MANDATORY MINI-CAMP, Day 1
Andy Hart reports from Gillette after watching the team practice.
Terrence Wheatley had a solid workout, finding his way to the ball on a couple different occasions. The second-year former second-round pick had an interception in one team drill that may have ended in a pick-six score in game action. Later in the workout he had great positioning on a deep ball and probably should have hauled in another pick but at least battled for the ball and knocked it away.
Christopher Price shares his observations from camp.
It seemed like — and [maybe] it’s just me — but there was a lot of work done in the hurry-up offense, both in individual groups (among backs and wide receivers) and as a collective offensive unit. Tom Brady appeared to be moving fluidly and without problems, and I counted at least two times where he didn’t see a receiver open downfield and decided to tuck the ball away and start running. In that same hurry up series, Randy Moss made a nice catch over the middle when Shawn Springs slipped and fell.
Bell got her first glimpse since Brady's left knee crumpled last year on opening day. What she saw exceeded her already high expectations.
"The thing that's most impressive to me is how fluid he looks, that three-step drop, his motion, transitioning from the drop to throwing across his body," said Bell, a physical therapist who specializes in athletes and performing artists. "There's no hitch. There's no halting. It's all very smooth."
"There's a lot of rotation going through that lower extremity," Bell said. "Your knee bears a lot of stress when you put that kind of rotation on the leg because the hip rotates easily, the ankle rotates easily, but the knee as a structure isn't meant to rotate a lot. Therefore, it's going to be placed under a lot stress.
"He didn't exhibit any ill effects from that at all. He looked very, very smooth. He's throwing in a normal way. He's throwing across his body, stepping into it, planting his leg."
MINI-CAMP - Day 1
- Mike Reiss offers five observations from yesterday's mini-camp.
- Erik Scalavino reports Wilfork was present for mini-camp; Wednesday practice notes.
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of Bill Belichick's Q & A with the media.
- Shalise Manza Young lists the 13 players not spotted in attendence.
- Mike Reiss breaks down the tight end position following yesterday's practice. (1.22 min. video)
VINCE WILFORK
- Michael Hurley gives us The skinny on Vinny: Wilfork too valuable to let go.
- Chris Gasper recaps Wilfork's arrival at mini-camp, and feels it doesn't seem as if the sides are closer to any agreement. (2.14 min. video)
- Shalise Manza Young notes Vince Wilfork looked fit on the field and was warmly greeted by teammates.
- Chris Gasper reports on Wilfork's presence at camp.
- Karen Guregian notes Wilfork was enjoying himself on the field, joking around with his teammates, and said it was 50-50 on how the negotiations could go.
- John Tomase says Wilfork is doing the right thing by attending mandatory mini-camp, and the Patriots should do everything in their power to extend Wilfork's contract.
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Mark Farinella feels Vince Wilfork had two choices: Make a point and lose up to $500,000 of his salary, or swallow his pride and possibly gain a few important allies in the process. Wilfork chose wisely.
- Mike Reiss says both owner Robert Kraft and Wilfork know these negotiations are not personal.
- Christopher Price offers the complete transcript of Vince Wilfork's Q & A with the press. Part I and Part II.
LOCAL SHOTS
- Karen Guregian reports Adalius Thomas believes he's on course to be at full strength for training camp at the end of July, seven months removed from surgery to repair his severely broken right forearm.
- John Beattie notes Tully Banta-Cain seeks football revival in New England after quiet time on the 49ers.
- Mike Petraglia offers Belichick's respectful response to being told Rex Ryan wasn't planning on kissing his rings. Who's supposed to be the arrogant one again?
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Mike Reiss reports Jim Nance was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame.
LONG SHOTS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Kraft lauds Jim Nance, expresses Wilfork optimism.
- Bob Glauber (Newsday) Bill Belichick won't respond to trash talk. Funny, ESPN reported this "story" as a "War of Words" between Belichick and Ryan. I always assumed it took two sides for a war.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) More trash talk than a rubbish symposium. Ryan sure likes to throw it around.
- Mike Dussault (Bleacher Report) The New England Patriots have reason to fear Rex Ryan's Defense. Ryan is just whistling past the graveyard.
- Shutdown Corner (Yahoo! Sports) Offseason progress reports: New England Patriots.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Brady or Merriman: Which returning superstar will have the bigger impact for his team? ESPN's Marcellus Wiley and Mark Schlereth debate (1.50 min. video).
- Rick Gosselin (Dallas News) Patriots hope to stake claim as NFL's all-time best. Here is Gosselin's NFL off-season rankings, with the Patriots at number 1.
- WhatIfSports 2009 AFC East Predictions and Projections.
- Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) Top 99 players for 2009. Rothlisberger 3rd, Brady 2nd, Manning 1st.
- NFL.com Top Ten clutch quarterbacks in NFL history. Here is the video showing Tom Brady at number 3. Peyton left out.
- Neil Best (Newsday) ESPN officially hires Adam Schefter from NFL Network.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) There's more than one way to skin a wildcat. Prisco hates this gimmick.
- Ross Tucker (SI) Small wonder: Success of rookie wide receivers trending downward.
- Len Pasquarelli (ESPN) Pasquarelli writes about Rodney Harrison and other possible members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2014.
- ESPN Video: Is Rodney Harrison a Hall of Famer?
- Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) Predicts a Chargers/Giants 2010 Super Bowl and explains why. Sort of.
- Adrian Hasenmayer (Fox Sports) Who's the next Manning or Brady?
- Kenny Mayne (ESPN Video) Kenny Mayne spends the entire day communicating only via Twitter. First new episode of the season. (2.40 min.)