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PM practice notes

Hey all -

It was another spirited practice this evening, with defensive backs flying all over the field and quarterbacks being frustrated as a result.

Today was also mud puddle day for the rookies, one of the little rights of passage for the newbies. The team creates a big slop hole in the back corner of the field, where the linemen usually do some of their group work, and the rookies have to throw themselves into it while the veterans pour more water on them. Every young player, including Brandon Meriweather, spent the practice with a wet jersey, their gray pants dingy from the mud.

Onto the football stuff:

It was a tough day for Matt Gutierrez, as the third-string QB was picked off by Corey Mays, and Mike Richardson - twice. Tom Brady was intercepted by Willie Andrews.

On the plus side, Brady hooked up with Wes Welker in the end zone in red area 11-on-11 work. It was a beautiful touch pass with Meriweather in coverage that Brady placed over Welker's shoulder, drawing aaahs from the crowd.

Sammy Morris also made a nice one-handed catch in the flat with Rosevelt Colvin in coverage.

New signee Marcellus Rivers caught a touchdown pass from Cassel in red zone work.

Adalius Thomas limped off the field at one point, but didn't take any treatment from the trainers and was back on the field late in the practice.

Matt Cassel continues to hold on field goals, and Danny Baugher's impressive hang time may mean not-so-good things for Josh Miller.

Unless something happens, we'll be back again on Friday from Tampa.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 8:01 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

UPDATE: Another new player

Another day, another new player for the Patriots: a tight end wearing number 82 was just brought onto the field and introduced to tight ends coach Pete Mangurian.

UPDATE: Stacey James tells us that it is Marcellus Rivers, a 6-foot-4, 250 pound former Oklahoma State product. Rivers has been in the league for seven years, with the Giants, Texans and Saints. We'll pass along more when we get it.

It makes sense, given that Garrett Mills and Matt Kranchick are the only healthy tight ends right now. But it makes you wonder what's up with Benjamin Watson, who hasn't been on the field in a couple of days. Kyle Brady has been injured as well, but we spotted him being put through a workout this morning with Richard Seymour, so he may be close to being back in uniform.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 6:27 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Green returns, still no Moss

Weather-wise, it's just about perfect here on the field, where the day's second practice session is getting underway.

All of the regulars have returned to the field after getting the morning off, including Jarvis Green, who has returned after a two-day absence.

Among the missing: Artrell Hawkins, Randy Moss, Benjamin Watson and Billy Yates, as well as PUPers Chad Jackson, Eddie Jackson, Troy Brown, David Thomas and Richard Seymour.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:41 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Belichick's thoughts on Tampa Bay, Beckham and home runs

A few notes from Bill Belichick’s morning meeting with the media today at Gillette:

* The Patriots coach says the deal for cornerback Dante Wesley ``kind of came up pretty quickly.’’

As for the team’s plans for him, Belichick added: ``He’s had most of his playing time on special teams [for Carolina and then Chicago], but we’ll look at him as a defensive player, look at him in the game and go from there.’’

(Earlier in the morning, following a brief practice in the Dana-Farber Field House, Wesley says he’s ready for any assignment: ``I’ve always considered myself to be more than a special teams guy. I feel like I can play cornerback, I can play special teams, I can play pretty much, I feel, anywhere on the field. So whatever my opportunity here, whatever they’re going to give me a chance to do, I just want to do my best.’’)

* Regarding New England's first preseason test, Belichick had this to say: ``We’re winding down here on the preparations for Tampa. We have a lot of people to get ready for a lot of different situations, on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game, all of the goal line, short yardage, third down, extra DBs, extra linebackers, extra receivers. We’re just trying to get it all organized and hopefully with everyone who can play will get an opportunity to play. I’d like to see everybody get some action this week. We’ll just have to see how that goes here in the next couple of days, who all that really is and how it shakes out. We’re just trying to get everybody an opportunity to show us what they can do. We’ve had a lot of teaching. We’ve had a lot of practice, seen a lot of blue and white jerseys. We’ll see a different color on Friday and we’ll see how it goes out there.''

* He considers Tampa Bay to be ``a good test’’ for the Patriots. It is a team ``that runs basically a West Coast offense, that runs a 4-3 defense with a lot of movement and zone coverage, but a good dose of man-to-man, that’s well schooled and disciplined on defense and on offense.’’

* Asked for his reaction to Barry Bonds hitting his 756th career home run, Belichick deadpanned: ``That’s a lot of home runs.’’

Asked if he had any thoughts on the controversy surrounding Bonds breaking the record, to a round of laughter Belichick said: ``I’m really focused on the players that are here.’’

``I guess I won’t ask about David Beckham coming to town then,’’ the reporter said, to which Belichick replied, ``Yeah, he’s not here either.’’

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Gillette to host six MIAA Eastern Mass. High School Super Bowls

Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft and officials from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association announced yesterday that six of the seven Eastern Massachusetts high school Super Bowls will be played at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 1. The stadium will be provided rent-free.

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Photos from this morning's camp session

Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach
Above, newly acquired cornerback Dante Wesley runs through a drill during the morning practice session inside the bubble at Gillette Stadium. Top, Bill Belichick addresses the team at the end of practice.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Regulars get morning off

Hey all -

It would appear that the starters and top backups are all being given the morning off, as there is about 30 players here inside the bubble.

Put it this way: it would take us a lot longer to tell you who isn't here than who is here.

But the guys who are here are in full pads.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Wednesday morning practice now closed to the public; Patriots Experience pushed to afternoon

Due to the threat of inclement weather this morning, the Patriots' morning practice session is going to be moved into the Dana-Farber Field House and will be CLOSED to the public. In addition, the Patriots Experience will not operate until later this afternoon.

At this time, the evening practice is still scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The final Patriots Experience of training camp is scheduled to operate from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 7:56 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Morning practice closed

Due to the threat of rain, this morning's practice session has been moved indoors to the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse.

As a result, the practice has been closed to the public and Patriots Experience will not be open this morning.

At this time, the evening session is still scheduled to be held from 5:30-7:30 pm, with Patriots Experience open from 4-6 pm.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 7:55 AM | Permalink | Comments 0