FOXBORO, Mass. — It’s a mystery what kind of response a question about a New England Patriots addition will elicit out of Bill Belichick on a given day.
Sometimes the Patriots coach is willing to wax poetic about a new player, disclosing that person’s biggest strengths. Other times, Belichick sticks with the trusty old “we’ll see how it goes.” He went with the latter Wednesday when asked about defensive tackle John Hughes, who officially was signed Tuesday.
“John’s an experienced player,” Belichick said. “He has played a little bit inside and outside. We’ll see how it goes with him. Again, I think he’s a big guy with some skill, can run a little bit and has a good level of playing experience. So we’ll see how it turns out. I don’t know.”
Hughes received praise for his strength and technique from an NFL scout Tuesday. The Cleveland Browns, who cut Hughes on Sept. 20, once thought highly enough of the defensive tackle to give him a four-year, $14.4 million contract extension, so this isn’t a bottom-of-the-roster type player
Belichick undoubtedly received intel about Hughes from former Patriots exec Michael Lombardi, who served as the Browns’ general manager in 2013, when the defensive tackle was in his second season.
Hughes likely will rotate with Patriots defensive tackles Malcom Brown, Alan Branch and Vincent Valentine as an early down run-stuffer.
Thumbnail photo via Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports Images
