Monday, October 14, 2013

Brady: Collie making the most of his opportunity

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Austin Collie made his New England Patriots debut Sunday in finite but important fashion.

Collie saw single-digits worth of snaps against the New Orleans Saints, but he made two crucial first down catches on New England's last-minute game-winning drive.

"That was pretty cool for him to come in and play the way he needed to play," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told WEEI Monday, via ESPN Boston. "We're counting on him, and that's why he's here."

Brady hit Collie for a 15-yard completion on the second play of the drive and again on a do-or-die fourth-and-4 situation two plays before the game-sealing score.

Brady, who in the past has watched from the sideline as Collie made big-time plays with Peyton Manning, had no doubt the veteran wideout would come through.

"He's a veteran player who's played in a lot of big games and who was really productive when he played for the Colts," Brady said, "and he's getting his opportunity here and he's making the most of it.

"He has the confidence for the coaches to put him in the game really at the biggest point and made two huge plays."

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