Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Thursday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
Good morning! Another busy day around here Thursday morning, as Day 3 of minicamp is set to kick off. Same schedule as the first two days, which means we get the chance to talk to Bill Belichick at 11 or so on the field, with practice starting just after that.
But first, we want to kick off Throwback Thursday with a peek at the 2000 Orange Bowl -- otherwise known as the game that put Tom Brady on the map for good. A fun rewatch for a few reasons, including the opportunity to see just how much (and how little) Brady has changed over the years.
Now, on with the links...
1. Greg has a great look at Trey Flowers, who is heading into a contract year but is going to be asked to make a positional switch because of the arrival of Adrian Clayborn. A lot of guys would be sweating the situation, but it sounds like Flowers is taking the whole thing in stride. “Yeah, it can be (an issue),” Flowers told Greg. “But I don’t let it get to me. I’m not looking at as what’s my best fit for me. I’m looking at it as, ‘What’s my best fit for the team?’ I’m just going to make it happen.”
2. I took a run at the practice report on Wednesday. A lot of interesting stuff, including the fact the defense had a really good day. Of course, the offense also had some fun -- after catching a touchdown pass from Brady, Rob Gronkowski fired the football into a nearby tree.
3. Our Live Coverage page kept you updated throughout the workout.
4. Cordarrelle Patterson isn't lacking for confidence. The new Patriots' kick returner says he's not worried about changes to the kickoff. “For me, personally? It doesn’t change (anything),” he said after Wednesday's workout. “Nine-deep, eight-deep, four-deep, whatever. I approach every kickoff like it’s my last. That’s something I take pride in. Every time I get the ball in my hands, I’m just trying to make an explosive play.” He's going to be an interesting guy to talk to this year.
5. Video: Tom Brady climbs the steps and heads out to practice on Wednesday morning. We also have videos of the quarterbacks going through their drills.
6. Also got video of Ivan Fears leading the running backs through drills at the start of Wednesday's workout.
7. Mike Reiss talks to Dont'a Hightower, who sees a more aggressive Patriots' defense under de facto DC Brian Flores. "He's not backing down (and will) be more aggressive," Hightower said of Flores after Wednesday's workout. "You could see it. I think this was probably our best practice we've had and we want to continue to build on that."
8. Phil Perry has his full practice report, and also noted Wednesday was a good day for the defense. From Perry: "Whether it was Dont'a Hightower batting a Brady pass up in the air for a near pick, Duron Harmon breaking up a Brady attempt and then wagging his finger, Stephon Gilmore breaking up another Brady throw, or Patrick Chung breaking up a Brady toss intended for Dwayne Allen, the Patriots regulars on defense more than held their own against Brady's offense."
9. Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY -- one of the few national guys to stick around for Wednesday's workout after Gronkowski and Brady's practice debut on Tuesday -- says Patterson could be the Patriots' new secret weapon. “To have a guy like Cordarrelle, there’s nobody like that in the league,” Matthew Slater told Bell. “It’s exciting to think about the possibilities, but there are no guarantees. We have to lay the foundation, each and every day in practice. It’s not just going to happen.”
10. Former Patriots offensive lineman Antonio Garcia -- now with the Jets -- opened up to the New York Post about leaving New England and his health scare. “I just wasn’t cleared medically in New England. So, it is what it is,” Garcia said. “I think they knew I was a good player.”
Extra Point:
There was an event at Gillette today so some fans got to watch #Patriots minicamp. Offense huddled up. A kid no more than 5 behind me says to a grownup: “Look! They’re getting together to come up with ideas!”
— Christopher Price (@cpriceNFL) June 7, 2018