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N’Keal Harry says he’d absolutely be happy to play for Patriots despite trade request

New England Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry walked back his request for a trade at training camp on Friday. Harry, who is off the the strongest start for camp in his three-year career, allowed his agent to release a statement asking the Patriots trade him. At that point, New England had already explored Harry’s trade market, per ESPN’s Josh Winfuss. It sounded like offers were bleak.

With Harry at training camp, he was asked if he would be OK starting the season with the patriots.

“Absolutely,” he told reporters Friday.

Why?

“Because I just feel like I can really help this team win,” Harry said. “And I feel like I can have a big role within this team.”

At one point this offseason, three teams showed interest in trading for Harry. Apparently, it wasn’t enough interest for New England to spin a trade.

“Right now I’m really not worried about anything trade-wise,” Harry said. “I’m focused on how to be the best version of myself on the field, going out there, working hard and improving every day.”

There’s plenty of room for Harry to improve after just 45 catches, 414 yards and four touchdowns over his first two seasons. He has had flashes of his potential at training camp in 2021. Perhaps that’s because he’s gotten back to what made him such a versatile prospect in college.

“I feel like the past couple years I’ve been focusing on playing so big and just trying to just play big,” Harry said. “I feel like I lost a little of my wiggle. So this past offseason that’s what I focused on a lot. A lot of agility drills and stuff like that just to try to get that wiggle back.”