Kicker drafted by New England Patriots is a ‘weapon,' ESPN analyst says
Kickers don't normally get a lot of praise during the NFL Draft broadcast. But Andres Borregales is a special case.
The New England Patriots made Borregales the highest-drafted kicker this year, taking the Miami product with the sixth pick of the sixth round.
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Borregales drew some high praise form the ESPN broadcast. Longtime draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. called Borregales 'automatic.' Meanwhile, NFL analyst Louis Riddick called the Miami product a 'weapon.'
'He was money all season long,' Riddick said. 'I was down at his pro day and watching him kick. It was like the ball was exploding every time he touched it. I mean, kicking that thing high into the net 50, 55-plus. Yeah, they've got a weapon right there.'
The line about Borregales being a 'weapon' is reminiscent of some famous comments made by Bill Belichick while gushing over a punter.
That would be former Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker. Back in 2016, Belichick went out of his way to sing the praises of L.A.'s punter.
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'I mean, Hekker is a tremendous weapon,' Belichick said at the time. 'This guy's as good as any player I've ever seen at that position.'
He didn't stop there.
'This guy, I mean, this guy's a weapon,' Belichick later added. 'I mean, he's not a good player. He's a weapon.'
Two seasons later, when the Patriots faced the Rams in Super Bowl LIII, Belichick once again applied the label.
'Hekker's a tremendous player, a great athlete,' Belichick said at the time. 'He's a weapon.'
Is Borregales on the same level as Hekker? We'll have to go down to Chapel Hill and ask him to find out.
For now, the Patriots appear to have their kicker of the future.
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