Technically the Patriots have five training camp practices in the books.
But they really don’t actually have a single play of football under their belt this summer because as even Bill Belichick has pointed out, real football includes pads and hitting.
Both of those will arrive on Tuesday morning on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium when New England will finally don full pads and the players will finally get a chance to hit each other.
It’s a necessary step. And one that most players seem ready for.
“Why? I mean, because it’s contact, it’s football were playing. What’s football without contact?” second-year linebacker Josh Uche pondered.
Some defensive players believe the pads will help level out the competition, with the pass catchers having had an advantage through the first few sessions of camp.
“It’ll slow the receiver down a little bit,” defensive back Jalen Mills said with a laugh. “You get to touch them a little bit. They’re just out here in t-shirt and shorts. But, no, we get back to seeing what our team has. There’s a little more thumping going on between the O-line and the D-line, linebackers, running backs, like I said, cornerbacks and receivers.”
First-year Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne didn’t necessarily disagree with Mills’ assertion.
“Just more contact. DBs can put their hands on us more, linebackers can thud up. O-linemen, d-linemen definitely can hit each other.
Double teams and stuff like that. Just a more feel of football with pads on,” Bourne said. “Just ready to put the pads on, man, and get it going. Preseason is really close.”
Rookie Rhamondre Stevenson believes the pads are necessary for running backs -- especially a big one like himself who would like to serve a LeGarrette Blount-like role in New England -- to show their worth.
“For a running back, that is what we look forward to — wearing pads. It’s more fun,” Stevenson said.
The real football fun and competition of training camp, at all positions, kicks off Tuesday morning in Foxborough.