The Patriots began their four days of unpadded practices on Wednesday at Gillette, but no independent media was let in.
For the first time ever, the Patriots allowed only their own internal media to "cover" practice, and that included about 30 minutes of video footage of stretching, special teams and some positional work.
Approved independent media is supposed to be allowed to observe the 14 padded practices, which start Monday.
Some thoughts:
• I've wrestled on how much to convey from the footage the Patriots put up from practice. I started to write some observations, but then I deleted them and a link to the footage. Something just doesn't sit well with me about this. What we saw today — the Patriots' internal media being allowed to cover practice but no one else — was unprecedented when it comes to covering this team. Even their own staff remarked on the air that this was the first time ever that team media was allowed into practice and the rest of the media was not.
• I understand that we are in a pandemic and things are different, but I think most of us were under the impression that all of the media would be shut out of practice this week. As long as access is the same for everyone, then I don't really have an issue. But once you start picking and choosing which media is allowed into practice, then there's no going back from that. I was also disappointed in the response from the Pro Football Writers' Association — they didn't have one, it was a collective shrug. If the PFWA's sole purpose isn't to fight tooth and nail for fair and open access for all media, I don't even know what the point of the organization is.
• But I digress. I did view the footage, there wasn't much to glean from it. I don't care what order the QB reps are ... it's the first glorified walkthrough practice in a pandemic ... we're a long way off from much being of consequence.
• "Naturally, nobody’s played football since we last were all together," Shaq Mason said on a post-practice video session. "I think more than anything, it was just great energy. Everybody’s just excited to get back out on the football field to grind. When we haven’t been able to go out there as a unit and do things as a whole, but today, it was good to get all of the guys out there. It was all smiles, high energy. We were all glad to get back.”
• Mason talked about the running game struggles last year. "Last year I can't say we weren't a bit disappointed in it," he said. "But we're looking forward to putting our best foot forward you know its a whole new year and we haven't even taken our first step yet. We're looking forward to getting all of us going in the right direction this year."
• Mason was asked about OT Yodny Cajuste: "I'm excited to see what Yodny can do out there. You know he came in and he was hurt but he's been paying attention, he's been hands on and he's looking ready. Along with the other guys we're looking to see all of them compete."
• Rex Burkhead had an interesting quote about Cole Popovich, who switches from running backs to offensive line coach this season: "I took a lot from Cole. Even with pass protection, the certain ways they block really helped us out with our techniques, as well. But just how he simplified the run game with us and understanding this guy’s going to work up to him and so forth and just how we should follow the blocks on this run. I thought he did a tremendous job of that. It’s something I really took heed of. I know all of the other backs did, as well.
"But we really tried to implement it in our game instead of just being running backs and relying off of our natural talent and what we see in our eyes but really understanding there’s a flow with the offensive line and really how they’re working the guys. He did a great job with that, and he’ll continue to do a great job for us."
• The Patriots officially re-signed OL Tyler Gauthier. He got most of reps at center last year and was not impressive — he couldn't beat out James Ferentz.
• RB Lamar Miller has not been officially signed as he goes through physicals and Covid testing.
• During an interview Wednesday on ESPN 97.5 Houston's "Jake Asman Show," Joe Montana said he talked with Tom Brady and was left the impression Brady wasn't thrilled with his situation in New England.
"I spoke to Tom while we were back at the Super Bowl," Montana said via NBC Sports Boston. "I don't think he was happy with the way things were progressing there and his ability to have input, and I think that was a big decision for him to make to leave there."