FOXBORO — When the Patriots signed Terrence Brooks on March 14, everyone immediately pointed to him playing the most special teams snaps on the Jets last season.
Bill Belichick and the Patriots value special teams more than any team in the league and with Belichick seeing Brooks twice a year on a yearly basis it seemed like a natural fit.
But, the reality is Brooks is more than a special teams player.
"I feel like some people just slap that label on me since I have been in the league," he said after practice Thursday. "To me, I feel like I am a great defensive player. I feel like I am a great special teams player, but I never feel like I have arrived. I want to make it in everything. Whenever I take the field, whatever position I am at, I want to be the best at that position. Whether they put me on defense or special teams, it doesn't matter to me. I just want to play football."
Brooks has seen time with the first-team defense this summer, which is a clear sign the team is viewing him as more than just a player to play special teams. Even so, the Patriots aren't afraid to use their starters on special teams.
"It's very important," Brooks said. "It's a third of the game and I feel like people shy away from how important special teams are. That is what most of the time is going to win you games. I am all for whatever — if they trust me to be out on the field for one of those phases, I am going to give it my best."
After spending the last two seasons in New York with the Jets, Brooks seems to be enjoying his time with his new team.
"It's very detail-oriented. That is what every team should be," he said. "I feel like we definitely hone in on a lot of good things all the way back to fundamentals. We start at ground zero and everybody has been working hard to be the best they can be."
