Patriots news & rumors: N’Keal Harry hypes Cam; Kyle Rudolph interested

Count N’Keal Harry in on players who would love for Cam Newton to return as quarterback of the New England Patriots.

Although the former first-round pick didn’t do much to stick it to the critics who already consider him a bust in what was just his second season in the NFL, Harry credits Newton for helping him on and off the field, both as a player and a person.

Speaking to Nicole Yang of The Boston Globe, the Arizona State product said he would obviously love Newton back as the quarterback next season.

"“He helped me so much throughout the season, not only on the field with football stuff but with off-the-field stuff, just more about being a professional, about life,” Harry told Yang, via Boston.com.  “He really helped me in all aspects of life last year, so I really do appreciate him for that.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"

Harry caught just 33 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns in 2020, but the growing confidence he received from Newton could help him finally breakthrough in 2021 no matter who the quarterback is.

What Newton also taught Harry through his own actions is how hard work eventually pays off.  The Patriots young wide receiver has been working on improving his game in a more unconventional way by working with a robotic machine called the “Seeker” this offseason.

The machine is helping N’Keal Harry work on his routes, an area of his game that has taken criticism his first couple of seasons in the NFL.

If Harry can start to look like a first-round pick in his third year in the NFL, it would obviously be a major boost to the Patriots receiving group whether it is Cam Newton or another quarterback throwing them the ball.

NFL rumors: Kyle Rudolph expresses interest in joining the Patriots

Well, what do you know, veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph does have interest in joining the New England Patriots.

Just days after Rudolph was released by the Minnesota Vikings, the two-time Pro Bowler is rumored to have two teams high on his list.  As Doug Kyed of NESN.com reported on Tuesday, a source with knowledge of the situation reveals the Cleveland Browns as one of the teams, and the other team is the Patriots.

While Rudolph and the Patriots have been linked the last couple of seasons via much trade speculation, the timely release paired with the Pats having a ton of cap space could finally inject the 31-year-old tight end into the Patriots offense as he has been an effective pass catcher and in-line blocker throughout his career.

Though he had somewhat of a down season in 2020, Kyle Rudolph did catch 64 passes for 634 yards with four touchdowns just a couple seasons ago in 2018.

The New England Patriots would certainly take that kind of production in 2021.  It would be even more intriguing if Bill Belichick can lure Hunter Henry in free agency and add Rudolph has their second tight end.

The team will still have last year rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in the mix, but another year of growth would benefit Asiasi, and Keene is a versatile player who could transition to fullback while also adding depth to the tight end group.

Whether the Patriots go after Rudolph or not, it’s good to finally hear a player express some interest in coming to New England post-Tom Brady