But those film sessions also showed LaFell that progress was being made, trust was being built, a comfort level was being reached.

The two would often watch practice film together, and LaFell could see the technical points that needed polish. He might have been a yard or two off the spot where Brady wanted him to be, for example.

There were days during training camp when Brandon LaFell walked off the practice field frustrated, convinced his performance had been lousy. Almost every time, Tom Brady would seek out LaFell, telling the Patriots’ newest wide receiver it was not.

Gradually, LaFell felt confident that he’d contribute.


“No particular day, no particular game,” he said. “It was just over time, I started getting more reps in practice with the first team, Tom started finding me more, then came game time, and he started finding me more as the weeks went on.

“It didn’t click quickly, it took time. There were plenty of times in OTAs and at camp where I was frustrated, and I know Tom was frustrated with me. The timing wasn’t there like it was with [Julian Edelman] and [Danny] Amendola.

“We started clicking probably at the end of camp, and I was like, ‘Thank God.’ Right before the season started, no better time to start clicking. It took some time, but we started clicking, started getting a feel for each other better, and it’s been paying off.”

LaFell’s start with the Patriots, though, was barely noticeable: He was targeted six times in the season opener at Miami without a reception, then wasn’t targeted at all in the Week 2 win at Minnesota. There might have been whispers about LaFell from the periphery, but no self-doubt from the 28-year-old Houston native.

After four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, LaFell didn’t come to Foxborough thinking he had much of anything to prove.


“No, not really,” he said. “I always knew I was a good player. I can play football no matter what system I was in. I felt like I played good ball in Carolina, but it wasn’t as good as they wanted me to play.”

So LaFell became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the Patriots March 17, agreeing to a three-year, $9 million deal. It was part of a big week: The Patriots signed cornerback Brandon Browner on March 15, cornerback Darrelle Revis also on March 17, and re-signed Edelman on March 18. Without those four, where would the Patriots be?

“The moves that we made in the offseason, bringing in Revis, bringing in Browner, I knew those were moves made to win now, and I wanted to be a part of that,” LaFell said. “What made this place more appealing to me is being able to play with Tom.”

After the double-doughnut to start the season, LaFell has been a major part of the offense, and is expected to be one of Brady’s top targets Sunday, when the Patriots (9-2) put a seven-game win streak on the line against the Packers (8-3) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Beginning with the third game of the season (which was also the home opener), LaFell has been one of Brady’s most productive threats. In the past nine games, LaFell has 48 catches for 674 yards and five touchdowns. Over that nine-game span, only Edelman (58) and Rob Gronkowski (50) have more receptions, and only Gronkowski (740) has more yards. But not by much.


“I think he’s just a guy who has embraced his role, whatever it may be on a week-to-week basis, has worked as hard as he can to get himself ready to be productive in that role, and when he’s had his opportunities, he’s made the most of them,” said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

LaFell has carved out a niche in the offense. His size (6 feet 2 inches, 210 pounds) makes him a dependable option on possession routes such as slants and curls, but he’s also quick enough to burn press defenders deep. He has taken both kinds of receptions for touchdowns.

If the last nine games are any indication, LaFell will have a milestone day at Green Bay. His next reception will be his 49th of the season, which would tie his career high (set with the Panthers in 2013). He needs 3 yards to equal the 677 personal best he had for the Panthers in 2012, and his next touchdown will surpass the five he caught for Carolina last season.

LaFell is proving to be worth the investment.

“He came in here in the spring with a great attitude,” said McDaniels. “He’s a professional, does a great job of being available for us to work before or after practice, whatever it may be. He wants to learn and wants to get better, and you can see that with his preparation each week.


“And he’s really, really tough. He’s a tough guy who does a lot of things well at the position. He’s tough to bring down once he has the ball. He’s a physical route runner. He’s got strong hands. He’s willing to block and do those types of things that sometimes go unnoticed. He’s a very unselfish player.”

LaFell is not as physical as Gronkowski, not as shifty as Edelman. He’s probably not as valuable to the offense as either of those two. And that’s OK.

LaFell knows what he is, and likes what he brings. He also knows now where and how he fits, which means he’s come a long way from those reassuring training camp pick-me-ups from Brady a few months back.

“The only thing I bring is another option, another playmaker,” LaFell said. “You look at it, they had everything they needed last year. They had big receivers in [Aaron] Dobson, they had smaller, faster receivers in Edelman and Amendola, and KT [Kenbrell Thompkins], he brought a lot to the table, too.

“The only thing I did was add to what they already had. I just became another weapon for Tom.”

Week 13: Packers 26, Patriots 21

Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeWhitmer.