Thursday Patriots Headlines

The Patriots finished their second day of mandatory minicamp yesterday, and here are today's headlines.

Jeff Howe of NESN.com reports this morning that one of the reasons behind Ty Warren's desire to go back and work on finishing school was the potential for an NFL lockout in 2011. Warren said that should there not be football next season, he's not just going to take vacations. He also said that whatever opportunities that arise, he wants them to be ones that he's earned.

"My thing is this: I've had offers to do things, but I don't want [earn a business opportunity] just because I'm a Super Bowl champion, New England Patriot, former A&M Aggie. I want to have credentials when I go in there. I'm the type of player, I want to earn what I got. You know what I'm saying? I don't want to be there and be working just because. If a lockout was to happen, I have my degree and [would] be working with my credentials doing what I like to do."

Jennifer Toland of the Worcester Telegram has a feature on Patriots wide receiver Taylor Price. Price talked about his frustration with missing the team's OTA's due to a rule that kept him from being permitted to attend while school was in session.

"It's a frustrating rule," Price said, "but you've got to go with it and just try to do as much as you can while you're away from the field. I'm trying to catch up on the playbook and on everything — formations and plays — so when I'm out there I can play fluid and I can play fast."

Mark Farinella of the Attleboro Sun Chronicle also reports on Price, saying the receiver is doing a good job of making up for lost time, while Karen Guregian feels that Price has been quick to catch on so far with New England.

Farinella also had a mention rgarding the New England Patriots helping put together a community campaign to raise $1 million to build an artificial turf field behind Foxboro High School.

According to the report the TurfsUp drive will receive a $200,000 grant from the Patriots and the National Football League. The team announced the donation on Tuesday.

"We have been supportive of TurfsUp from the beginning as a project that meets many of our charitable goals by providing access to athletics and bringing communities together," Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said. "Of course, the opportunity to do something special in Foxboro was a big factor."

Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe has an excellent article on assistant coach Corwin Brown, who played safety in the NFL for eight years, the first four of which were with the Patriots.

Albert Breer provides a terrific column looking at the new attitude the Patriots have this season. Breer says there are plenty of players with a lot to prove, which should make the position battles fun to watch.

As the league discusses the possibility of taking the NFL regular season schedule to 18 games, Tom Brady was among others who are against this move, and voiced their opinions on it yesterday. Brady was quoted on the NFL Players Association website on the possibility of an 18-game regular season, and doesn't feel it's good for the players.

"I've taken part in several postseason runs where we have played 20 games. The long-term impact this game has on our bodies is well-documented — look no further than the players that came before we did.
"Each player today has to play three years in order to earn five years' or postcareer health care. Our union has done a great job of raising the awareness on these issues and will make the right decision for us players, the game, and the fans.''

In a piece that starts off with Brady's stance on the proposed "enhanced season", Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald has some other interesting notes in the article, including one on linebacker Thomas Williams who has played well so far during minicamp and has even spent some time at fullback.

"It's fun," Williams said. "They asked me to do it, so I said, 'Sure, why not? Whatever you guys want me to do, Listen, I'm here.' I want to help this team win."

Rapoport offers up a good look at Bill Belichick's involvement with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. Belichick served as the honorary chairperson and speaker at tonight's 1st Annual Friends of Jaclyn Boston Gala at the InterContinental.

"What Friends of Jaclyn does is create an environment for (numerous) teams to adopt children as their own and make an incredible impact on those children and their families," Belichick said. "And the children inspire entire teams. It's a pretty impressive concept. Hopefully, we can help spread the word."

The Toronto Sun has a brief article on former Canuck Nick Kaczur and his potential move to left guard should Logan Mankins' days with the Patriots come to an end.

The Patriot Ledger has a look at wide receiver Buddy Farnham, who is a big fan of Marshfield native and former Patriot Sean Morey. Both Morey and Farnham went to Brown University, and Farnham is hopeful he can experience the same success.

Guregian has a piece for the American Chronicle, pointing out that Vince Wilfork will be one among many watching tonight's game 7 match-up between the Lakers and Celtics.

That's it for this morning. Hope everyone has a good day and we'll have more updates later on as they become available.