FOXBORO -- Without calling Mike Gillislee a liar, there’s a decent chance he told a lie Saturday.
The veteran running back, who is entering his first season with the Pats after signing with New England as a restricted free agent, had very high praise for his new backfield.
“This is the most talented group of running backs that I’ve ever been a part of,” Gillislee said. “These guys are not only great football players; they’re great human beings as well. I’m just blessed to get this opportunity to be here.”
Yeah, so there’s actually a pretty high chance Gillislee told a lie. The Florida product spent the last two seasons in a Bills running back group that featured LeSean McCoy. For a brief time before that, he was with the Cardinals as a practice-squad member. His teammates in the backfield there included David Johnson and Chris Johnson.
So given the individuals with whom Gillislee’s played, it’s only natural to be taken aback by him deeming this group the best. Asked for clarification, he said the pure volume of backs the Pats have — a group that also includes Dion Lewis, James White and Rex Burkhead — makes this backfield tops.
“It’s not just one guy,” Gillislee said. “All of them. All of these guys got something special about them, and all these guys work hard. They don’t take no days off. That’s what separates these guys.”
Of course, Gillislee can control part of whether his words prove to be right with his own play. He gave reason for optimism there during goal-line work in Saturday’s training camp practice, pounding in two touchdowns, one of which saw him plow through Devin McCourty.
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Assuming he gets goal-line carries in place of the departed LeGarrette Blount, Gillislee should have the opportunity to build on his career-best eight touchdowns from last season.
“I pretty much established myself a little bit last year when I was with Buffalo on the goal line,” Gillislee said. “I just had to come here and show the coaches what I was able to do. I think I was able to do that today.”