Day 2 of Patriots Training Camp. Practice didn't kick in until around 2 p.m., although most players were on the field between 1:30 and 1:50. Tom Brady didn't pull on his jersey until nearly 2 causing a ripple of concern (at least with me) that he was elsewhere.
WEATHER
Overcast for the most part at the start of practice with some breaks of sun later. It was muggy again, temperatures again in the mid-80s. There were a few sprinkles at one point but no rain.
WHAT THEY WORE
They wore Nike practice jerseys - white for the offense, blue for the defense. Again. Same as yesterday. No full pads yet, although teams are allowed to go full pads once a day and also have a walkthrough with no contact.
WHAT THEY DID
Started off with some light stuff at 1:30 until everyone dribbed and drabbed out there. Why doesn't everyone come out at once? My suspicion is that there are meetings, high-level X-ing and O-ing going on, checking release points and hand placement. I would be very disappointed to find that Tom Brady was in the locker room trying to send out a hit on those photographers who got the latest picture of him cavorting near water. Once everyone was out there, the corners and wideouts worked on jams and releases respectively. The DBs were being shown how to funnel their men to help with their jams. The receivers did some catching drills in which a towel was thrown into their line of vision as the ball arrived. There was a lot of special teams punt work done. Most of it stressed coverage. There was also 7-on-7, 5-on-5 using half the field and 11-on-11 followed by field goals at the end. And full field sprints.
WHO'S HOT
Tom Brady went 25 for 28 on Friday after going 26 for 29 on Thursday. (editors note: Paoletti's in charge of Brady stat-keeping and she made a weird face that said, "I might have missed one..." There will be consequences). Julian Edelman looked outstanding in some of his 1-on-1 drills. He usually does. Aaron Hernandez also had a solid day. And Jerod Mayo has been on the field almost non-stop for the defense through the first two days.
WHO'S NOT
Free agent fullback Spencer Larsen didn't look good. A few drops offensively. And the reporter who asked Rob Gronkowski whether Gronk's ankle felt OK FOUR FREAKING DIFFERENT WAYS at the start of the group interview, basically ruining the easily spooked Gronk for the rest of the interview. That guy wasn't so hot either.
WHAT WE SAW
Tom Brady was wearing Under Armour cleats with big red laces. Again. Robert Kraft came out to the field and backslapped. Again. This time with Hernandez and Deion Branch. Kraft was wearing what appeared to be skinny jeans and a black polo with his collar popped. Hey, don't shoot the messenger, here.
New England Patriots
WHAT THEY SAID
"What difference does it make? Do we have any football questions here?" - Bill Belichick when asked if he saw pictures of Tom Brady cliff diving.