FOXBOROUGH — If there's one thing that I've learned about NFL teams in training camp, from covering the Dolphins, Packers and Patriots plus various stops at camps as a national writer, it's that there is no better motivation than competition among professional football players.
It was one of my great frustrations in covering the Packers. General manager Ted Thompson — often at the irritations of his lieutenants — seldom used any free agency to increase the competition in spots on the roster in his later years. The Packers had their draft picks, developed them into starters, then backed them up with younger players. In my opinion, that led to a sense of entitlement among some of the young players on the roster. They knew whatever late-round pick wasn't going to take their job, and they often cruised. Benchings were few and far between.
It's like no one noticed that their Super Bowl championship team of 2010 wasn't augmented by well-traveled veterans like Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Ryan Grant, John Kuhn, Ryan Pickett, Donald Lee, Tom Crabtree and Brandon Chillar.
From afar, you could tell competition by any means necessary was a bedrock principle for Bill Belichick when he started with the Patriots and it's only grown in value for him. It's a big part of the reason why the team contends every single year, while other teams are often, as former Packers GM Ron Wolf colorfully put it years ago, farts in the wind.
The reason I bring this up today is, as I looked across the practice field as the Patriots started to defend another Super Bowl title, I think this training camp might be the most competitive for a Belichick team ever.
Seriously ... good luck to the player, rookie or vet alike, who feels like dialing it back for a few days. They might be out of job when they feel like playing again. And that goes for just about everyone on the roster.
Consider:
- We all know that at receiver, beyond Julian Edelman, is a jumbled mess at this point. But guys like N'Keal Harry, Demaryius Thomas (when he returns), Maurice Harris, Braxton Berrios, Phillip Dorsett, Dontrelle Inman and Jakobi Meyers know they have to bring it every single day because every single snap is up for grabs — and that's before Josh Gordon ever returns. Tell me right now: who's going to get the most snaps behind Edelman? You can't do it. Nobody knows. It will be earned on the field.
- Tight end is the same boat. From Ben Watson to newly signed veteran Lance Kendricks, no one is assured of making the final roster. Only the strong survive.
- At running back, Sony Michel has probably heard a lot about how great his rookie campaign was, especially in the postseason. Of course Belichick drafts Damien Harris in the third round and he hasn't missed a snap all offseason, while Michel has been on the sidelines with a knee. Michel knows he has to perform well once he gets on the field, or he could lose his starting job. Oh, and Brandon Bolden is pretty good in a pinch, too.
- Isaiah Wynn might think he's the starting left tackle by default without Trent Brown around. Well, how about Joe Thuney getting snaps there? Dan Skipper has been around as well and might just be coming into his own.
- Speaking of Thuney, four starters on the offensive line have been together for a few years. Nothing like inserting fourth-round pick Hjlate Frodholdt — an NFL scout favorite because he could start right away — into the mix. And, man, he has the body of a veteran already. Watch out for him.
- As for the rest of the offense, Tom Brady and James White might just be the only guys who aren't being actively pushed.
- I don't think it would be a stretch to say that even someone like Stephon Gilmore (his contract assures he's on the roster this season) could feel pushed for his job. Gilmore, Jason McCourty and Jonathan Jones are the de facto starters at the three cornerback spots, but can you rule out that players like J.C. Jackson, Joejuan Williams, Duke Dawson and Keion Crossen making a case to be starters? I can't.
- At the edge spots, literally anyone from a group that includes Deatrich Wise, Chase Winovich, John Simon, Derek Rivers, Keionta Davis and Shilique Calhoun could push for playing time.
- Linebacker is, seemingly, an embarrassment of riches. The two deep in a 3-4 is (starters) Jamie Collins, Elandon Roberts, Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy; (backups) Winovich, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Christian Sam and Rivers. Don't forget that Calvin Munson and Brandon King seem to be favorites of the coaches from the look of it. You can tell the coaches are still toying with who lines up where among all these players. It changes from play to play and it's dizzying to keep track of (good luck opposing QBs and linemen).
- On the interior defensive line, Lawrence Guy doesn't have much competition but Mike Pennell and Danny Shelton are fighting for nose tackle, and Adam Butler and Byron Cowart are vying for a starring sub pass rusher role.
- Even on special teams, Nate Ebner might have met his match in Terrence Brooks. Of course, there's another punting competition. But, sigh, there still isn't competition for Stephen Gostkowski, which doesn't make much sense.