Bill Belichick Press Conference transcript.
Q: Coach Smith talked about five situations that you wanted to get through. What are your objectives here in the joint practices?
BB: As I said, everything that we do, we’re just trying to get better as a football team – offense, defense, special teams. We have first, second, third-down situations, red area, special teams. We’re not doing everything. We’re not doing goal line. We’re not doing two minute, but the situations that we’re working on I think will benefit us. In one day, it’s just hard to get everything in, so we wanted to concentrate in certain areas and feel like we’re making progress in those. Instead of just doing one of everything, we’ll put a little more time into third down and red area stuff.
Tom Brady meets with the media following practice.
(On why he works so hard on every rep)
TB: If the quarterback won't do it, then who will do it? I think that's how I always think about it. If it's like, ‘hey guys, that's all right. It was a [bad] play, but we'll get the next one.' That's not the way it works. The first rep of a drill is always the most important because you never get it back. It always sets the tempo and the timing. You don't go out and throw interceptions. You don't walk around. You don't jog through unless it's a jog through period. We're coming out here and competing. We came a long way for these practices. May as well come out and play our best.
Erik Scalavino offers some Tuesday practice notes from Georgia, spotlighting Randy Moss.
Randy Moss made some ridiculous catches on the other end of Tom Brady passes during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 activity. Working against a scout team early in practice, Brady went deep to Moss on the right practice field, closest to the fans. Moss separated from the corner and safety trying to guard him and made the catch about 50 yards downfield inside the red zone. Later, in 7-on-7, Brady found Moss down the right sideline in spectacular fashion. Moss was covered, perhaps illegally, by Falcons defensive back Brian Williams, who appeared to be holding Moss’ left arm. As the ball floated toward Moss, he extended his right arm, the nose of the ball falling right into Moss’ palm and staying there. Moss then effortlessly pulled the ball to his body, while Williams still held his other arm, and kept both feet in bounds to complete the catch.
The play of the morning came when ones took on ones – the Patriots offense against the Falcons defense. From under center, Brady took the snap and faked an end-around to Welker, which the Falcons seemed to read nicely. But the Atlanta secondary couldn’t contain Moss, who again found separation some 50 yards downfield and Brady tossed a perfect pass into his receiver’s waiting arms.
TEAM TALK
- Fred Kirsch reports from the Patriots first practice with the Falcons.
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Erik Scalavino offers some news and notes from New England's joint practices session with the Atlanta Falcons. Morning edition, Afternoon edition.
- Fred Kirsch notes Vince Wilfork is in the middle of the Patriots transitioning defense.
- Vince Wilfork addresses the media after practice.
- Ask PFW: Moving along.
- Patriots Today - Recap of joint sessions in Atlanta. (3.22 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Brady after first Falcons practice. (6.52 min. video) Plus Transcript.
- Patriots Today - Belichick's thoughts from Atlanta. (8.41 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Monique Walker catches Tom Brady as he talks about intensity, the running game and his health.
- Ian Rapoport says there's no mistaking the fact that Tom Brady is in charge of the offense. He impresses Falcons head coach Mike Smith.
- Monique Walker writes Tom Brady is okay with his role as a director.
- Tom E. Curran notes Brady's patience is paper-thin at camp. He explains why. (1.16 min. video)
- Karen Guregian sees third year Falcons QB Matt Ryan on a similar path to Tom Brady.
- Mike Reiss focuses on Randy Moss who has continued to amaze.
- Christopher Price notes Bill Belichick doesn't really expect a whole lot of carryover from last week's joint practices with the Saints that would be useful this week in Atlanta.
- Mike Reiss sets the scene from Atlanta Falcons headquarters on the day the New England Patriots are in town for joint practices. (1.05 min. video)
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Mike Rodak details the scene in Flowery Branch, Georgia, where the Patriots and Falcons practiced together Tuesday morning and afternoon.
- Mike Reiss wraps up the key storylines from Tuesday.
- Tom E. Curran reports the Patriots secondary will need to be a lot better than it looked at Tuesday morning's practice.
- Tom E. Curran noted Brady was frustrated with the red zone passing session that had Fred Taylor, Brandon Tate and Taylor Price all dropping balls.
- Shalise Manza Young lists some quick hits from camp practices No. 26 and No. 27.
- Mike Rodak offers his observations from practice No. 27, putting the focus on Brady throwing an interception and Fred Taylor dropping a pass.
- Ian Rapoport shares his tweets from Session 1 and Session 2.
- Tom E. Curran says Randy Moss "wouldn't pee on us [media members] if we were on fire" but he's a terrific teammate. (1.36 min. video)
- Albert Breer sees the Falcons as a team that's ascending.
- Tom E. Curran hears Tom Brady explain why the ground game will be key in 2010.
- Kirk Minihane notes Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez sees a future for Pats rookie tight ends.
- Mike Reiss reports Vince Wilfork had Derrick Burgess' back as he returned to practice Friday.
- Christopher Price reports Vince Wilfork carries on, without familiar faces around him.
- Kirk Minihane offers the complete transcript of Stephen Neal's session with the media.
- Albert Breer's Training Camp Tour: Falcons.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag. Terrific insight here as usual.
- Christopher Price watches as the Patriots' 53-man roster starts to come into sharper focus and lists his players who are still on the bubble.
- WEEI offers some highlights of former BC and NFL player Pete Kendall's appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show. He thinks Mankins will sit out the season.
- Christopher Price posts an 'Atlanta Falcons Rise Up' promo for the 2010 NFL season. Jules Winnfield, gospel style. Pretty cool actually. (1.04 min. video)
- Ian Rapoport gives credit to Randy Moss for sponsoring a back-to-school backpack give-away in West Virginia where over 750 children showed up to receive bags filled with school supplies.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Tom Brady keeps secrets to success secret.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady is getting upset.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Gonzalez has advice for Patriots TEs.
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Inside the Revis talks. A look behind the negotiations.
- Clifton Brown (Sporting News) Hall of Fame DBs debate Revis' holdout.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Tedy Bruschi: 'I've lost respect' for Vikings.
- Don Banks (SI) Backup QBs don't inspire much confidence in Week 1.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB Tuesday Edition: Roethlisberger relies on his actions as he rehabs image.
- Damon Hack (SI) Latest Favre drama continues for Vikes as QB lands in Minnesota. This is just getting creepy.
VIEW FROM ATLANTA
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photo Gallery: Falcons-Patriots combined practice.
- D. Orlando Ledbetter (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Quick look at the Falcons vs. Patriots practice.
- D. Orlando Ledbetter (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Practice report: Secondary faces Brady to Moss barrage.
- Jeff Schultz (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Falcons, Pats put aside NFL's secret society (for limited time). Yeesh, this guy made sure to use every spy-gate and camera reference he could find.