Notebook: Brady says Kenny Britt has 'done a good job' his first couple days

FOXBOROUGH — When it comes to new offensive skill position players, we can talk all we want about how it’s important to get acclimated in the system, learn the playbook and get up to speed as soon as possible. But in truth, the only thing that really truly matters is an ability to get on the same page with the quarterback.

To that end, following practice on Thursday, Tom Brady was asked about new wide receiver Kenny Britt, and how he was doing in his first few days in Foxborough.

“Good. You know, he’s just kind of come in and worked hard the last couple days and trying to understand all the things we’ve got going,” Brady said of the former Cleveland pass-catcher who was signed earlier this week. “Hopefully, we can add something to the mix here in a short period of time.

“It’s always challenging for a guy to come in late and pick up everything at once, but hopefully he can figure out a role. He’s had a lot of production,” he added. “He’s going to have to go out and earn it -- earn everybody’s trust to get out there. But he’s done a good job the first couple days.”

Brady was also asked as to why it works in New England for some veteran wide receivers (Wes Welker, Randy Moss, David Patten) while not others (Chad Ochocinco, Joey Galloway, Donald Hayes).

“I don’t know,” Brady said. “That’s a good question. I’m not sure. We’ve done pretty good with veteran receivers. ... It’s probably on a very individual basis. I think for most people, what you do is kind of up to the player and the professionalism and the ability to come in and put the work in every day. Some guys make it and some guys don’t. Veteran receivers — I would say in our offense, it’s a pretty high degree of difficulty. So the guys who have been around a little bit know how to play football, know how to play professional football and prepare and study and all those things, can come in and do pretty well.”

For more on Brady’s press conference — including his thoughts about the Steelers and returning to practice full-time — check out the video here.

Hamstring has hamstrung Slater

One of the more reliable players in recent Patriots’ history — he missed just 12 games in his first nine years in the NFL — Matthew Slater has been dogged by hamstring issues this season. The perennial Pro Bowl candidate has missed seven of the first 12 games of 2017.

“It’s been really frustrating,” Slater said after practice on Thursday. “As a player, you want to play, you want to be out there on the field. But injuries are a part of the game and I think over the course of my career I’ve been relatively healthy, I’ve been blessed in that regard. This year, it just hasn’t been in the cards.”

Slater is just one of several Patriots who are trying to grind through injury at this time of the season. It can be a challenge, but Slater is proud of the fight his team has shown to get to this point with a 10-3 mark.

“We’ve shown a lot of toughness, I think, mentally and physically,” said Slater, who has been a regular presence on the sideline during games even though he’s been injured. “Obviously when you deal with injuries there’s a physical element to it, but mentally it takes a toll on you and I think as a team many of us have had to deal with that this season and I think guys have done the best they can in handling it.”

Steelers aim to throw a lot of bodies at Gronk

Few players have feasted on the Steelers like Rob Gronkowski. In five career games against Pittsburgh, Gronkowski has 30 catches for 496 yards and eight touchdowns. So what’s a team to do? Pittsburgh safety Mike Mitchell says the Steelers’ defense game plan will be to throw as many bodies as possible at the big tight end. “We’ve got several guys we’re going to try to throw (at him),” Mitchell told reporters Thursday. “It’s going to require coaches calling the right calls, it’s going be us executing everything they call to a T. There’s no real one real answer.” … Linebacker Jonathan Freeny, who was acquired by the Patriots earlier this month only to be placed on waivers on Wednesday, was claimed by the Saints Thursday. New Orleans cut former New England cornerback Sterling Moore to make room for Freeny.