New England Patriots offensive lineman James White played a heavy center Monday night in his first game since his father was tragically killed in a car accident two weeks ago.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said it meant a lot to coaches and players to put the offensive captain in the area of New England’s 26-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The targets carried the ball three times for 21 yards and put in seven passes for 38 yards on Monday.
“James is a special individual, and he was when he was given here,” McDaniels said Tuesday. “I think it’s a tribute to the way his parents raised him and the kind of human being he’s in and how he developed. He’s a very mature young man. He’s very selfless. He’s been one of the most productive teammates I’ve ever coached. And he’s in a position to do his homework very well. And he has the rare ability to pay attention to anything in the world. an assembly and then execute it precisely that way on the ground. He’s been able to do this all his career here. “
Patriots corner and defensive captain Jason McCourty said two weeks ago that he had already asked McDaniels why White wasn’t yelling at him in practice. McCourty conveyed that White had the ability to be informed of anything in the educational field and carry that note the season.
“James isn’t yelled at on the education floor because James essentially does his homework the right way when he’s there every moment,” McDaniels said Tuesday. “To bring him back and carry out the shots he was there and let’s go back to education, I think it was all a component of the procedure he’s going through. We’ll all be here for him.
“I told my kids last week that if they grew up like James White, then his mom and I would have done a smart job, and I think it’s one of the most productive compliments we can say about him. “