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Shalise Manza Young asks Brandon Meriweather about leadership on the defense.
"What’s the definition of a leader?’’ Meriweather asked a reporter, who replied someone who takes charge and whom others follow. "I don’t know, I think James Sanders is a leader and he don’t say nothing. So just because you take charge that makes you a leader? Or that just makes you somebody who talks a lot?
"Personally I think a leader is somebody who goes out, don’t really say much, but does everything he’s supposed to, steps up when he’s supposed to, takes charge by his action, not by what he says. So [by] my definition of a leader, I think everyone on our team is a leader.’’
Andy Hart offers his Thursday AM practice 14 observations. Here are a couple of them:
During two-minute action late in practice Brady led his unit to a field goal, kicking things off with consecutive completions to a crossing Welker and Moss running an out. He followed with an out to Hernandez. The next pass to Welker was broken up by Butler. The drill concluded with Belichick calling for a third-and-10 situation from the 30 with the offense needing a field goal with just 23 seconds to play. Brady completed an out pattern to Hernandez to set up a 38-yard field goal.
Brady has spent a lot of time talking to Hernandez and tutoring him, and clearly hasn’t shied away from throwing him the ball in team drills. Not bad for a youngster when in a two-minute drill to be the only guy not named Moss or Welker to catch passes.
Mark Farinella describes one of the hits Welker took at practice.
Wes Welker was participating in the 11-on-11 drills for the first time, and he got a little wakeup call when, on a crossing pattern from right to left, he ran into a standing-still Jerod Mayo and bounced off him to the ground. Welker got right up, however. Welcome back, Wes.
TEAM TALK
- Paul Perillo offers his Thursday AM thoughts, noting who was hot (Devin McCourty), who was not (Two-minute offense) and the play of the day.
- Erik Scalavino looks at the young players auditioning for the role of starter at inside linebacker next to Jerod Mayo. Plus, news and notes from practice 15.
- Erik Scalavino recaps practice 15, noting it was moved to the practice bubble as a severe thunderstorm was moving in. Too bad there was no room for the fans.
- Patriots Today - Extra Points on Thursday's camp action. (2.11 min. video)
- Locker Room Uncut - Thursday thoughts after practice. (3.20 min. video)
- Patriots Today - One-on-one with Ninkovich. (2.19 min. video)
- Nick Caserio Thursday Press Conference (13.49 min. video) Plus Transcript.
LOCAL LINKS
- Karen Guregian details how she sees Randy Moss geared up for a monster season. He's easily one of the best players at camp and no one's noticed.
- Karen Guregian notes Torry Holt considered Randy Moss one of the greats before joining the Patriots, and that opinion has been enhanced by watching him up close and personal.
- Ian Rapoport posts the debate on leadership and ownership between Brandon Meriweather and a reporter yesterday.
- Mike Rodak notes that Corwin Brown has been making his presence felt with the team's renewed focus on developing the secondary.
- Ian Rapoport reports James Sanders is in a battle for a spot in the secondary.
- Mike Reiss predicts where the Patriots' rookies and second-year players could land on the roster.
- Mike Reiss wraps up the can't-miss key storylines from Day 8.
- Danny Picard presents some notes from the morning session: Welker gets hit, Brady gets mad, and more.
- Shalise Manza Young offers some quick hits from camp session 15. My crew and I left with the lightning and just before the monsoon.
- Shalise Manza Young recaps how Jerod Mayo welcomes Wes Welker back to 11-on-11 work in practice.
- Ian Rapoport tells us what happened at practice yesterday.
- Danny Picard looks at the use of Edelman in the backfield at practice.
- Karen Guregian notes Fred Taylor has had a severe case of the dropsies recently. Hopefully that nasty condition clears up soon.
- Mike Petraglia catches up with Fred Taylor, who still likes playing football 'A hell of a lot.'
- Mike Reiss notes Wes Welker took another step forward in his return by absorbing a couple of hits from Jerod Mayo.
- Chad Finn offers six encouraging signs for the Patriots.
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat. Lots of good insight here as usual.
- Pat Chung "I love special teams" was a guest on WEEI yesterday morning.
- Tully Banta-Cain "I respect any decision by Burgess" appeared on WEEI yesterday morning.
- Chris Gasper and Monique Walker talk about leadership on the Patriots defense and Brandon Meriweather provides his definition of being a leader. (4.17 min. video)
- Albert Breer's training camp tour, Day 5: Colts.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Take your [fantasy] pick: Moss or Andre Johnson?
- Tom Pedulla (USA Today) Patriots still see themselves as Super contenders; are they?
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) The harsh reality of NFL training camps.
- Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Colts' Manning not so distant from union. What? His "role" is getting the most money he can because his contract will set the bar for other QBs. Really putting himself on the line there.
- Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) Don't believe everything ESPN tells you.