FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Taylor Price is entering just his second NFL season. Deion Branch is starting his 10th. The goal for both New England Patriots wide receivers is the same.
They want to show coach Bill Belichick they can be counted on to produce.
“This is a league where you’ve got to prove yourself each and every week,” Price said. “So I’m going to keep going out there, keep getting better and keep making plays.”
The third-round draft choice from Ohio was active for just the final regular-season game last year but made progress by studying the playbook, watching film and practicing. Now he’s trying to earn playing time in a corps of veteran wide receivers — Branch, Wes Welker and Chad Ochocinco.
Branch had a much better rookie season than Price after being drafted in the second round in 2002. In the season opener that year, the Patriots’ next game after the first of their three Super Bowl victories, Branch caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
