One week from today ...

[Uncle Rico]

CAMP. OPENS.


Training camp schedule

And the longest off-season ever will finally come to an end.

Halle-freakin'-lujah.

 

[FlyboyPatsFan]

Does anyone know if the Monday evening stadium practice session, which is open to Foxborough residents and season ticket holders ,is open to those on the waiting list for tickets? I seem to remember learning that last year, just after the practice took place. If so, any ideas on whats required to gain admission?

 

[Uncle Rico]

10 questions heading into training camp - Extra Points - Boston.com


Well, as The Globe's Zuri Berry points out, the happenings of the off-season will certainly be front-and-center as camp opens, and the way the Patriots manage that will be important.

1. Is the circus over yet? – Can Patriots fans expect the dialogue to be only about football going into training camp? No, and they shouldn’t want as much. Bill Belichick has yet to speak out about any of the issues involving Hernandez or Dennard. His comments on these issues will help clarify what he understands of each situation and hopefully bring closure to this never-ending story. Belichick will be asked about both players in training camp and he’ll have the opportunity to either keep the conversation going, or end it once and for all. But it’s not just about him. The players, most notably Gronkowski, have all declined to talk about these off-field issues. They’ll be approached about it as well. Whether or not anyone says anything of substance is another matter entirely. All you need to know is that the circus is not over yet. There’s at least two more acts.

 

[BSR]

10 questions heading into training camp - Extra Points - Boston.com


Well, as The Globe's Zuri Berry points out, the happenings of the off-season will certainly be front-and-center as camp opens, and the way the Patriots manage that will be important.

The collective media is getting ready for a throwdown with BB. You can pick up little snippets in their articles, blogs and tweets. They keep on talking about how BB needs to address this issue as if he has some moral/professional obligation to do so. Reality is they probably see this as an opportunity to break down BBs walls at a perceived point of weakness. They see Kraft speaking out on the subject as disagreement behind closed doors and are going to look to use Krafts sensitivity to the subject as leverage to get BB speaking.

My take is that this will be harder for the media to accomplish than they think. The reason is that there is very little else that can be said on the subject from a football and team perspective that hasn't already been said. Mr. Kraft has already addressed those questions and I don't really have anything more to add is going to become a stapled answer. Secondly will come I only worry about the players that are here. Realistically, what more else can be said?

To be honest, I hope BB starts off with a few sentence statement on how he was "shocked" and "disappointed" but he is "moving on", because that will steal a bit of the thunder from the trouble makers that will want to claim that BB never addressed it. The reality is he probably won't.

At the end of the day I still have my money on BB, since he still has a higher IQ than all of the trouble making sport media combined.

 

[DarrylS]

The best way for BB to approach this, imo, is to schedule a presser the day before it opens and discuss Hernandez... then relieve the players of any distractions during TC....

His traditional style, which I agree with, is not the best way to proceed in this matter. Give them their pound of flesh, and then move on to the 90 guys on the field...

 

[Oswlek]

I haven't been around much lately, is there still a group of guys who post practice reports?

 

[patsinthesnow]

#2 QB: Mallett vs. Tebow

#4 RB: Bolden vs. Blount vs. Winn

starting outside WR: Jenkins vs. Jones vs. Dobson vs. Boyce vs. Thompkins

#2 TE (3 when Gronk returns): Fells vs. Hoomawanui vs. Sudfeld

#3 DE: Cunningham vs. Bequette vs. Francis vs. Buchanan vs. Bernard

Starting DT: Kelly vs. Armstead

Starting S: T. Wilson vs. A. Wilson

Let the camp battles begin!

 

[Uncle Rico]

Random thought while watching the the temp rise in my car thermometer:

Anyone else think Bill Belichick might the only one in New England who's bummed out that the heat wave is ending?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I haven't been around much lately, is there still a group of guys who post practice reports?

Mrs Bruschi stopped because she felt that with the new media, blogging and twitter her posts were unnecessary. I disagree.

 

[Uncle Rico]

The best way for BB to approach this, imo, is to schedule a presser the day before it opens and discuss Hernandez... then relieve the players of any distractions during TC....

His traditional style, which I agree with, is not the best way to proceed in this matter. Give them their pound of flesh, and then move on to the 90 guys on the field...

Great idea.

Also, one of the many things that impresses me about Tom Brady has always been his ability to say just the right thing. So it will be interesting to see what he has to say. If the Pats pick up on your idea of a pre-emptive press conference next Thursday, maybe it would be wise to include Brady. Might be better than having to talk about it on the field/sidelines. Plus then he and BB (and the other players) could play the "we've already covered that" card.

 

[PatsDeb]

Thank Goodness! So sick of all the off-season bad stuff. Bring on the season! I for one will be interested to see if my favorite team and favorite NFL duo (TB and BB) will be able to overcome all that has happened since they last took the field!

 

[GansettPats]

Heading up from New Jersey to see Tedy's induction, just like we did last year with Troy's. If any fans on the board have access to tickets to the in-stadium practice, just let me know. We'd love to go Monday night.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin 1m
Bill Belichick will hold a press conference at 2 pm on Wednesday, his first public appearance since Hernandez's arrest

shalise manza young ‏@shalisemyoung 1m
on Thursday the first official day of camp, 2012 captains Brady, Slater, Mankins, Wilfork, Mayo & McCourty will chat with reporters at 11a


Can't remember if this is SOP for camp, a coach press conference then a players/captains PC before the first practice. Personally, I'm glad to see they're talking, get it done, then turn their attention to the field.