The defending champion Patriots (6-0) again boast the NFL’s best record, but Bill Belichick is still searching for a better offense.
New England is planning to sign former Giants and Jets tight end Eric Tomlinson and bring back veteran tight end Ben Watson, who had been released by the team last week.
Tomlinson, 27, was waived by the Giants on Sept. 24, and has just 16 receptions in 39 career games. Watson, 38, hasn’t played this season due to a four-game suspension. The signings come after tight end Matt LaCosse was injured in Thursday’s win over the Giants and fullback Jakob Johnson was placed on injured reserve.
Neither can fill the void left by Rob Gronkowski’s retirement. And unlike owner Rob Kraft, Tom Brady doesn’t plan on pressuring the potential Hall of Famer to return to the field.
“Look, I love that guy. I am so happy that he’s enjoying his time. I am happy that he’s enjoying his life.” Brady said Monday on WEEI. “He seems to really be doing a lot of great things. He knows how I feel about him. I want what is best for him. He’s the only person that can make those decisions. I don’t lobby for those things.
Eric TomlinsonIcon Sportswire via Getty Images“I have a great relationship with him. He has given actually a hell of a lot to our team already over the course of a long period of time, and I think people should be very appreciative for what he’s brought to the team and what he’s brought to the region. I think he’s a very special guy. He’s just in a different phase of his life.”
The league’s eighth-ranked offense is averaging less than 3.5 yards per carry, putting extra attention on Brady. The team is hopeful rookie receiver N’Keal Harry can help.
Harry, who was taken with the Patriots’ first pick in this year’s NFL Draft (32nd overall), began practicing Tuesday for the first time since being placed on injured reserve before the season opener. The 6-foot-4 Arizona State star isn’t eligible to return to action until Nov. 3 against the Ravens. Harry, though, hasn’t practiced in two months, and played just three snaps in the preseason.
“I think the practice field and the results we get on the practice field will tell us when the right time is to use him in different roles,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “We have to make smart decisions about when he’s ready to do what.
“Certainly, to put a player back in a position and say, ‘Hey, do everything, and do it all well, and do it all well under pressure, and do it all well under pressure against seven different defensive looks that you might get,’ and different personnel on the field each week that he hasn’t necessarily played against — I think there’s things that we can hopefully build in to and do quicker than others. You get him in there, and he’s going to make some mistakes. He’s going to learn from them.”
