NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. believes New England Patriots coaches deserve some blame for holding rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk back during his first year with the team.
The Patriots skipped over Ladd McConkey and used a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to select Polk, who only mustered 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Polk struggled with dropped passes and creating separation against opposing defenses. Things got so bad that he was barely even targeted in the second half of the season.
Smith believes that the Patriots’ coaches, specifically Tiquan Underwood, did not put Polk in a position to succeed. He questioned the former staff members and former assistant wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood in particular in Polk’s poor development at the NFL level.
“That explains a lot now,” Smith said on the “89 Podcast.” “I’m stuck on the [Tiquan] Underwood. Now I’m like, ‘Oh I see where he got that from.’ Oh, googly moogly, my bad. Not his fault for real. …That’s like trying to have somebody with diabetes to tell you to stop eating sweets. Come on now. That’s like an elephant trying to teach a dolphin to swim.”
Steve Smith Sr. says the #Patriots’ WRs coaches set back Ja’Lynn Polk:
“That explains a lot now. I’m stuck on the [Tiquan] Underwood. Now I’m like, ‘Oh I see where he got that from.’ My bad. Not his fault for real…
That’s like a elephant trying to teach a dolphin to swim!”… pic.twitter.com/8crHz4piYx
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 21, 2025
It’s worth noting that Smith indicated he meant no disrespect towards Underwood. Even still, it’s clear that he believes Polk got a raw deal in a tough season overall for the Patriots offense.