Bill Belichick will often give credit where it’s due, but he rarely gives opposing players praise like he did with DeAndre Hopkins.
The New England Patriots will hit the road to face the Houston Texans on Sunday night and Hopkins will be high on the priority list for Belichick. Hopkins didn’t drop a single pass last season, while recording 115 receptions, 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Belichick told reporters on Wednesday that Hopkins’ picture belongs next to ‘NFL receiver’ in the dictionary. He also went on to call his catch radius and hands, ‘elite-elite’.
Belichick has always had respect for Hopkins, and he made that clear last season.
“If he’s covered, he’s still not covered because he still has the ability to go up and get the ball,” Belichick said, transcribed by Texans Wire. “He’s really never covered.”
This will likely be one of Hopkins’ toughest games of the season though, because he’ll be squared up with Stephon Gilmore — the NFL’s best cornerback. Gilmore is coming off of a week that he completely shut out Amari Cooper, and he hasn’t allowed a catch in the last two weeks.
The Texans vs. Patriots will be a great game, but the matchup within the game will be something to watch.
