A friendly reminder that Kenny Britt is a good player

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When the Patriots picked up Kenny Britt's option this week, you probably made a face like this:

"Why would they bring back Britt?" you might have asked. "He didn't do anything for them and he stinks."

You are correct in thinking he didn't do anything for the Pats. He didn't. After signing a two-year deal with New England in December, he played in just three games, catching only two passes before being a healthy scratch for all three playoff games. 

But he doesn't stink. Far from it. Let me let you in on a little secret about Kenny Britt. [Takes drag of cigarette] He's good.

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Last season was a disaster for Britt, but it can be explained pretty easily: He started the season with the freaking Browns courtesy of a free -gency money grab and ended it in another new system. Of course there wasn't going to be much production. 

Yet Britt isn't that old (he'll turn 30 in September of the coming season), and he just had a 1,000-yard season prior to signing with Cleveland. In the two seasons before that he averaged over 700 yards a season. Having him on the roster next year will cost just under $1.5 million in salary with another potential $500,000 in incentives. Big whoop. 

The guy's a first-round talent whose speed was never a hallmark of his game. As he ages, he should be able to adapt better than a player who can only outrun guys. He'll be playing with the best quarterback in the league. Assuming he puts in the work and isn't ready to call it quits, Ian Rapoport's Patriots-looking-for-big-things tweet shouldn't be so far-fetched. 

If you think Britt stinks, it means you also have to think Danny Amendola stinks. Amendola, of course, does not stink, but Britt has been the better player. Britt is younger and has had four seasons of 700 yards or more. Amendola has had zero, which can partially be explained by how many games he's missed. 

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The Patriots have uncertainty receiver. Brandin Cooks is entering a contract year. Julian Edelman is going to be 32 and coming off a lost season. Amendola could be elsewhere. Malcolm Mitchell's health may be a perpetual question mark. Chris Hogan's also coming off an injury-riddled campaign. 

Britt has major questions around him just like the rest of those guys do, the biggest of which is whether he was a victim of circumstances last season or whether he very quickly went from very good to useless. I find the latter hard to believe, and the Patriots didn't have to pay much money for the chance to find out. 

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