’ dozen catches on Monday night were the most snagged by a Patriots wide receiver in a single game since Julian Edelman grabbed 13 against the
Dolphins in December 2013.
While Edelman is currently sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery, his impact is being felt through Meyers, who says following the veteran’s example on tape is the single greatest ingredient to his success. That edge is then amplified when Edelman sits with him in the film room to explain how he ran a certain route or why he chose a highlighted technique.
“(Edelman)’s definitely played a big role on my time being here as a Patriot. He pretty much gives me the answers to the test, honestly. All I have to do is watch him, what he did and throw in my own little route technique or my own little detail. It works,” Meyers said. “He gives me the answers to the test, and combine that with great coaching, I feel like I’m prepared to go out there every day and compete my best.”
The Pats’ next opponent, the 6-2 Ravens, have already taken notice.
“He’s obviously become a target. You start with that,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. “Then you see how and why, and I think he’s done a great job of just playing the position. He’s got talent, he’s rangy, he’s got good hands, he’s got catch radius, he can get open. He seems to understand coverages and leverages pretty well, and he seems to be tuned in to the offense and to Cam.”
Harry returns to practice
For the first time since he suffered a concussion in the Patriots’ home loss to San Francisco on Oct. 25, wide receiverN’KealHarry appeared at practice Wednesday.
Harry’s return helped give the Pats perfect attendance, with running back J.J. Taylor (illness) and newly acquired wide receiver Isaiah Ford and recently claimed defensive tackle Isaiah Mack also present. Offensive tackle Jermaine
Eluemunor returned after a three-week layoff, meaning he is eligible to come off injured reserve any time over the next 21 days. Upon going on IR last month, Eluemunor tweeted he wouldn’t miss Sunday night’s game against the Ravens, his former team.
The Patriots worked without pads or helmets following an off day for players on Tuesday. The team returned to the field less than 48 hours after beating the Jets on Monday Night Football.
Harry is back after two weeks away. Over the Pats’ first six games, he caught 19 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. His return, plus the addition of Ford, should fortify a hurting wide receiver corps that’s been buoyed by Meyers’ emergence.
Belichick reflects on Veterans Day
At the end of his press conference Wednesday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick flipped from football to Veterans Day to explain what the holiday means to him.
“It’s a very important day for our country and the freedom of our country. It’s certainly a day that we want to recognize. Obviously, a lot of veterans that are still living, and Memorial Day is another important day of recognition. Those are the days that make all the other holidays possible — Veterans Day and Memorial Day,” he said. “So, almost everybody’s connected, one way or another — usually the family, but friends or classmates and so forth at various levels of school.
“So, yeah, it’s an important day for our country and for all of us. Without it, there’s no football.”
His father, the late Steve Belichick, worked as a scout and coach at Navy for decades. Belichick grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, home of the Naval Academy, and has lifelong ties to the military service branch. He said all U.S. citizens should be appreciative of the service of the armed forces.
Folk wins AFC award
By drilling a 51-yard field goal against the Jets as time expired Monday night, Patriots kicker NickFolk ended two streaks.
First, he snapped a fourgame losing skid for the Pats.
Later, he ended a seasonlong drought in the team’s locker room, where no Patriot had won a Player of the Week award yet in 2020.
That changed Wednesday, when Folk was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. The 36-year-old kicker made all three of his field goals against the Jets and three extra points. Folk’s game-winner set a new season long and matched his lonaP gest made field goal since 2016.
Wednesday’s award was the third Player of the Week honor Folk has received over his 14-year career. He was also named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice in 2013.
On the season, Folk is 14-of16 on field goal attempts and 14-of-15 on extra points.
Rookie LB clears waivers
Former Patriots rookie linebacker Cassh Maluia cleared waivers on Wednesday, opening a path back for him to New England.
Maluia was released on Tuesday to help make room for three tight ends who were added to the roster. According to a NESN report, Maluia intends to re-sign to the practice squad.
The Wyoming product has yet to take a defensive snap as a pro, but he did appear in six games on special teams after being selected in the sixth round last April.