PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Jason McCourty relishing this time of year

Ten-year veteran Jason McCourty, who has never participated in an NFL playoff game, says he was happy to be working on Wednesday.

FOXBORO – For Jason McCourty, this is the most wonderful time of the year.

“For me,” the Patriots cornerback said Wednesday, “going through nine seasons before being able to experience this, I’m enjoying every moment of it, savoring the moments – being able to go out to practice today, being able to come in to work, having breakfast with the guys where typically I’ve already flown home or you’re doing whatever you’re doing for the offseason so I’m definitely trying to savor each and every moment. And I think more important than savoring it is making sure I’m trying to get better each and every moment to be able to play my best individually and help us play our best as a team come next Sunday.”

After spending the first eight years of his career in Tennessee and enduring a winless season in Cleveland last year, McCourty is headed for the playoffs for the first time in his NFL life.

Acquired from the Browns in March in a trade involving draft picks (the Patriots received McCourty and a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a sixth-round choice), the 31-year-old contributed to his team’s 11-5 regular-season finish by appearing in all 16 of its games, starting 12 on the left corner, finishing fourth in tackles with 68 while being credited with 10 passes defensed (second to right cornerback Stephon Gilmore’s 20), intercepting a pass and forcing a fumble and making another two stops on special teams.

“I joke with a lot of guys on the team after every win I’m probably the loudest guy in here just yelling and celebrating just because of what it means,” said McCourty, “and I think this time of the year it’s the same thing.”

By the bye: The Patriots’ approach between now and their Jan. 13 divisional round game with either Houston, Baltimore or the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium?

“Once we find out who we play, we’ll turn all our attention to that team,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “So in the meantime, we’ll prepare to be ready for whoever it is, and most importantly try to work on things that will benefit the New England Patriots no matter who we play.”

Respect for Meyer: Calling him a “great man” and “a good friend,” Belichick paid tribute to Urban Meyer, who retired following Ohio State’s 28-23 Rose Bowl win over Washington on New Year’s Day.

“I go back a long way with Urban. I talk to him multiple times every season. I have great respect and appreciation for what he’s done, the national championships, the programs that he’s built going all the way back,” said Belichick. “I mean, he was an Ohio guy when I was in Ohio and back to Bowling Green, and obviously Notre Dame, and then Utah, Florida, Ohio State. So, yeah, great man, has had tremendous success, he’s been a good friend and I have great admiration for what he’s done.”

Jobs well done: The Patriots announced that tight end Stephen Anderson, quarterback Danny Etling, defensive lineman Trent Harris, defensive lineman Frank Herron, safety Obi Melifonwu, linebacker Calvin Munson and wide receiver Damoun Patterson were their practice players of the week.

He’s quite the catch: Of all the numbers you’ll see this week, the most amazing may have come compliments of Pro Football Focus regarding Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a potential Patriots opponent in the divisional round.

According to PFF, Hopkins’ 115 receptions (third in the league) during the 2018 regular season were made without a single drop.

Hopkins caught eight of those passes (while being targeted 11 times) for 78 yards in the Texans’ 27-20 season-opening loss in Foxboro and, while he’s caught 30 passes (in 47 targets) for 404 yards in six games against the Patriots over his career (all Houston losses), he’s yet to score a touchdown against them.