N'Keal Harry and the New England Patriots are both playing nice since the wide receiver's public trade demand last month.
Harry's agent insisted on July 6 that his client needed a "fresh start" after two disappointing seasons in New England, and that it would be best for "both parties" if the 23-year-old played elsewhere in 2021.
But Harry said last week he'd be "very OK" staying with the Patriots if a trade didn't materialize, and head coach Bill Belichick insisted Monday that he's had a positive dialogue with the young wide receiver.
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"N’Keal and I have talked about it," Belichick told our Tom E. Curran in a press conference Monday when asked if he could envision Harry being on the team this season. "We had a good conversation, have a good relationship. So I’m not going to get into all that."
If Harry remains with the Patriots, he faces an uphill battle to see playing time in a wide receiver group that features 2020 leading receiver Jakobi Meyers and newcomers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.
New England's 2019 first-round draft pick has gotten off to an impressive start in training camp, though, and most importantly has stayed on the field as he competes for playing time.
New England Patriots
"N’Keal is in good condition, is working hard, and just, again, keep taking it day by day and as the competition unfolds see how things stack up everywhere — not just with him but all the way across the board," Belichick added. "It’s the same for everybody."