Nate Washington hopes his past will help his future with Patriots

When veteran wide receiver Nate Washington signed with the Patriots in late March, he did so knowing he'd have a chance at winning a Super Bowl. He has never played with a quarterback as good as Tom Brady (although he did play with Ben Roethlisberger for three years), so he should feel much more comfortable in New England than he did in Tennessee or Houston.

Because he is used to playing with average to below average quarterbacks and has still had success, he's hoping that translates into bigger things with the Patriots.

The Providence Journal:

"It forced me to perfect myself in order to help the man behind the center,” Washington said Tuesday. “I think it’s been a [tough] task, obviously, to not have that opportunity, but it’s also perfected me making sure I’m taking care of my business and not looking at someone else’s action… it’s such a requirement to make me the best I can be and give him an opportunity to look to me if need be."

Washington isn't a lock to make the team - he'll have to earn a spot in training camp. But being a great route runner, that should help his case. Washington knows he's going to be pushed to be at his best, too. After he signed with New England, he called former Patriots defensive lineman Willie McGinest for some advice.

ESPN:

"I had a chance to talk to him a couple of weeks ago, once he found out I signed, and the No. 1 thing he told me is 'It's going to be good for you, because they're going to pay attention to the detail and they're going to get you in the aspect of making sure you're pushing yourself every single day. Those guys work hard every single day and don't take a day off. Those coaches, they work hard every single day and don't take a day or a minute off.' To be in that type of atmosphere gave me some type of understanding, especially at not only this point of my career but this point in my life, to what I needed.

"I needed a bunch of guys that were going to make me better. Although I'm 32 and although this is my 12th year in the league, I do feel like I can get better physically and mentally. And I needed to be around a core of guys that can push me to that point. His advice pretty much summed up what I've been hearing from everybody, which is that it's a hard-working group of guys; they're going to be into the game, they're going to know their opponent, and they're going to go out there with a belief that they can get the job done. I want to go out there with that attitude. ..."

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