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WR Michael Jenkins (All B1G, National Champion)

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Why Wide Receiver Michael Jenkins is a Candidate to Start for the New England Patriots
The 10-Year-Pro Lacks Flash, but Showcases Reliability
Yahoo! Contributor Network
By Oliver Thomas | Yahoo! Contributor Network

COMMENTARY | "Camp body."

That was the popular explanation given as to why the New England Patriots signed veteran wide receiver Michael Jenkins on March 28.

Although in hindsight, the 31-year-old -- who was released by the Minnesota Vikings on March 4 -- may not be the camp body many initially rendered him to be.

He may be a starter.

An Ohio State product, Jenkins never lived up to the hype that surrounded him as a first-round draft pick in 2004. He spent seven years with the team that selected him, the Atlanta Falcons, but never caught more than 53 passes in single campaign.

Jenkins was a consistent performer in Atlanta. He eclipsed the 500-yard receiving mark five times and even notched a career-best 777 yards in 2008. He just wasn't a star. He wasn't Roddy White. He wasn't Julio Jones.

In a changing of the guard, Jenkins took his talents to Minneapolis in 2011, where he started 15 games in two seasons and caught a cumulative total of 78 passes with a developing Christian Ponder under center. Jenkins was utilized as a safety valve for Minnesota, often working the underneath passing game in the Adrian Peterson-led run-first offense.

Yet when the Vikings organization decided to revamp the receiver position this offseason, it soon became clear that Jenkins was not going to be part of the team's future plans. Jenkins was due a $2.425 million roster bonus, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com, and that was not a check Minnesota wanted to write.

With that said, a one-year, non-guaranteed $855,000 deal, per Spotrac.com, was a check the Patriots were willing to write. No. 10 wouldn't be catching passes in Foxboro, Mass., otherwise.

At 6'4", 214 pounds, Jenkins looks the part of a downfield threat. Looks can be deceiving, however. The 10-year pro lacks the separation needed to break past cornerbacks. There's not much spark in step. There's not many jump-ball grabs on his highlight reel, and there's not many spectacular tip-toeing sideline finishes, either.

All there is to Jenkins' game is steadiness.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-wi...enkins-candidate-start-england-185700767.html
 
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Bubble watch: Michael Jenkins
July, 11, 2013
By Mike Rodak | ESPNBoston.com

(Continuing a month-long series analyzing players who are on the roster bubble and where they may potentially fit in 2013.)

NAME: Michael Jenkins

POSITION: Wide receiver

AGE: 31

2012 STATS: 16 games (8 starts), 40 receptions (449 yards, 2 touchdowns)

INJURY STATUS: No known injuries.

CHANCE OF MAKING 53-MAN ROSTER: 75%

WHY HE SHOULD MAKE IT: He's not quite the same player he was during his best seasons in Atlanta, but Jenkins has the makings of a consistent, reliable veteran presence in a passing game that will be in need of one. It may not mean much come training camp, but Jenkins and Danny Amendola were almost exclusively part of the top group at wide receiver during OTAs and minicamp. While he doesn't offer much as a vertical receiver, Jenkins can easily earn a role as a big target who can work outside the numbers and in the red zone.

WHY HE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT: The biggest factor working against Jenkins will be his age, as he will have two draft picks (Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce) and an undrafted rookie (Kenbrell Thompkins) who stood out this spring competing against him. If Dobson is able to recover from an undisclosed injury that sidelined him during minicamp, and if he can push for significant playing time this season -- and that's a major "if" -- then Jenkins could slide down the depth chart, where his lack of special teams impact could work against him.

CLOSEST COMPETITION: WR Donald Jones, WR Lavelle Hawkins, WR Kenbrell Thompkins
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http://www.espn.go.com/blog/boston/...ost/_/id/4745066/bubble-watch-michael-jenkins
 
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Michael Jenkins looking to stand out among crowded group of new wide receivers
07.28.13
By Kevin Dillon

FOXBORO ? The most compelling position battle for the Patriots this offseason is the one at wide receiver, because there are so many unknown parts in play.

Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, who top two receivers for New England last year in terms of receptions, are now gone, along with fellow wide receivers Deion Branch and Donte Stallworth ? leaving Julian Edelman as the only receiver on the roster who caught a pass from Tom Brady last season.

Now, the Patriots are looking for replacements for the veterans, and will likely give increased roles to rookies Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, and Kenbrell Thompkins among others. With all of the youth in the group of receivers, nine-year veteran Michael Jenkins has his work cut out for him to stand out in training camp.

?Everybody is grinding,? Jenkins said. ?Everybody is competing and everybody is getting better. I?m just trying to do my role, make plays and make the most of my opportunity.?

After spending his first seven seasons with the Falcons, Jenkins played in 27 games for the Vikings over the past two seasons, totaling 78 receptions for 915 yards over that span. Since joining the Patriots this offseason, he has made sure to be around Brady as often as he can be, trying to quickly build a rapport with the quarterback.

Jenkins, who has not shown great speed this summer, did not have his best day of practice Sunday, dropping multiple passes. (In 2012, Jenkins only dropped two passes on 66 targets.) After each drop Sunday, Jenkins did push-ups before getting back in line for the drill.

?That?s just a little thing for myself is to do some pushups, penalizing myself for a drop,? Jenkins said. ?You bounce back, come back and make the next play and keep going. ? There are always ups and downs throughout training camp. You catch 1,000 balls and hopefully you keep your drops and the ones that hit the ground to a very minimum.?

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http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports...ut-among-crowded-group-of-new-wide-receivers/
 
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The wide receiver competition is clearly the No. 1 battle to watch as Tom Brady searches for his new favorite targets. This seems like an ?all hands on deck? year when the Patriots keep six receivers, plus a couple more on the practice squad. Who knows if the rookies can handle the rigors of a 16-game season, plus playoffs?

Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, and rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce are roster locks.

Undrafted rookie Kenbrell Thompkins, who might have the best speed on the field and has looked fantastic so far, is a clear favorite for the fifth spot. That leaves seven receivers, headlined by Matthew Slater, Kamar Aiken, and Michael Jenkins, battling for the sixth spot.
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Working against Aiken ? he still has a year of practice squad eligibility. Slater is obviously more of a special teams and utility player, and behind Aiken as a true receiver. But the Patriots are going to need a ?glue? guy like Slater in the locker room this season if and when more distractions ? Aaron Hernandez or otherwise ? pop up, and Aiken can possibly be stashed on the practice squad if he isn?t poached by another team. Thompkins also can go on the practice squad, but it?s doubtful the Patriots could sneak him through waivers.

Jenkins, a 10-year veteran, shouldn?t be feeling too comfortable, but working in his favor is a cap charge of $555,000. The Patriots, though, have been getting rid of their ?progress-stopper? veterans one by one ? first Donald Jones, then Lavelle Hawkins ? and Jenkins hasn?t shown much in camp that he deserves to be kept over one of the promising youngsters.
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http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...er-one-week/Do2dkwln6y5HsHEhDIATxK/story.html
 
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Q. Mike, I think one of the best battles in training camp has been at the WR position. I think Josh Boyce, Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompson make the team. I have heard many predict that Michael Jenkins gets cut in favor of another young player in Kamar Aiken, but I just don't see a Bill Belichick-coached team keeping that many young receivers and Matthew Slater. There is simply not enough experience there. Your thoughts? -- David (North Attleborough)

A. David, if everyone is healthy, this is the way I see the receiver position breaking down:

Danny Amendola
Aaron Dobson
Julian Edelman
Kenbrell Thompkins
Josh Boyce
and Matthew Slater

It's a young group, and with that will come some growing pains, but I don't think a team keeps an experienced player just for the sake of experience. These look like the top wideouts to me and I see greater upside with this group than in 2011 and 2012, but there almost certainly will be some bumps along the way because of their youth. For Jenkins and Aiken, my feeling is that it will take an injury for them to break through.
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http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story...-england-patriots-mailbag-earning-roster-spot
 
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