Observations from 18th practice
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
August 5, 2008 05:15 PM
FOXBOROUGH – Five observations from the Patriots’ 18th training camp practice, which was held in full pads today on the upper practice fields (2:30 p.m.) behind Gillette Stadium:
1) This is the time for the backup quarterbacks. With Patriots coach Bill Belichick noting this morning that the Patriots were in transition – from a training-camp focus to a game-specific focus – it was notable that top signal-caller Tom Brady wasn’t on the field today. That left all the repetitions to Matt Cassel, followed by Matt Gutierrez, then rookie Kevin O’Connell. Based on this, it wouldn’t be surprising if Brady does not play Thursday night. None of the backups have seemed to distinguish themselves at this point. In half-speed 11-on-11 work in the red zone, Gutierrez tried to fire a pass into tight end Marcus Pollard along the right side, but he was intercepted by safety Antwain Spann, who showed nice hands on the play.
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