FOXBOROUGH – Didn’t see that one coming. Bill Belichick met with the media via Zoom early on Saturday morning prior to the last practice of the week and dropped a mini bombshell, saying Cam Newton is the starting quarterback. Now, he’s said that for a while now, but we’ve also heard that everyone needs to earn their spot as well, so when it came out of his mouth before some…
Patriots: N’Keal Harry speaks for the first time since trade request
Once it was clear the Patriots weren’t going to trade him at least until camp started, we all knew the awkward day would come where N’Keal Harry had to face questions about his trade request. That day was Friday. Harry, who has had some nice catches over the first few days of training camp, spoke after practice. The first question he received was why he asked for the trade and…
Patriots: Players’ thoughts from training camp – Day 3
Friday morning provided us with the best competition between Mac Jones and Cam Newton that we’ve seen thus far. The two went toe-to-toe in various passing situations after the first two days were mostly red zone work. Following practice, Newton and Jones both met with the media in person for the very first time as well. Here’s everything (literally just about everything) that stood out from the two guys everyone…
Patriots: Six players who could make the Patriots 53 man roster
Tight end Troy Fumagalli might be a revaluation to the local media but the talented tight end is a great scheme fit for the Patriots. Each year we try to identify players who could surprise and make the roster. When I look at the Patriots training camp roster, there are six names that come to mind if players who I think could make the team. Here are the six players…
High School: Hanover claims New England 7v7 crown
Hanover soon-to-be junior quarterback Mike Gandolfi didn’t play an actual snap for his high school squad in a regular season game last year, but he did earn the program a championship on Thursday night. Gandolfi and his teammates won Hanover’s first ever 7v7 Northeast New England Championship with a thrilling 21-20 win over Marblehead in the finals. Last year, Gandolfi went down to Florida to try and play high school…
College: URI, UNH and Maine looking forward to a fall season filled with potential
After a shortened spring season that end prematurely for Maine, UNH and URI, there was a sense of renewed optimism for all three schools at CAA Media day on Tuesday. With training camps around the conference opening up next week, the head coaches for all three schools said they looked forward to the fall and playing a full season. The vibe was positive. No one echoed that sentiment more than…
Patriots: Thoughts from Coach Belichick on Day 2 of training camp
Bill Belichick did not speak with the media on Wednesday before or after the first day of on field work, but he was back in front of the cameras and microphones on Thursday prior to the start of day two. “Good to get back on the field and get started here,” he said. “Yesterday, as I said the other day, is really a continuation of the spring practice routine, mini-camps,…
Patriots Training Camp : Defensive Line Preview
Images courtesy of Kathryn Riley/Getty Images In his heart of hearts, Bill Belichick is a 3-4 guy. When you look at his career, he has had the most success in a 30 front. Based on the composition of the Patriots defensive line, it is built like a 30 front. Belichick uncharacteristically spent a lot of money in free agency this off-season. One of the areas he spent a lot of…
Patriots Training Camp: Linebacker Preview
The Patriots linebacking corp struggled last season thanks to free agent defections, opt outs and inexperience. Linebacker should be a strength of this team entering this season with the return of WILL linebacker and team leader Dont’a Hightower and SAM linebacker Kyle Van Noy. Hightower opted out last season due to COVID-19 but he’s returned in great shape and ready to assume his role as the leader of the defense….
Patriots Training Camp: Defensive Back Preview
The Patriots have had one of the best secondaries in the NFL in recent years and this year should be no different. Provided Stephon Gilmore returns and stays in New England, the Patriots secondary will once again be amongst the best in the NFL. Losing Patrick Chung to retirement hurts because he is so versatile and can play in all three levels of the defense but Bill Belichick added Jalen…