PATRIOTS: The education of a rookie continues for Michel

Georgia running back Sony Michel, the second of the team’s two first-round picks in this year’s NFL Draft, has been learning the Patriots way at OTAs.

FOXBORO – He may be a rookie, a member of the team for little more than a month, but running back Sony Michel has already been around Gillette Stadium long enough to learn this much about the Patriots way: At times, there is nothing to fear like Fears himself.

Rewind the tape to last Thursday’s organized team activity on the practice fields behind the stadium and there was the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Michel reaching up to make a one-handed stab of a pass, a highlight reel-worthy catch, as he approached the left pylon in the end zone.

Surely, this was time for lavish praise, a prize catch by a prized catch.

No, it was a time for a dose of criticism from running backs coach Ivan Fears, who wasn’t pleased with the fact that the youngster had cut his route short and didn’t hesitate to let him know it – a critique Michel both absorbed and understood.

The education of a rookie continued.

“For him, giving me some sort of coaching tip, that’s what is helping me improve and move forward,” Michel said. “That’s why he’s my coach and I’ve got to listen to him. I’m excited to have him as my coach because he’s going to do what’s best for this team and help me be the best player I can be.”

The Patriots believe Michel can be good, their belief in him enough for them to invest the 31st choice in this year’s NFL Draft in him, eight picks after they’d selected his teammate and roommate at Georgia, offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, at 23.

With Dion Lewis’ departure to the Tennessee Titans as an unrestricted free agent earlier this offseason, the hope is that Michel can come in and be part of the Patriots’ solution in the backfield, if not emerge as their lead back.

A two-time 1,000-yard rusher at Georgia, Michel was downright explosive in college, averaging 6.1 yards per carry over four years with the Bulldogs, including 7.9 per carry last season when he ran for a career-high 1,227 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Fumbles were an issue, however: 12 on 658 touches during his time in Athens, although he dramatically cut the ratio down with just two on 165 touches in 2017.

Speaking on that very topic last month, Fears addressed how it would be dealt with at One Patriot Place if it were to become a problem.

“Let him sit on the bench a little while,” said Fears. “He has to figure out this is the most important thing he does. He has to figure that out and he has to get that message. I don’t care how you do it, he has to get that message.

“When he gets that message, he’s going to play (and) he’s going to hold onto that ball. If he’s not going to hold onto that ball, he can’t play for us. We can’t have that.”

Transitioning to the pros, Michel says he finds himself in “a different environment,” one that forces a rookie “to adapt.”

Michel says that be it Athens, Ga., or Foxboro, one thing hasn’t changed, however.

“It’s football,” he said. “You come here, and you’ve got to have the same mindset of wanting to be better on and off the field, whether it’s taking care of your body or studying the playbook or executing what you’ve got to do on the field.”

GRONKOWSKI TO ATTEND MINICAMP: Appearing at Sunday's annual Buzz Off charity event for kids with cancer held at Gillette Stadium, tight end Rob Gronkowski, who, like quarterback Tom Brady, has been a nonparticipant in the Patriots' voluntary OTAs, said he will attend this week's (Tuesday through Thursday) mandatory team minicamp.

The Patriots website ran a quote from Gronkowski in which he said: "I'll be there this week. I'll be full go. I'm looking forward to it."