Through six games, Jonnu Smith is not off to a great start with the Patriots.
The tight end has 16 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown, which comes after he signed a four-year contract worth $50 million, including a $15 million signing bonus and $31.25 million in guaranteed money this past offseason.
Appearing on Merloni & Fauria Thursday, former Patriots safety and current NBC analyst Rodney Harrison gave some advice to the tight end.
“I remember him when he was with the Titans," he said. "Before I would see flashes of him as he made his way and kind of became a veteran player in this league and I used to always say, ‘The Titans don’t use him enough. The Titans don’t use him enough.’ What he’s going to have to do is he’s going to have to get to a point, forget about all the expectations and the big contract and just go out there and play. He seems like he’s fighting the ball, he’s not relaxed. The kid has so much talent and so much ability that it’s like he’s putting added pressure on himself. He’s finally got the financial security he’s looking for, this is the time just to relax and go out there and play. He doesn’t have to play scared or anything like that.
"I am looking for him to really step up because the expectations when he came here was that this dude could do a lot of different things — [create] mismatches for linebackers, safeties and even cornerbacks because he’s a very, very talented kid. He just needs to relax and play football.”
