http://www.espn.com/blog/new-englan...-patriots-and-texans-from-practicing-together Early season game won't stop Patriots and Texans from practicing together FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Here are some quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and the NFL: 1. Even though the Patriots and Houston Texans will play Sept. 24, in Week 3 of the regular season, that won’t stop them from holding joint practices leading into their preseason game Aug. 19. Those plans are still on, which means it is a similar setup to 2013, when the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers held joint practices in Week 2 of the preseason before meeting in the third week of the regular season. That year, Bill Belichick said the regular-season matchup wasn’t a consideration: “I don’t think right now that’s what we’re worried about. We’re trying to improve our team. We’ll worry about five, six weeks from now whenever that gets here." Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson on the same field for multiple practices will be a top storyline -- but far from the only one.
this will be one of the few times in which hoodie will say more than 2 words. "Billy is a great coach. What was the organization before he got there? He's brought a winning culture to that city." :eye roll:
Watch for an in-season trade between the two teams (I think the Pats have done so with all, or nearly so, their summer practice opponents/Cooks came after season from summer work-outs, for example).
Tripped across this from espn.com/boston which relates to Pats-preseason workout team partners: Preseason tape. In making the decision to trade a second-round pick (64) in exchange for (Kony) Ealy and a third-round pick (72), the Patriots' evaluation of Ealy was likely helped by watching him in 2016 Week 3 preseason action against left tackle Nate Solder. Bill Belichick has said in the past that watching a player against those from his own team can help add clarity in an evaluation. While it's still just preseason, Ealy's strength and power at the line of scrimmage were easy to see, as well as his ability to rush the passer.
Seems like a conflict of interest, Belichek plays chess while Obrien plays checkers. Nothing good can come from this!
Someone ask BoB if he is going to go on Tom Brady's crazy diet. It's either gonna be a funny answer or a butthurt one, either way...