Sony Michel. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Patriots first-rounder Sony Michel rushed 25 times in yesterday's throttling of the Dolphins.
Michel had 24 carries for 84 yards his first two NFL games--but, that was after missing much of training camp, the entire preseason, and regular season opener with an injury. Now, the Georgia alum's the first Pats rookie to reach 100 rushing yards in a game since Brandon Bolden six years earlier.
Many fans and media members spent the last week criticizing Michel and debating whether he's a bust, but the running back said teammates have kept his confidence high.
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"I'll say I'm blessed, because going through times that's not the brightest, it helps you learn so much," he said. "I'm blessed to say I've had those times that I can learn from. A lot of people don't. A lot of people have those times coming, and they may not know how to react to 'em. But me, I had a rough start. But I got great guys around me, to encourage me, to stand next to me. It's a family in here, so it helps. But you just gotta keep pushing, keep fighting."
Fellow back James White likes what he sees from the rookie.
"Tough runner, he can catch the ball, he can block, he can pretty much do it all," White said. "He missed preseason, so he didn't get a lot of those reps--so the more he plays, the better he'll get. He wanted to come out there and attack the day from the first play, and he played really well. He may not look like the biggest guy, but he runs with his pads down, and gets those extra yards."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports