A quick look at player participation this afternoon, as there were several guys who missed practice yesterday in each session.

According to Patriots.com left Tackle Matt Light and right Guard Stephen Neal returned to practice Friday afternoon after missing two straight sessions. However, missing from practice were offensive linemen Al Johnson and Ryan O’Callaghan, along with linebacker Tedy Bruschi, defensive back Jonathan Wilhite, receiver Joey Galloway, and defensive linemen Jarvis Green and Myron Pryor. Richard Seymour was also reportedly not at practice.

It appears that head coach Bill Belichick may be limiting the work of some of the veterans during these sessions. Wide receiver Randy Moss has missed both morning sessions in the first two days, but participated in both afternoon sessions. Galloway Bruschi, and Green may also be guys who are being eased back into camp, as it obviously gives them the chance to evaluate more of the younger players in each defensive group.

The bad news is that defensive lineman Richard Seymour has missed three straight practices, as have Johnson and O’Callaghan. It’s a bit early and injury reports aren’t a requirement, so it’s doubtful that we’ll find out anytime soon what the situation is with each of those players.

According to the official site there haven’t been any changes to the PUP list, with the following players still listed:

LB Shawn Crable
OL Mark LeVoir
OL Rich Ohrnberger
DL Darryl Richard
DL Ty Warren

Defensive back Shawn Springs returned to practice Friday, leaving Brandon Tate as the only player left on the non-football-injury list.

The Patriots finished their first training camp session this morning, and later on head coach Bill Belichick met with the media for his daily press conference. He was asked about a variety of topics, including quarterback Michael Vick. He praised the former Falcons quarterback as an athlete, but said little else.

“Michael is an outstanding player, hasn’t played in a couple of years,” Belichick told reporters Thursday. “But right now, our focus is on our team and our players and trying to get the New England Patriots ready and so that’s really where my attention’s been. But he’s a tremendous athlete. Where exactly he is right now, I don’t know.”

Published reports have linked Vick to coming to New England, with various media outlets saying a deal was close for Vick finding a team. Peter King refuted that report via Twitter this afternoon, saying “I hear the opposite–no team is hot in pursuit. Teams just sniffing around edge.”

According to the Providence Journal, the players on the active/physically unable to perform list are:

LB Shawn Crable
OL Mark LeVoir
OL Rich Ohrnberger
DL Darryl Richard
DL Ty Warren

On the active/non-football injury list are:

CB Shawn Springs
WR Brandon Tate

According to the newspaper since both of these are considered “active lists”, the players listed do count against the 80-man camp limit and can return to practice at any time.

Mike Reiss just reported that the team announced today that cornerback Shawn Springs has opened camp on the active/non football injury list.

The first practice session is over for the Patriots, and according to published reports wide receiver Randy Moss is absent from practice. Other names include Ty Warren, Joey Galloway, Shawn Crable, Jarvis Green, and Shawn Springs as players not on the field.

About 5,000 fans are reportedly present for camp. According to Mike Reiss the first session ended a bit early due to lightning. If you were there, be sure to post in our forum and tell us about your own player observations!

Update: The Providence Journal posted an Updated List of missing players from today’s first session. The full list included Joey Galloway, Brandon Tate, Shawn Springs, Tyrone McKenzie, Rich Ohrnberger, Mark LeVoir, Shawn Crable, Darryl Richard, Randy Moss, Ty Warren and Jarvis Green.

An interesting article this morning for Troy Brown fans. EastBayRI.com reported this morning that former Patriot Troy Brown stopped in Bristol last Saturday to promote Rhode Island’s own Narragansett Beer at 1776 Liquors.

Brown reportedly became a Narragansett beer investor in March after a newfound love for Narragansett Light. He has made 10 promotional appearances; Saturday was the first time in Rhode Island.

The aim of promotions involving Mr. Brown is to get people buying the brand so the company can set up a new brewery in Rhode Island, possibly even Bristol or Warren.

As mentioned in today’s in today’s news & notes, things aren’t looking good in the Vince Wilfork negotiations.

Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe reported this morning that the two sides haven’t made any progress, and it appears that things may be taking a turn for the worst. Wilfork’s agent, Kennard McGuire, told him that he’s disappointed in the lack of progress, and from what’s being said it appears that things may be starting to go downhill.

“Although our dialogue has been ongoing, we just have not achieved the level of comfort for Vince,” McGuire told the newspaper. “In a profession where production and durability equals reward, I’m terribly disappointed that we have not found common ground in what a player of Vince Wilfork’s value truly is.

“Our desire was, and is, a commitment to Vince that equals the one he has made to the organization. Today, we’re just not there. For a man who is as passionate to the game as Vince Wilfork is, I truly feel this is unjust.”

Despite the situation Wilfork plans on participating in camp in Foxboro.

The Patriots reported this afternoon via their Twitter channel that with Training Camp coming up on Thursday, the rookies reported to Foxboro today for physicals.

According to the post the veterans will report on Wednesday. The team will begin full squad practices on Thursday at Gillette Stadium.

Meanwhile there’s some good news for fans following the Vince Wilfork negotiations. The Boston Herald reported on Sunday that Wilfork plans on being in Foxboro when the team opens training camp on Thursday.

A source told the newspaper that Wilfork doesn’t plan on holding out and using his absence to leverage a new deal. The veteran defensive lineman had previously skipped the team’s voluntary organized team activies in May to send the first signal he wasn’t happy about his current contract status. However he did say back in June he’s hoping to get a deal done before the season is over.

“I want to get locked up because I don’t want to go on the free market. It’s a possibility if I reach that part I won’t be here, and I don’t want that to happen,” Wilfork said last month. “That’s why I’m doing everything in my will power to stick around, get something done before the end of this season.”

Patriots defensive lineman Jarvis Green spoke to the Louisiana Terrebonne Parish recently, and told the newspaper he missed Louisiana, and would like to finish his career with the Saints.

“I miss Louisiana — I miss the food, I miss the people, and I miss the weather,” Green said. “In two or three months, it’s 10-15 degrees in New England, so I like this 90-100 degree weather.”

Green, who is in his final year of his contract with New England, also said that this is his “last year” with the Patriots. Whether or not he was pointing out that he was in the final year of his contract, or if he intends to leave after this season is hard to say based on that quote. However New England fans know what the winters are like here, so if Green prefers the weather in the south not many here could blame him. He was born in Donaldsonville Louisiana, but his wife and their three children live in New England most of the year, including the offseason.

Green was drafted by the Patriots in the 4th round (126th overall) of the 2002 draft.

UPDATE: Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe got an update from Green regarding his quotes, and the defensive lineman told him that what he said came out the wrong way.

“I don’t think I said it like that,’’ said Green. “Me being from Louisiana and playing at LSU and all that, you say it would be a dream to play for the Saints. But I’d love to stay a Patriot, if that happens. I’ve been there seven years, won a lot of games, two Super Bowls. If I could retire as a Patriot, that would be a dream.

“It came out in print the wrong way. I didn’t say it that way. It’s like anybody who lives in Texas talking about playing for Dallas or Houston. I’m a Patriot. I have been for seven years.’’

His agent, Albert Elias, said he’s been in contact about an extension with the Patriots but nothing has come of it yet. However he emphasized that Green wants to stay a Patriot.

“Jarvis wants an extension with the New England Patriots. That’s what he wants,’’ said Elias. “We called them about it. We want [him] to remain and retire a New England Patriot. Who wouldn’t? He’s involved in the community. He loves the city. He loves Coach [Bill] Belichick. He loves [defensive line coach Pepper Johnson]. He’s won two Super Bowls. He’d be foolish to go anywhere else.’’

For anyone interested, I just received an email for an upcoming appearance for Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson.

Watson will be appearing on July 25th at the Nashua, NH Boston Billiard Club to raise funds for his charitable foundation “One More”. Ben will be meeting with fans and signing autographs. They’ll also be featuring a silent auction, a raffle, give-a-ways, and vendor tables. Tickets are available at http://www.neplayerpromotions.com.

Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Boston Billiard Club
Street: 55 Northeastern Blvd.
City/Town: Nashua, NH
Phone: (603) 943-2472 (call Dennis)
Email: events@neplayerpromotions.com