FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Behren Morton's performance in the preseason game is certainly one to remember. And it's not just because of how he did in the pocket.
Instead, the rookie quarterback was tasked with returning to a position he had not played since high school.
“Well, I just assume all the quarterbacks, they do their little punt thing and see how close they can get it to the goal line, so I figured he could punt,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel explained after the game. “Bryce wasn’t feeling great after the first two punts, so I figured instead of risking anything there with Bryce or with Andy, that Behren was able to get us out of there.”
Morton expected to hear his name called at the start of the second half, but instead Vrabel approached him earlier and told him he would have to punt if the team couldn't finish the drive.
"Coach came up to me and just said that if we got a punt on this drive, you’re going out there. I was pretty cold at the time, so I went over to the net, hit a few balls," Morton recalled. "I asked Andy [Borregales] how far do I need to stand back – he told me 15 yards, catch the ball and just put it down there. Coach [Jeremy] Springer did a good job of lining me up. He said just hit it middle, and then we’ll make corrections as we go."
Morton certainly rose to the challenge, completing three punts for 133 yards.
But, while his punting expertise might have come as a surprise to some, it was something the rookie quarterback did show teams during his pro day, sharing that he punted and kicked that day as he was Texas Tech's backup punter during his time there as well.
"I did in high school and I loved it. Loved to punt and kick. I went to college, was always the backup in case anything ever happened," he said. "But it never hit me in practice for my five years at Tech. Then for my pro day, I actually punted and kicked in my pro day just to showcase that I could do that, and so that’s obviously why they had an idea that I could do it. Then tonight, the opportunity came and I’m trying to make the most of it.
"Tonight was fun. I wasn’t expecting to punt. It’s been since high school since I’ve punted, so you just got to make the most of your opportunity when it comes," Morton added. "So, I tried to do that tonight."
Morton also credited Baringer with helping him out in this unique moment.
"He was great. Tremendous guy. He helped me out when I needed it," Morton explained. "Coach Springer was singing the praises of doing a good job. But when the opportunity comes, I’m just trying to make the most of it."
But that wasn't all. He also led an impressive game-winning touchdown drive that was capped off by a 37-yard touchdown pass from Morton to rookie wide receiver Nick DeGennaro.
"It was a long drive,” Morton said. “It was hats off to the offensive line, keeping me safe, keeping me upright. Nick had a great release, kind of avoided the corner, looked like Cover 2, so kind of put it on the line, where it was him or nobody, didn’t want to put in a dangerous way, but Nick made a great play.”
Morton finished Saturday's game 13-of-17 for 129 yards with one touchdown.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: QB by trade, punter by necessity: Patriots' Behren Morton steps up
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