'It Was Belichick, Man!' JuJu Smith-Schuster Reveals Reason for Patriots Signing
Maybe DeAndre Hopkins and the Arizona Cardinals, dealing with a "soft market,'' can find themselves coerced by the same magical reason that brings JuJu Smith-Schuster to New England.
Why, JuJu, did you jump in free agency from winning Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs to coming to the Pats?
“To be honest, it was Belichick, man,” JuJu said (via NESN). "The guy, you know ... just the want and the need.''
The Patriots had "the want and the need'' to give JuJu a three-year deal to come to town especially after the club's previous No. 1 receiver booked. JuJu will essentially be the Jakobi Meyers' replacement after the latter wideout left for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Smith-Schuster, who earlier in his career starred with the Steelers, finished the 2022 season with a bounce-back total of 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns. ... all while working with QB Patrick Mahomes.
Smith-Schuster won't quite have that same benefit in New England, where young QB Mac Jones is still working to develop. But in the meantime, with JuJu thinks he's in the right place at the right time ...
With the right guy.
"The position that I can fill (in New England) really, really caught my attention,'' he said. "And ... feeling wanted in a place where I played against, a head coach I have a lot of respect for. And I just think that goes a long way.”
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