FOXBORO — Throughout Mike Vrabel’s six seasons as head coach in Tennessee, one in all his most achieved gamers was Kevin Byard, the two-time All-Professional security.
Although they play totally different positions on totally different sides of the ball, Vrabel sees a variety of Byard in one of many Patriots veterans he now coaches: tight finish Hunter Henry.
“(Henry is) a really snug participant,” Vrabel stated earlier than Monday’s coaching camp follow. “Similar to Kevin Byard. And you understand I’m not massive on comparisons, simply speaking about personalities. Kevin was actually assured and cozy. He by no means appeared confused. You’ll look and see some youthful gamers perhaps on the identical place and so they’d be sweating earlier than the play would begin. They have been making checks and every part else and working. And Kevin simply at all times had a really calm, assured demeanor and was a superb participant for us.
“I really feel the identical about Hunter. I feel that he’s, something that you just ask him to do, it comes very straightforward and he’s very instinctive and he’s bought an excellent really feel for the sport. So, these are all positives, and I feel that results in his consistency.”
Henry stated he appreciated that reward from his head coach.
“It means so much that he would say that,” he stated. “I attempt to convey that each single day. I attempt to be the identical man within the constructing, out right here, at dwelling with my spouse and children. … It’s an honor for him to say that, but it surely’s all of the folks round me, and positively my religion.”
Henry is coming off the most effective statistical season of his profession, setting private bests in catches (66; tied for many of the staff) and receiving yards (team-high 674). The 30-year-old was a dependable goal for quarterback Drake Maye — as he was for Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe in earlier years — and a staff captain. However the Patriots went 4-13 and fielded a below-average offense, simply as they did in 2023.
These struggles, Henry stated, helped him turn into the unflappable participant that Vrabel described.
“I truly suppose I’ve grown extra within the final two years than I’ve within the final, in all probability, 28 years of my life, to be sincere,” Henry stated.
As each a trusted weapon for Maye and one of many few present Patriots with expertise taking part in below offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels (with whom he overlapped in 2021), Henry once more will play a key function in New England’s passing sport this season.
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