TEAM TALK
- Patriots sign OL Ben Braden and TEs Paul Butler and Alex Ellis.
- Mike Dussault’s Unfiltered Notebook 8/17: Pads bring out the energy; The offensive and defensive lines especially seemed to embrace the chance to battle each other, with extended work on the running game in 11-on-11’s; More.
- Paul Perillo’s Training camp blogservations 8/17: Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead and undrafted rookie J.J. Taylor taking the majority of the reps in the running game; More.
- Practice highlights from Monday. (34 second video)
- Training Camp Today: Megan O’Brien reports on the first team practice in pads. (4.03 min. video)
- Angelique Fiske reports Bill Belichick and Brad Stevens praise one another ahead of the Celtics playoff series.
- Video Conferences: Bill Belichick (11.10 min. video) - Joejuan Williams (5 min. video) - Stephon Gilmore (11.58 min. video) - Cody Davis (4.03 min. video) - Adam Butler (6.18 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Evan Lazar’s Patriots Camp Notebook: QBs take equal reps, Rookies heavily involved in Day 1. /Good summary, broken down by position.
- Andrew Callahan recaps Monday’s practice: Rookies flash in physical practice, Brian Hoyer drops a bomb; Player of the day; QB passing stats; More.
- Doug Kyed’s Patriots Practice Notes: Multiple rookies stand out during first day in pads.
- Phil Perry’s training camp notes: Cam Newton brings the energy on first day in pads
- Andrew Callahan writes an interesting description of Josh McDaniels coaching up Cam Newton, why Stidham is ahead of him (at this brief moment) while Brian Hoyer runs a two-minute drill the way it should be run. /Good feel for how Newton is being brought up to speed in the system.
- Doug Kyed details how the QB competition looks after Monday’s first session in pads in front of reporters. The clear number one is anything but clear at the moment.
- Phil Perry gives his take on the QB competition after yesterday: Newton looks healthy, splits reps with Stidham.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) The Patriots weren’t lying: The QB competition is, indeed, wide open.
- Tom E. Curran finds it surreal to see the Patriots open training camp without Tom Brady.
- Nicole Yang has a good read on how Mohamed Sanu ‘attacked the offseason’ with his live-in trainer Drew Lieberman. “I really wanted to get better and invest more in myself and in my game.”
- Karen Guregian’s Patriots Notebook: Chase Winovich is one of several in the 2019 draft class who need to make the second-year leap; Patrick Chung’s departure sparks competition; More.
- Chris Mason offers 10 observations from Monday: Bill Belichick doesn’t tip his hand in QB competition; Devin Ross had the highlight of the day; More.
- Luke Ervin (PatsBuzz) Five predictions for Patriots’ 2020 training camp: Damien Harris earns himself a bigger role.
- Doug Kyed focuses on the Patriots’ safety competition taking shape at camp: Adrian Phillips, Terrence Brooks and Kyle Dugger are competing for the starting strong safety position next to free safety Devin McCourty.
- Michael Hurley calls Stephon Gilmore the world’s most consistent man and adds he doesn’t sound like he’s spent too much time soaking in the glow of all the acclaim after his stellar 2019 season.
- Karen Guregian believes Stephon Gilmore deserves a raise, given the Patriots unexpected cap windfall.
- Kyle Hightower (AP) coming off career season, Stephon Gilmore faces new challenge. New England will need to count on Gilmore even more in 2020.
- Zack Cox notes Cody Davis wants to become the Patriots’ latest special teams standout.
- Alex Barth passes along a report that the Patriots signed former Jets guard Ben Braden.
- Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Best of social media: Sights and sounds from Week Two of training camp.
- Nicole Yang notes according to Bill Belichick, his players are experimenting with using face shields as an optional piece of equipment they can use.
- Zack Cox reports Bill Belichick explains why he spoke to the Celtics ahead of their playoff series vs. 76ers.
- Dakota Randall posts the Patriots live training camp video from Monday, with nearly a half hour of footage.
- Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Thomas ‘Murph’ Murphy discuss the competition at WR, the rookie learning curve, and the need for more than one day of padded practices to evaluate and anoint the next starting QB in New England. (48 min.) /More than one day? That’s crazy talk.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Brian Hoyer: Cam Newton bringing out best in all Patriots QBs.
- Mike Giardi (NFL.com) ‘You couldn’t really tell’ who was Pats QB1 in first padded practice. (5.10 min. video)
- NFL Nation (ESPN) Best of Monday at NFL training camps: Tua gets to work, early injuries and birthday wishes for Jon Gruden.
- Albert Breer (SI) Monday Afternoon QB: Reading the QB tea leaves in New England; Plus, a look at two more early-entry draft prospects, Kyle Shanahan’s excitement over a rookie receiver, a historic 2011 draft class; More.
- Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) The Debrief: NFL training camp 2020, 13 early storylines to watch.
- Terez Paylor (Yahoo! Sports) Welcome to the NFL in 2020, the year of ‘next man up’.
- Andrew Brandt (SI) Business of Football: Football’s economic impact on college towns, college players and the NFL; A look at the ‘real’ value of the Kittle and Kelce contracts; The Chiefs expose the ‘cap myth’; More.
- Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Patriots notebook: Bill Belichick uses ‘on to Cincinnati’ philosophy with Bengals videotaping incident.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick praises Patriots’ handling of COVID-19 protocols.
- Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Falcons release quarterback Danny Etling.
EXTRACURRICULAR
- Todd McShay (ESPN) An expanded pre-draft showcase: Suggestion for helping 2021 NFL draft prospects.
- Grant Gordon (NFL.com) Melvin Ingram sitting out practices due to contract issues.