Patriots gridiron news: Rex Burkhead loves playing in New England
If playing for the New England Patriots is “no fun,” no one told running back Rex Burkhead who signed a multi-year deal with the team this offseason.
During a time when bashing the New England Patriots culture is trending, running back Rex Burkhead is the latest player to turn the table on that narrative.
This following offseason, the versatile running back re-signed with the team inking a three-year deal with the team. In many ways considered the perfect Patriot before he signed a one-year deal prior to last season, Burkhead showed off that versatility when healthy.
He rushed the ball, he caught the ball and he played a key role on special teams. After playing his first four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Burkhead told reporters following Wednesday’s minicamp that re-signing with the Patriots was basically a no-brainer.
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"“I love it here,” Burkhead said, as transcribed by WEEI. “I’ve told many people before, just the atmosphere, the competitive atmosphere, it’s what you want as a NFL player. If you want to be the best player you can be, there’s no place like this. It raises your level of play and when you try and strive for greatness, the coaches put you in positions to reach that level.”"
With Dion Lewis leaving to sign with the Tennessee Titans, Rex Burkhead could see more touches as one of the players with the most experience in the running back group. Along with James White, the veteran running back will have some major competition in former Bengals teammate Jeremy Hill, Mike Gillislee and dynamic rookie Sony Michel.
After praising the coaching staff for the way they push players, he also embraced the competition as an element that makes each player the best they can be in New England.
"“It’s a very competitive atmosphere with all the backs we have,” he continued. “We have very good backs who can do multiple things. Any time you have that atmosphere, whether it is in the film room, individual drills out at practice, it’s going to raise the level of play.”"
He went on to say the raised level of play will set the tone for the season. It predicts to be a more productive season for Rex Burkhead with a year under his belt with the Patriots.
Sony Michel praised by NFL exec
Speaking of that competition, first-round pick Sony Michel is expected to do some big things in New England.
He’ll have to earn the playing time like everyone else, but the Georgia product has the tools and the mentality to be special. The Patriots must believe that by selecting him with the No. 31 overall pick in the NFL Draft, especially at the running back position. One NFL executive believes he could actually become a major factor sooner rather than later.
"“Sony Michel has the potential to have an Alvin Kamara-type season,” the executive said speaking to ESPN’s Mike Sando. “He has major medial concerns, but New England tends to draft and replace those guys, turning them out every four years, anyway.”"
With health and ball security being a couple concerns surround Michel, any chance of that kind of rookie season can halt pretty quickly.
Next: Patriots gridiron news: Julian Edelman laments departure of Danny Amendola
With the amount of competition at the running back position and the number of playmakers the New England Patriots have, Sony Michel could find himself fighting for playing time if things aren’t so positive out of the gate.