Gillislee game as good mate

PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK

FOXBORO — If Mike Gillislee were a distraction, it’d be hard to blame him.

Thing is, Gillislee has been all team all the time, according to those around Gillette Stadium. And for the first time since falling out of the game-day lineup in Week 10, Gillislee discussed his demotion yesterday at his locker.

“I’m a team player, and I’m always going to put my team first,” Gillislee told the Herald. “We’re out to get something, and that’s to go to the championship, the Super Bowl. That’s the goal, and I’m going to do whatever I can to help my football team get there. Whatever that is, whether it’s practicing, being on scout team, of course I want to be out there, but I’m going to do whatever it is to be a part of the team and not distract them.”

Gillislee, who signed a twoyear, $6.4 million contract in April, led the Patriots in rushing yards in each of the first four games of the season, and he was the team’s leading rusher through Week 8 with 98 carries for 355 yards and four touchdowns.

Since that point, however, Gillislee was a healthy scratch in four consecutive games and didn’t make the trip to Miami for “Monday Night Football” due to an illness. Regardless of that virus, Gillislee wasn’t in the game plan for the Dolphins.

“It’s been five games, so I just feel like I’m handling it pretty well,” Gillislee said. “I love football, and of course I want to be out there. All I can do is work hard and wait on my number to be called again.”

Gillislee didn’t do anything in particular to fall out of favor for such a long stretch. He didn’t fumble his way out of the lineup like Stevan Ridley in 2013 or sleep through his alarm like Jonas Gray in 2014.

It’s been more straightforward than that. As Gillislee’s production waned in October and Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead and James White were more valuable offensive options, Gillislee tumbled down the depth chart. And including Brandon Bolden, Gillislee is the Patriots’ only running back without a role on special teams, so the Patriots aren’t going to carry five on the 46-man gameday roster.

If someone goes down or an opportunity opens up for another reason, Gillislee is trying to stay ready. And he has done it quietly, the right way, over the past month.

“That is coach’s decision,” Gillislee said of his game-day status. “All I do is come to work and prepare myself as if I’m in, and then whatever decision it is for game time, that’s when I’ll find out.”

Blooming season

Defensive end Trey Flowers is making progress.

Enough to play tomorrow against the Steelers?

“We’ll see,” Flowers said. “Still day by day, but I’m feeling good.”

Flowers has missed the past two games with a rib injury. Even without any broken ribs, it’s an incredibly painful injury that will linger if it’s overworked.

Flowers leads the Patriots with six sacks, 15 quarterback hits, 15 pressures, three batted passes and two forced fumbles, and he is second with four run stuffs. He’d be a valued commodity tomorrow with the top playoff seed on the line, but Flowers and the Patriots can’t force it if the injury isn’t right.

“If I’m ready to go, I’ll be ready to go. There’s nothing that would make me want to go even more. It’s just the game of football. If I’m ready to play, to be out there with my brothers and help them, I’ll be out there.”

Honest answer

In regard to Gillislee, Burkhead and Lewis, Bill Belichick was asked yesterday if he purposely signed running backs who played in backup roles elsewhere, or if it was coincidental.

The purpose of the question was to assess whether or not Belichick put stock in a lack of wear and tear on the players who endure the rigors of a grueling position.

Belichick wouldn’t bite. In fact, he gave an honest response.

“I haven’t really thought about that,” he said. “So I guess that answers the question.”