Back in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Bill Belichick turned heads when he traded up four spots to select punter Jake Bailey out of Stanford University.
In training camp that summer, Bailey beat out incumbent six-year starter Ryan Allen to earn the job.
Speaking with Patriots.com earlier this month, Bailey reflected back on how the competition made him better.
“It was obviously all new last year, and I had to compete [against Ryan Allen], and that was the best thing ever for me. As athletes, we always do better when we have competition, someone to compete against Ryan was awesome, a really good friend to me. It helped make me a better punter.”
As a rookie, Bailey earned two AFC Special Teams Player of The Week honors and ranked second in the league with 36 punts pinned inside the 20 yard line and touchbacks.
Bailey’s efforts didn’t stop there, when Stephen Gostkowski landed on injured reserve with a hip injury, he filled in on kickoffs.
On his Instagram this weekend, Bailey showed off his offseason workouts as he prepares for an even better year two.
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