LSU's LaFell gets high compliments from the usually-begrudging Belichick

" Bill Belichick highlighted it during a film breakdown on Patriots.com, pointing out LaFell and saying, “One of the things you really love about LaFell -- I love coaching him -- is this type of play right (here). He sees [Darian] Stewart coming over to make the tackle, he has got [Rashaan] Melvin, and he just comes off and nicks him so Danny can get into the end zone. A heads-up play, a smart play, a play that, honestly, most receivers aren't really looking to make."

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“I think we definitely saw that from competing against him and following him through his career, but when you have a player every day and you’re with him every day, every week throughout the course of the season, you know him a lot better and can appreciate that. But I would say that Brandon’s been like that. He’s really impressive. He’s a tough kid, competes very well. We’ve seen that since back into last spring, all the way through training camp, all the way through the season. He comes to work every day and he’s tough. He can play through the bumps and bruises. He blocks well, plays in the kicking game. I love his toughness.”

As one who listens to all of BB's post-game and weekly press conferences, and has for years, I can tell you he has a strong tendency to temper his public enthusiasm for individual players and their performances. It's usually a grunt and a "he did okay" whenever asked about any player's performance, including the team's stars.

LaFell dropped only 2 balls this year in 118 targets.