New England Patriots: Maurice Harris killing it early in training camp

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 31: Wide receiver Maurice Harris #13 of the Washington Redskins runs for several yards during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 31, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 31: Wide receiver Maurice Harris #13 of the Washington Redskins runs for several yards during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 31, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots wide receiver Maurice Harris continues to impress early in training camp.

The least talked about New England Patriots wide receiver is killing it early in training camp.

With Julian Edelman sitting out with a broken thumb, veteran receiver Maurice Harris appears to be the one player benefitting from his absence.

Signed to a 1-year, $1 million contract back in March, the former Washington Redskins wide receiver is no lock to make the team.  However, if he can build off a season in which he caught 28 receptions for 304 yards, the 26-year-old Harris could turn out to be one of those bargain basement finds Bill Belichick has grown famous for.

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Standing out as the team’s best wideout thus far, Harris has certainly garnered praise from the head coach who called him a “smart guy” who is learning well.  But, perhaps the biggest challenge for Maurice Harris will be how he bonds with Tom Brady.

He has worked great with the other quarterbacks, but even he knows the hard work and flash he has shown in training camp won’t mean a thing if Brady doesn’t trust him.

Following practice last Friday, Maurice Harris talked about working out with the star quarterback individually to find that chemistry and make sure they are on the same page during critical moments.

"“We were trying to work on some timing with some routes and clean up some details.  Things (the quarterbacks) see from their perspective and how it’ll work out better for us,” Harris said Friday, as transcribed by MassLive.com.  “He was trying to walk me through situations that might come up in a game or practice.  There’s a lot of room for improvement, so I’m trying to pick up everything I can so far.”"

While there is a long way to go, which Harris acknowledges, at this moment he would be one of the top receivers on the team if the season started today.

Now, that may be scary to some New England Patriots fans, but Harris has flashed ability in the past.  In the right system, catching the ball from the right quarterback, it may be time for Maurice Harris to reach his ceiling.

If anything, it has made the wide receiver battle that much more interesting with Phillip Dorsett, Dontrelle Inman, Braxton Berrios and undrafted rookie free agent Jakobi Meyers out to earn spots on the depth chart as well.

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We have certainly seen this story before haven’t we and it wouldn’t come at a better time for the New England Patriots.

Maurice Harris is killing it in training camp and certainly a player worth watching during the preseason.