FOXBORO – The Patriots pro personnel department deserves a nod for Sunday.
Two players who weren’t part of the team coming into the regular season had central roles – cornerback Justin Coleman and wide receiver Keshawn Martin.
Coleman, a rookie from Tennessee the Patriots plucked off the Seahawks practice squad, was up and active for his first NFL game and chipped in three tackles in the convincing win over Jacksonville. Martin, acquired in a trade with the Texans, caught all three passes sent his way including a 13-yard touchdown in the second half.
“I definitely traveled a lot of miles but it just shows teams wanted me and it was an honor to know teams wanted me,” said Coleman, who went undrafted out of Tennessee, was picked up by Minnesota, released, moved through New England briefly then landed in Seattle before the Patriots decided they wanted him back.
“The Patriots came and got me off the Seattle practice squad and I knew I had a job to do and they were gonna give me a big opportunity and I didn’t want to blow my opportunity so I had to make the best of it.”
Coleman’s opportunity came, it seemed, at the expense of Bradley Fletcher, who was a healthy scratch on Sunday. Fletcher struggled in the first two games, especially downfield. With the Jags being a downfield passing team, the Patriots gave Coleman a shot on the outside and he responded.
“Coach (Josh Boyer) has been in my ear saying, ‘Stay ready, we’re gonna get you out there,’ ”said Coleman. “I was excited but I didn’t want to get overexcited and lose my mind out there. Just wanted to go 100 percent and that’s what I was doing. There wasn’t a specific matchup (assigned) but (Allen) Robinson was their go-to guy, their shot guy they want to throw it deep to him so I was expecting that. When (Allen) Hurns was on my side, he’s their possession guy so I was watching for that, dig routes that type of thing.”
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Martin’s been around a little longer. A fourth-rounder in 2012, this was the second-highest number of catches he’s had in the NFL (his high was four against the Jags back in 2013).
“It feels good to be here, to be playing for a great organization and when my opportunity comes I want to make as many plays as I can,” said Martin.
On his touchdown, Martin stayed alive for Tom Brady after the quarterback was flushed from the pocket. Martin worked his route from the middle back out toward the left sideline and took a short lob from Brady that he turned into the score.
“(Brady) does a great job of knowing what to do, doing the right thing and knowing where to go with the ball,” said Martin. “Being a receiver, it makes it so much easier for you. Just the way they run the offense. These guys don’t want to settle for field goals. Every time we’re on the field we’re after touchdowns.”
Martin helped grab one. His immediate future – and Coleman’s – are always going to be dependent on game plan and matchups. But both players proved the team’s pro personnel department made a pair of shrewd moves bringing them aboard.