Shalise Manza Young reports safety Patrick Chung acknowledges that it was his own fault his playing time declined last year.
"Honestly, I wasn’t disappointed [seeing his playing time diminish],’’ he said. "I have to know what I’m doing. Everyone has to know what they’re doing to be able to go on the field. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re not going to be on the field. So that was all my fault. Wasn’t disappointed, wasn’t mad. It’s my fault. I have to take responsibility for that. It’s just knowing your stuff. If you know your stuff, you’re going to play.’’
Chung spent some time this offseason at home in California, but mostly was at Gillette Stadium, diligently working on all facets of his game, on the field and off. "You can’t work on just one — if you’re smart you have to get there fast, and if you’re fast you have to be smart,’’ Chung said, adding that if he spent all his time in the film room, opponents would be getting stronger and quicker; if he was only working on getting stronger and quicker, others would be in the film room.
"You’ve got to learn to relax, learn to slow down, and it all comes from knowing your playbook,’’ he said. "If you don’t know your playbook, then you’re going to be tense. If you know your playbook, it’s just like you’re playing football.’’
Erik Scalavino talks about media day at yesterday's OTAs noting Welker wasn't surprised at how soon he was able to get back on the practice field.
"I don’t know what my expectations were. I’ve been trying to push it since day one and get back as early as possible. Just getting out there with my teammates, and trying to get as many reps as I can to get a little muscle memory. I feel pretty good out there … I still need to get back in the groove of playing ball and things like that, but overall, it’s feeling all right right now."
"I don’t look at it as over-doing it, I look at it as pushing myself. I always feel confident, so, I wouldn’t be out there if I didn’t feel confident. I know that my coaches and teammates have confidence in me just like I do them. We’re just going to move along as quickly as we can."
Andy Hart offers his own observations of yesterday's practice.
During some down time when he wasn’t involved with a team drill on offense, Torry Holt could be seen showing off his headstand skills for fellow aged wide receiver David Patten. Holt seems to be a very demonstrative guy who likes to have fun engaging his teammates on the field. It may be rubbing off, as later in practice Julian Edelman was seen doing handstand pushups. Not sure this is exactly what we all had in mind when we talked about Holt serving as a mentor to the young receivers, but who knows.
TEAM TALK
- Patriots Today - Chung, Mayo and more. (1.45 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Former first-rounders take leading role. (2.41 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Welker chats after practice. (4.54 min. video)
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Patriots Today - Welker back at it for OTAs. (1.07 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Shalise Manza Young runs down some of the happenings at Monday morning's on-field session for the Patriots.
- Mike Reiss offers his observations from the Patriots Monday OTA at Gillette.
- Christopher Price adds his own quick observations on Monday's OTA.
- Shalise Manza Young says Welker isn't buying into the frenzy created when the media showed fans the clips of him participating in drills last week.
- Tom E. Curran reports Wes Welker is having a ridiculously speedy recovery, with his movements speaking louder than his cautionary words.
- Mike Reiss says it wouldn't be surprising if the Patriots relieve Welker of his punt-return duties, and spotlights some possible options.
- Christopher Price offers the transcript of Wes Welker's Q&A with the media.
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Ian Rapoport notes Laurence Maroney sees it as a vote of confidence from Belichick that no other running backs were selected in the draft. "Man, we got about 30."
- Albert Breer reports second-year WR Brandon Tate relates his own experiences to Wes Welker's in coming back from ACL surgery.
- Christopher Price notes Tully Banta-Cain led the Patriots with 10 sacks in 2009 and aims to 'keep improving, building and trying to get better overall.'
- Ian Rapoport says Tully Banta-Cain feels pressure to contribute every year, not just after signing a new contract.
- Mike Reiss looks at where the 2009 Patriots draft class stands on the roster one year later.
- Albert Breer wonders if Darius Butler is starting to get that "step" he was missing last year, that would take his game to another level.
- Tom E. Curran writes Darius Butler, Devin McCourty and veteran Leigh Bodden could prove a solid trio of cover guys.
- Karen Guregian compares Patrick Chung this year to last and sees a completely different player - more decisive, taking charge, more confident in where he's going and what he's doing.
- Mike Reiss put together a Patrick Chung playtime chart, noting he played in approximately 20 percent of the team's defensive snaps last season.
- Tony Massarotti lays out both sides of the Brady-Patriots contract negotiations.
- Ian Rapoport points out that the Colts with Peyton Manning are in the same boat as the Patriots with Tom Brady. Bill Polian told the AP, "None of us know what’s involved and what the system will be like going forward. When that’s resolved, those other situations will resolve themselves.”
- Albert Breer points out the Madden 2010 ratings have the Jets as the AFC East favorite.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) No division trickier than the AFC East. The NFL Network recently rated the top 10 gadget plays of all-time.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) What AFC East teams had the most keepers?
- Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune) Patriots trying to avoid slide.
- Vinny DiTrani (NJ Bergen Record) Breaking down the AFC East in the countdown to training camp.
- Joseph Plambeck (NY Times) SB Nation, which is making a push into regional sports, has created a network of sites where like-minded fans can gather.
- Don Banks (SI) Upon further review: Recalling how NFL adopted, refined instant replay.
- BaltimoreRavens.com The NFL has canceled the last week of the Ravens' OTAs after determining that they violated the rules concerning the intensity and tempo of drills conducted, and the length of time spent by players at the club’s facility on those days.
- Steve Wyche (NFL.com) Rankings: Things seem to line up for the Chargers in 2010. Patriots ("could be fearsome") ranked 11th.