New England Patriots

Terrelle Pryor: 'I really thought I was going to be a Patriot' last season

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:04 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Terrelle Pryor has emerged as the Browns’ best offensive player, and he’ll likely remain such with Corey Coleman injured and Josh Gordon putting his NFL career on hold. Last week, he made history with his versatility, playing quarterback, wide receiver and even safety for a play.

The Browns look like they’ve finally figured out how to make the most of his skill set, but they’re lucky to have him on the roster.

Back in 2015, Cleveland cut Pryor. He made the regular season roster despite injuring his hamstring in training camp, but the team opted to part ways a few days into the season. Eventually, the Browns re-signed him, and he’s made the most of the opportunity since then.

However, for Pryor, he believed Bill Belichick nearly took a flier on him and made him a Patriot.

"I really thought I was going to be a Patriot,'' Pryor said, via Cleveland.com. "I know Bill Belichick really liked me. I had a great workout for them and everything went really well. I really thought he was going to sign me.''

Pryor worked out for the Patriots after he was cut by the Browns, but there was one thing preventing him from being signed – the same thing that led Cleveland to sever ties: his hamstring.

The quarterback-turned-receiver said Belichick didn’t sign him “because he just wasn't sure my hamstring was 100 percent healed.''

Next week, Pryor will get to show Belichick what he missed out on as the Browns will host the Patriots in Week 5. With Belichick’s prowess for turning fringe players into great ones, and the “phenomenal” workout that Pryor had, it’s surprising the Patriots didn’t take a chance on him a year ago.

He doesn’t need past adversity to give him added motivation, though.

"Me personally, I don't need to fuel the fire,'' he said. "Naturally as a competitor, it's just beating the guy in front of me and making plays and hearing those loud cheers. That's what drives me, you know? That's why I play the game. That's why I love the game."