Brandon LaFell looks like Manute Bol compared to the rest of the New England Patriots wide receivers, and Tom Brady appreciates having a big target in training camp.
Brady had some — jokingly — disparaging remarks about 5-foot-11 Danny Amendola and 5-foot-10 Julian Edelman (aka The Energizer Bunny) on Tuesday after joint practices with the Washington Redskins.
“I’ve got some of the little pygmies out there like Julian and Danny and it’s nice to have a little bigger guy out there from time to time who has a bigger catch radius,” Brady said about LaFell in Richmond, Va. “Hopefully Danny and Julian don’t get mad at me for saying that. They won’t. They know I’m joking.”
Brady has a history of success with those “pygmies,” from Troy Brown to Deion Branch, Wes Welker and Edelman. LaFell appears to be getting more comfortable as he adjusts to the Patriots’ offense, and Brady appreciates having a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder out on the field.
“He keeps making more plays,” Brady said. “He’s done a great job. Today he made a lot of plays out there. He’s understanding better and better. He’s a veteran. He’s savvy, knows how to run the routes — big body, big frame, makes a lot of tough catches.”
Edelman and Amendola will start the season playing in the slot and the “Z” receiver role, while LaFell will compete with second-year pros Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson for the “X” receiver role — typically saved for bigger, stronger wideouts.
