Report: This Panthers Receiver Says Patriots Tried To Sign Him In Free Agency

The New England Patriots are playing against the Carolina Panthers this weekend. This means playing against former Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. However, something else caught everyone’s attention. A Panthers wide receiver fired up fans with his grand revelation – the Patriots really wanted to sign him in free agency.

Robby Anderson could have been a good option for Belichick’s receiving unit. However, this signing never happened.

“When I played them, from what I can remember, (Belichick) usually would put man coverage (with) a safety over the top and scheme me, do things like that,” Anderson told the media Wednesday. “Kind of take me out of the picture. He even told me that, too. Last year when I was in free agency, he tried to get me to sign. He was like, ‘I’m tired of scheming against you. I’m tired of going against you.’”

Anderson almost joined Belichick’s receiving unit, but the Panthers gave him a really good option. Carolina offered him a two-year deal worth $20 million.

In his four seasons with the New York Jets, Anderson posted the following lines:

Two catches (two targets), 34 yards
Zero catches (three targets), 0 yards
Four catches (12 targets), 76 yards
One catch (three targets), 2 yards
Two catches (five targets), 22 yards
Three catches (eight targets), 24 yards
Three catches (five), 11 yards
One catch (eight targets), 10 yards

The Panthers receiver made the Patriots want to sign him

Anderson is an excellent player but his performance is not that good at the moment. He has a 36% catch rate and this stat pushed them to the rock bottom. The Panthers don’t use him as a primary option.

How will Anderson handle Belichick’s team on Sunday? He believes he will be able to beat the Patriots.

“I look at their team like I’m going against Bill Belichick and Tom Brady,” he told reporters. “Tom’s not there, obviously, but I know how they’re going to come regardless of who is on that team. I know the type of system that Bill Belichick is running with that defense and the tenacity and the style of play and the things they do.

“I know it’s going to be a war, and I know the key to beating the Patriots is playing fundamentally sound football. I’ve seen it since my rookie year (with) the Jets — if you give them a turnover or the team turns over the ball, that’s what makes the difference in that game. It’s just doing all the little things correctly against them.”