FOXBOROUGH — In the early days of training camp, Jerod Mayo hyped Brenden Schooler as “an All-Pro type of special teams player.”
Six games into the season, Schooler has lived up to that lofty billing, and he’s been rewarded with a new contract accordingly. The standout gunner leads the AFC with six special teams tackles, he’s blocked a punt, and Schooler inked a 3-year, $9 million extension last week. The contract has $3.6 million guaranteed, could be worth up to $10.5 million, and Schooler’s parents were in the room with him when he signed the life-changing deal on Friday.
“I’ve dreamed about this stuff when I was a little kid,” Schooler said. “So to be able to go through with it and finally put the pen to paper, it was a big milestone for me in my life.”
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
Schooler’s parents stuck around for last week’s game against Houston and saw their son dust a double team to make a tackle on a Bryce Baringer punt. Though two Texans lined up across for Schooler at the left gunner spot, neither was able to get a hand on him as he darted around them. Like legendary special teams ace Matthew Slater before him, teams are game-planning for Schooler and he’s still managing to make plays.
“I think I’m playing well. I’m seeing the game well,” Schooler said. “And I’ve got great, great teammates that help me get prepared during the week, give me great looks. I’ve got great coaches that are on me 24/7. They demand greatness out of me. And I demand it out of myself. So I think that’s just amplifying my game.”
When asked why he wanted to stick around in New England, Slater was one of the people he pointed to.
“I just like the environment. I get to work with Matthew every day and (special teams coaches Jeremy Springer and Tom Quinn), those are awesome guys,” Schooler said. “I’m big fans of everyone on the team. We mesh well. I feel like I’m valued here and I can do a lot of work in the community and immerse myself into that.
“So it feels like a second home for me here right now,” the Southern California native added. “It was no-brainer to stay.”
