What a busy day, lots going on today with the team not taking the field until 6:30 p.m. tonight as they hold a special practice session at Gillette Stadium for all the season ticket holders. Team president Jonathan Kraft told the crowd before practice “it’s going to be a special season.”
So let’s start with some workouts. The team worked out DE Raheem Brock today and he said on his twitter account that it went well and now “it’s decisions, decisions, decisions.” Brock was one of the top pass rushers in the league last season in Seattle as 60% of the snaps he played led to quarterback pressures.
The team also worked out DE/OLB Quentin Moses today and there’s been no official word from the team on either workout. Moses previously played for Miami.
Earlier in the week the Patriots worked out former Chicago DT Tommie Harris, he has signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Former Patriots DL Ty Warren visited a few places since being cut and the Texas native selected Denver as his landing spot signing a two-year $10 million contract with the Broncos. Also former New England S Jarrad Page has moved on he signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles.
While we are on potential moves, the other day the New York Giants told DE Osi Umenyiora and his agent they could try to find a trade on their own and if the Giants liked it they would do it. Supposedly the team was looking for a 1st round draft pick in return but the five teams who are interested, including the Patriots, have balked at the price. Now this afternoon comes word that the Giants have pulled Umenyiora off the block. In fact he was seen in Giants camp today riding the exercise bike.
Would the Patriots really go for Umenyiora? A league official said they were just doing the “due diligence” but that seems like a high price to pay especially for a guy who wants a new deal. Teams would be more willing to ante up if the Giants would go for a 2nd or a 3rd round pick instead.
To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
The team announced that restricted free agent RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis has signed a new contract and will be in camp Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.
The Patriots also inked a couple of free agents; they signed C/G Chris Morris, OL Jonathan Compas and RB Richard Medlin, terms of the contracts were not released. In return they released RB Tomas Clayton and OL Mike Berry.
Some player notes out of camp after the Tuesday workout. DL Ron Brace may just be not playing himself out of a job. He is currently on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list and while the rest of the defensive linemen are working hard Brace apparently has some unnamed issue that is keeping him off the field.
According to some of the media they think the Patriots will carry six wide receivers this season with Matt Slater being seen by the coaching staff as more of a special teams players. Chad Ochocinco, Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Julian Edelman, Brandon Tate and Taylor Price look to be the six deep on the chart.
There’s also a battle going on in the defensive backfield behind Devin McCourty and Leigh Bodden for the third corner in the nickel set between rookie Ras-I Dowling, former UConn Husky Darius Butler and Jonathan Wilhite.
If the team were to go to 4-3 base from the 3-4 the most likely front line would be Jermaine Cunningham and Eric Moore on the ends with Vince Wilfork and Albert Haynesworth as the tackles.
Newly signed rookie RB Shane Vereen looks especially fast and you can most likely look for him in running downs with Green-Ellis. While last year’s sensation, RB Danny Woodhead looks to get more snaps on sure passing downs. It looks as though he will slowly displace veteran running backs Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris in that position if he proves he can handle it.
Former Patriots WR Randy Moss recently met privately with owner Robert Kraft just so he could offer his condolences for the loss of Kraft’s wife, Myra. Say what you will about Moss but that is a class act. Moss always said he loved his time in New England and he had the utmost respect for the Kraft family and the man went out and proved it.
NFL officials were in Foxboro tonight before the practice session to go over new and revised league rules with the players and coaches. Media was also allowed to view the annual presentation the league gives to all 32 teams. It was noted during the introduction that New England was 7th in the NFL in defensive pass interference with ten and they were 1st in offensive pass interference with six flags. In all other categories they were in the bottom half of the league.
One of the calls the officials clarified was the horsecollar penalty. It involves the jersey being pulled from behind not just the pads.
Another issue is the receiver and control of the ball. You may recall, last year this was a huge problem when it cost the Detroit Lions a division game against the Chicago Bears when a touchdown was over ruled. The receiver must maintain possession of the ball all the way down to and including contact with the ground.
There’s also a new way the roughing the passer penalty will be accessed. It will no longer be a penalty if the defensive player makes incidental contact with the quarterback’s helmet with his hand or fingers. There must be a forceful blow involved in order to draw a penalty flag on the defender.
There will also be a new emphasis on a defender launching himself into a hit on an offensive player. One of the examples shown was Patriot DB Brandon Meriweather’s hit on former Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap that left Heap in a heap on the field and forced him from the game with a concussion.
And possibly the biggest change this year will be that coaches are no longer able to challenge touchdowns. The league will have a replay official in the press box that will review each and every touchdown before signaling via buzzer to the field crew to allow the extra point attempt.
On plays in the end zone which do not result in a touchdown the offensive teams head coach can challenge the play to see if it should have been a score. This would include attempted catches on the end line or sideline plays were the receiver was ruled out of bounds. To see if a receiver was able to maintain control of the ball or a fumble would be some of the plays that could be challenged.
The Patriots announced their practice schedule for the next two days.
Thursday
Practice from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. This time is tentative as practice could be held earlier if the NFLPA and owners ratify the new CBA.
Friday
Practice will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For all the latest training camp information go to patriots.com/trainingcamp or call 508.549.0041.
In closing today is NFL MVP Tom Brady’s 34th birthday. When he came onto the field tonight at The Razor some fans started to sing “Happy Birthday” to him. You have to wonder what a guy like Brady would even want for his birthday? Great job? Check. Hot supermodel wife? Check. Two good kids? Check. Lot’s of money? Check. Well whatever he gets I bet it’s a damn good gift like a fourth Super Bowl title.
Stay with Sox & Dawgs for all the latest Patriots news. We will post larger signings and trades as soon as we can and will recap the minor moves near the end of the day.
Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem
