When it comes to experience, no player in the New England Patriots defense has Kevin Byard beat. The free agency pickup is entering his 11th season in the NFL and has a combined 174 regular season and playoff games on his résumé.
Byard was recruited by the Patriots not just for his veteran status and playmaking skills, however. A team captain in both Chicago and Tennessee, he also was signed to bring leadership to New England’s defense and serve as a role model in what is generally a young room.
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The 32-year-old has fully embraced that role, but also knows he was brought into an established culture.
“I’ll just naturally be myself. I’m not trying to over-do anything,” he said during last week’s mandatory minicamp. “I think, especially for a team that was just literally in the Super Bowl, I’m coming in, bringing obviously my uniqueness but at the same time just continuing to earn these guys’ trust, and we’re just discussing different things scheme-wise, making sure we’re on the same page, and just bringing my skillset here to this time.
“But I’m not trying to over-do anything. These guys have a great leadership group already, especially in our room with Marcus Jones. He’s a phenomenal worker. I’ve been very impressed with him and just his work ethic and the things he’s done. He was a captain last year. I see why. I’m coming in just being myself, and that’s really it.”
When Byard joined the Patriots on a one-year, $7 million contract in March, he immediately became their most seasoned safety.
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But even though he has more football on his résumé than the rest of the team’s current safety group combined — Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Mike Brown, Brenden Schooler, John Saunders Jr. and Peter Manuma have played a total of 167 NFL games between them — he sees knowledge acquisition as a two-way street. Accordingly, he is receptive to what his new teammates have to offer.
“A lot of these guys, whether it’s Dell Pettus or even Schooler, they’re helping me a little bit,” he said. “I’ve been part of this defense, been a part of this team, but at the same time there are some unique things we are doing now versus what we were doing then, so I’m asking all these guys questions. We’re all helping each other, and obviously I’m giving them tips on different ways how to make plays, stuff like that. It’s a collaborative group, a very close group. It’s been pretty cool so far.”
The chemistry in the safety room is also not lost on Zak Kuhr. The Patriots’ recently-appointed defensive coordinator, who already worked with Byard in Tennessee, noticed how the three-time All-Pro has managed to blend in.
Byard is part of the group, without his presence overwhelming the others.
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“I’ve sat in the DB room quite a bit this spring during the individual meetings, and the great thing about KB is that he understand that he’s not coming in here, and it’s like, ‘Oh, you’ve been a captain in other places and you should be the leader of this room,’” Kuhr explained.
“Has humility, earns the respect, but then also will throw in, ‘Hey, I have been here for 10 years, been in this league for 10 years. Here’s something you should look out for.’ I think he’s been great with Craig, and Craig is learning from him. He’s just a phenomenal person in the room, and a phenomenal professional that’s a great role model.”
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