In the "it's about time" section, it appears Tannehill and Olivier Vernon should sign their deals before Friday at the very least. It's being said 3rd round pick Michael Egnew and the Dolphins are "not close" but I trust it will get worked out soon
He's a thirdnround pick, how can they be very far apart? There is literally no negotiation left to take place in the first round, how can there be any with a third rounder?
Excused absence for Brian Waters BB must really like Brian Waters and has faith he'll come in to camp ready to play. They signed him on Sept. 4 last year and he played every game. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Thursday that he wasn't surprised by the absence of veteran offensive lineman Brian Waters Waters has not reported for camp, and Belichick described the situation as similar to the team's mandatory minicamp in June when Waters was an "excused personal absence."
Pay attention to these reports. Get to know our division rivals. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article967787.ece Fitz comes out throwing as Bills open camp Passes on target during sharp workout By Mark Gaughan News Sports Reporter Published: July 26, 2012, 11:54 PM PITTSFORD - Ryan Fitzpatrick said Thursday he has every intention of proving once and for all that he is the man to lead the Buffalo Bills back to football success. "I've got a ton of belief in myself," Fitzpatrick said. "The self-confidence is something that's huge at the quarterback position. I'm ready to go out there and play. I've proved it. I've showed it. I've played well in stretches. But I think consistency is the big thing, and I know I can do it." Fitzpatrick was back in charge of the offense and looked sharp during the first practice of training camp at St. John Fisher College in suburban Rochester. Skepticism about the Bills' odds of taking a big jump from a 6-10 record centers largely around Fitzpatrick, due to his struggles the second half of last season. Fitzpatrick welcomes the pressure to prove himself. "I love it," Fitzpatrick said. "If I didn't love it, I don't think I would play the position of quarterback. That's why we do it. I want all the pressure to fall on me so that the other guys can just go out there and play. Me being one of the older guys in the huddle, especially with our skill players, I love taking the pressure, because it takes it off them, and they're just able to go out there and play. My shoulders are big enough for that." The challenge for the 29-year-old Fitzpatrick this summer is to refine some of his passing mechanics. Gailey hired respected QB coach David Lee to help him with it. Too many throws off his back foot and inaccuracy on some deep throws were problems last season. Former NFL star and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski cited those issues recently in rating Fitzpatrick the No. 24 QB in the league. "There's no question Fitzpatrick can play at a high level, at times, but here's the dose of reality," Jaworski said. "As I've studied him, I've really struggled with his inconsistent mechanics. The result: accuracy issues, too many missed opportunities. The ball was badly underthrown. There was a reason for that." Fitzpatrick says he's working hard with Lee. "It's a big thing for me," he said. "It's something that fell off last year as the season went on. We'll be working a lot of drills. When the special teams stuff is going on, we'll be doing a lot of drill work, a lot of things that are really tailored to me for things that I need to improve at. That'll be big. "I think I've improved," Fitzpatrick said. "Knowing there is some sort of process and procedure that I need to follow when I'm throwing, that's helpful. That being said, we'll see when we get into the preseason games and especially the regular season games. That's going to be the big test - to be able, when the bullets are flying, to do it, to be able to stick to the fundamentals I've worked on all offseason. ... That's going to help me a lot with my consistency." Deep throws to the left, in specific, were a bit of an issue last season for the QB. So it was a welcome sight on just the second play from scrimmage Thursday to see Fitzpatrick hit receiver Stevie Johnson deep down the left sideline with a perfect strike. Johnson beat rookie Stephon Gilmore by a step. Fitzpatrick, in fact, was on target throughout the two-hour workout, clicking repeatedly with Johnson on hitches and intermediate sideline routes and with David Nelson in the middle of the field. "I notice more in his footwork," Nelson said. "The way he gets back faster, the way he has more velocity on the ball because he has his feet underneath him. Small things like that. The ball's getting there faster. I don't know if that has anything with his arm strength, I think it just has to do with his footwork." Lee stresses that it's going to take time for Fitzpatrick to make all the mechanical tweaks second nature. All that said, Fitzpatrick provided plenty of reason for optimism last season. He ranked sixth among all NFL quarterbacks in completions, ninth in completion percentage, 11th in passing yards and 10th in touchdown passes. His yardage total of 3,832 was third best in Bills history. Over the first seven games, he completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and his passer rating was 97.8. Fitzpatrick actually had a quality 20-game stretch as the Bills' starter, counting those seven games and the 13 he started in 2010. Over that stretch, he had 37 TD passes and 22 interceptions, and threw for 237 yards a game. The downside was over the final nine games of last season, as the Bills started losing offensive players right and left, Fitzpatrick completed 58.2 percent of his passes and had 10 TDs and 16 INTs. "A lot of things that happened toward the end of the year last year weren't really his fault," Nelson said. "But he put it on himself. He didn't come out and say what was wrong with him." Nelson was referring to a rib injury that occurred in the seventh game, which hindered Fitzpatrick for at least several weeks, even though he never missed a practice. "He kinda just took it in stride," Nelson said. "You want a guy who's comfortable under pressure leading the ship. It's not all on him and I think he knows that. But at the same time, in his mind he puts it on himself. As a receiver you want that in your quarterback." "I've got a lot of belief in myself," Fitzpatrick said. "If I didn't believe in myself I probably would have quit playing football after I was done with Harvard." mgaughan@buffnews.com
Fitz to Stevie among highlights of Day One July 26, 2012 - 6:13 PM | 1 comment By Mark Gaughan The Ryan Fitzpatrick-to-Stevie Johnson connection looked to be in regular-season form during the first day of training camp at St. John Fisher College. The Buffalo Bills' quarterback hooked up repeatedly with his favorite receiver throughout the team drills. On just the second play of 11-on-11 work, Fitzpatrick hit Johnson with an accurate deep pass down the left sideline, and Johnson hauled it in a step behind rookie cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Fitzpatrick was on target most of the day. The Bills practiced with softer "shell" pads on their shoulders. It was a session that looked a lot like spring workouts because the team was not in full pads. That will come in several days. A crowd of about 300 watched. While Gilmore got beat on the pass to Johnson, he looked good on his first day. The Bills' first-round pick was like glue on most receivers all day long. He worked exclusively with the starters. The other starting corner was Aaron Williams, and Leodis McKelvin was the nickel corner. Terrence McGee (knee) saw only very limited duty in team drills. Center Eric Wood (knee) also worked only a bit in individual drills. Defensive tackle Torell Troup (back) was a little sore and was held out of most of the action. In one-on-one blocking drills, defensive end Mark Anderson looked great, showing a good burst. Defensive end Shawne Merriman showed his form of old on his first snap, whipping around rookie Cordy Glenn. Big guard Michael Jasper was stout in his snaps. In one-on-one passsing drills, rookie Tank Carder had a good moment, getting a pass breakup against C.J. Spiller. Carder also had an interception off a Vince Young pass in 7-on-7 work. Depth-chart information: With Wood resting, Kraig Urbik started at center, and Chad Rinehart took Urbik's right guard spot. The second-team O-Line was, left to right, Glenn, Jasper, Colin Brown, Keith Williams and Sam Young. The third-team O-Line was, left to right, James Carmon, David Snow, Mark Asper, Jake Vermiglio and Zebrie Sanders. The receivers rotated a ton. But generally, Derek Hagan was the third outside guy with the first unit behind Johnson and Donald Jones. Defensive depth-chart info: Anderson started at right end on the defensive line. The linebackers rotated a ton depending on their situational roles. The second-team defensive line was: Chris Kelsay, Spencer Johnson, Dwan Edwards and Merriman. The second-team linebackers were Nigel Bradham, Scott McKillop or Chris White, and Arthur Moats. However, Moats got snaps with the starters in a variety of nickel situations. The third-team D-Line was Robert Eddins, Alex Carrington, Kellen Heard and Kyle Moore. Highlight plays in 11-on-11 work included some sharp throws from Fitzpatrick to slot receiver David Nelson, along with a couple of slants and intermediate sideline strikes to Stevie Johnson. Rian Lindell booted a field goal from 55 yards.
Welker, Patriots open training camp FOXBOROUGH, Mass.—Wes Welker was jogging back to the line after running a route during the New England Patriots' first training camp session Thursday when owner Bob Kraft arrived on the sideline and pointed in his direction. Wasting no time, the Pro Bowl receiver immediately approached Kraft, the two sharing a quick embrace and a handshake before parting ways. At least on the surface, everything appears to be just fine between Welker and the Patriots despite the two failing to agree on a long-term contract this offseason. "Everyone tried. I tried, they tried, and it just didn't work out," said Welker, who signed a $9.5 million franchise tender on May 15. "It's in the past and we're moved onto this season, which we expect to be a good one." Welker is now resigned to playing out his one-year deal after both sides couldn't come to terms on a longer contract before July 15, the deadline to sign franchised players to a multiyear pact. Coming off one of the greatest seasons of his career, when he had a league-high 122 receptions for 1,569 yards and a career-best nine touchdowns in helping the Patriots reach the Super Bowl, Welker knows it's a new year, and proving yourself, he said, comes with the territory. "There's no year where you don't need to prove it. It's like any other year," Welker said. "The contract and everything else is out of my mind. It's really just going out there and focusing on playing good ball." Welker, who tweeted after signing his tender that "hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results. (hash)leapoffaith," said Thursday that it wasn't difficult not to take it personally. While he clearly feels he's deserving of a long-term deal, he also understands the business side of it. "You always kind of think it's going to happen and then, I don't know. I think you just get excited," he said. "But at the same time, you're very fortunate the position you're in and I look forward to really playing out this year and playing some of the best ball I can play." The Patriots seem intent on doing just that, too, joining a slew of former faces with familiar ones in hopes of bouncing back from a 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who guided New England's record-setting offense in 2007, is back calling the plays for quarterback Tom Brady and the offense after serving as head coach of the Denver Broncos and offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams. Receivers Jabar Gaffney and Donte' Stallworth, both members of that 2007 squad, also have returned, and receiver Brandon Lloyd, who played for McDaniels in both Denver and St. Louis, adds a much-needed deep threat to an already high-scoring offense. "We have a lot of good players on our team and everybody really working together and understanding that we all work off each other," Welker said. "The more guys we have out there doing the right thing, the better off we're going to be as an offense. It's exciting to see and we still have a lot of work ahead of us and we look forward to it." Admitting that "this is home for me and it's great to be back," McDaniels' relationship with Brady appears to have picked up right where it left off. "Every year you reestablish all those connections ... you really work hard to recreate those relationships," he said. "Each one of our relationships probably grows and matures a little bit each year and I think that's where Tom and I are, but we'll always try to get better and communicate better as we go forward through camp." McDaniels wouldn't comment on Welker's contract situation, saying only that he doesn't believe it will play a role in his season. "Wes has got a great attitude and has worked extremely hard in the offseason, had a really good day today," McDaniels said. "I'm going to coach him hard just like I always have." Some fans may have forgotten the consistent contributions from the dependable receiver during his five seasons in New England, instead choosing to remember the ball he didn't catch, a crucial second-and-11 pass from Brady with 4:06 remaining in the Super Bowl that likely would have sealed a victory for New England. He wasn't asked Thursday about dropping that pivotal pass, though he insinuated there's a lot left for him to do. "I look forward and think that I have so much more that I can prove and conquer out there," Welker said. "I plan on working hard and doing what it takes to go out there and do it." And what if he has another stellar season this year and then lingers through a similar contractual dispute next summer? Not a concern. "That's a great situation," Welker said, "so not too worried about that."
McDaniels, Patricia are taking sides Offense, defense in good hands FOXBOROUGH — The differences between the team Josh McDaniels remembers when he left New England to become coach of the Broncos in 2009 and the one he’s rejoining as offensive coordinator this season are noticeable, but slight. Clearly, Tom Brady isn’t going anywhere. Wes Welker is still catching 100 balls a season (even if he’s franchised). The locker room is missing some furniture, such as Kevin Faulk. And names such as Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Laurence Maroney, and the biggest of all, Randy Moss, are gone. Now, the Patriots’ two most potent weapons are young, hyperathletic tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkow*ski. There’s a pack of young running backs, led by Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, battling for carries. And there’s a stable of veteran wideouts at Brady’s disposal. When McDaniels thought about all the untapped potential for an offense that was already second in the league last season, he could hardly hide his excitement. Is his job as fun as it looks? “Yes,” he said emphatically, after getting through the first day of camp. “Yes, it is.” After leaving the Patriots, McDaniels spent two years in Denver before spending last season as the Rams’ offensive coordinator. Now, he’s returned to New England, where he will head a fully loaded offense that accounted for 6,848 total yards last season. It’s more potent than the one he left behind after the 2008 season (fifth in the NFL that year) and dramatically better than last year’s Rams (the second-worst offense in the league), and those differences give him reasons to be excited. “The tight ends are different,” McDaniels said. “The backs are a little younger. Things have changed. There’s a few different coaches on our staff, but I think that happens at every team every year in the NFL and we just adapt. We’re so used to doing it by now that it just comes with the territory. But it’s exciting. You start to formulate what you’re going to actually be in training camp. There’s always some things that change in training camp as well, so it will be exciting to see how it kind of unfolds.” He will reunite with Jabar Gaffney, who joined him in Denver in 2009. While they were there, Gaffney said he bonded with McDaniels, getting to know him off the field. McDaniels was a disciple of Bill Belichick, but his personality and approach to the game were his own. “In my opinion, he is one of the best offensive coordinators out there, and he’s a good person,’’ said Gaffney. “He doesn’t ask you to do nothing that he doesn’t expect you to do. He puts you in spots where you can excel. “Josh, he’s a great coach. He’s a guy that all the players love to play for. He gets us coached up, and brings it out here to the field and coaches us up and puts us in positions [to succeed].” When McDaniels left New England, Matt Patricia was the linebackers coach. Last year, Patricia coached the safeties, and this year he’s the defensive coordinator. Patricia was glad to have McDaniels back as his counterpart on the other side of the ball. “Josh McDaniels is a good friend and a good football coach,” Patricia said. “So [I’m] glad to have him on board and we’re just looking forward to practicing against those guys every day.” Patricia was promoted in the offseason, but on the first day of camp the new title hadn’t changed the job at all. “We don’t really get too much into titles,” said linebacker Jerod Mayo. “You know how we are. He’s doing pretty much the same thing and he’s leading this defense.” His job will be to get the most out of a defense that will have at least 11 new faces contributing. The Patriots used all but one of their seven draft picks to bolster a defense that was the worst in the AFC in yards allowed. “I think we’re all just trying to come out here and do our job and really focus on getting the team ready to go for the season,” Patricia said. “We all honestly really just work excellent together and we all really just do a great job and everybody just divides the pie up and we all work together really well.”
Players must turn corner FOXBOROUGH — You could smell it in the air Thursday afternoon on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. The aroma of great aspirations. Super Bowl title or bust. Remember the franchise that seemed to doubt itself at times after three consecutive seasons without a playoff victory — including brutal losses to the Ravens and Jets? So over. Feels like 10 years ago. What we saw in the first training camp practice from the Patriots was a collective look of determination. Don’t mistake it, however, for redemption or unfinished business after the Super Bowl loss to the Giants. The Patriots were beaten by a more talented team that executed better. It’s the truth. It happens. And it also doesn’t allow the kind of Super Bowl hangover that often claims teams on the losing side the following season. The Patriots weren’t some plucky underdogs who saw their dreams dashed in the big game. They won the games they were supposed to, and they have Tom Brady at quarterback. You don’t strive for excellence around here. It’s demanded and attained. By the owner. The coaches. And, most importantly, by the players. That’s why the other tone you felt in the air Thursday was, essentially, “We’ve got this.” That wasn’t the case last season. The Patriots were forced into scramble mode just like every other team after the lockout, but they had it worse because of self-inflicted wounds. The poor drafts from 2006-09 left the Patriots without depth. So they went out and tried to trade for it and sign it. That’s fine most years, but with no offseason, the Patriots didn’t become a cohesive unit until they faced the cream puff brigade in the second half of the season. Sure, the Patriots added a bunch of new parts this season, including their first six draft picks on defense. But they’ve been able to work together before training camp. That means Brady, Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo, Wes Welker, and the other veterans have been able to size up the new additions. Trust me, they like what they see. But this team is far from a finished product. The offensive line is a mess. It was eaten alive by the defense in the first practice. But the Patriots, when the season rolls around, will be fine there. Defensively, the front seven will be the strength. Oh, the toys Bill Belichick now has (finally) to play with there. Too bad this isn’t 1992, or even 2002, when teams actually cared about running the ball. This is a passing league, and until the Patriots get things settled in the secondary, they’re going to have a tough time against an elite quarterback. The good news is they seem to have some good pieces. The chore will be to stay healthy and fit them in the right way. Nobody is better at the latter than Belichick. But the players need to do their part. And some need to deliver more than others. The six players who must ascend this training camp for the Patriots to win it all: Left tackle Nate Solder — There is no question that Solder possesses the talent and smarts to succeed Matt Light as Brady’s blind-side protector. And the 11 starts at right tackle gave Solder invaluable experience. But doing it on the other side as a starter — not a fill-in for Sebastian Vollmer — is much different. Solder looks much stronger, and that will help him. What won’t aid his ascension is an extended absence by left guard Logan Mankins. They both need as many reps as possible. Solder will be watched carefully in this camp. While he played admirably last season, he didn’t fare well in his first camp. Solder lost 55.6 percent of matchups in one-on-one drills last August — by far the worst for any player who made the team. He doesn’t need to put up Vollmer-like numbers (24.1 loss percentage) but Solder needs to show much improvement. If Brady’s not comfortable, no one will be. Cornerback Devin McCourty — Many of his struggles last season were blamed on a bum shoulder, but he was bad before that. McCourty is healthy now. He did not get off to a good start on Thursday. If the Patriots are going to apply pressure up front through blitzes and zone pressures, they are going to need the cornerbacks to be able to play on an island. McCourty was beaten in that situation deep by Donte’ Stallworth. McCourty is fine with the play in front of him, but the Patriots have evolved from that passive defense. He could still be better suited for free safety. However, until other cornerbacks emerge, McCourty is going to have to do the job. Cornerback Ras-I Dowling — We’ve been over this one before. First of all, he needs to stay on the field. Second, because of his size and speed, Dowling has rare athletic gifts. The Patriots drafted him to be a starter. He isn’t there yet, and he struggled at times to open training camp with three balls completed over his enormous wing span. Dowling needs to be a player. Can he push through and do it? The coaches will be demanding it. Defensive end Jermaine Cunningham — Nobody will be watched more closely than the 2010 second-round pick. He showed some promising flashes as a rookie. Cunningham had only one sack, but that’s not a true measure of impact. He finished third on the team with 23 quarterback pressures. That’s production. Cunningham showed no improvement after the lockout and was relegated to the bench. Cunningham’s time is now. Rob Ninkovich is a good player, but for the Patriots to improve defensively they need a true end to be a force on the left side, not a linebacker/end tweener. If Cunningham can do the job, it allows Belichick to utilize Ninkovich’s versatility in ways that are much more beneficial in the long run. Right ends Trevor Scott and Chandler Jones — Andre Carter might ride in and save the day, but until then one of these two players (or likely a combination) has to replace the playmaking ability we saw from Carter and Mark Anderson a season ago. Despite playing limited snaps his first two seasons in Oakland, Scott posted 12½ sacks and about 30 pressures. Knee surgery in 2010 set him back, and he seems to be primed to make an impact. Jones, the top pick, will need some time to develop. Expect the Patriots to use both players like they did Carter, who started and kicked inside in passing situations, and Anderson, who was a situational pass rusher for most of the season. Yes, the Patriots feel good about themselves, and they should. This is a team that is brimming with talent. The depth is undoubtedly improved. The schedule lines up nicely, and they reside in the AFC, where the path is much easier to the Super Bowl. But the Patriots aren’t going to walk off with another Lombardi Trophy unless some key players answer the bell.
I sure hope 35 year old Tom Brady doesn't take a bunch of massive hits while his offensive line gets it's shit together to start the season. That might not end well.
I work in Pittsford, home of St. John Fisher and the Bills training camp. Each morning I drive into work I loathe the "Pittsford Welcomes The Buffalo Bills signs" and hope for nothing but the worst at each of their training camp sessions.
That's interesting, I live and work in Manhattan, and I couldn't care less about the Jets TC. I concern myself with the Bills improving, not other teams collapsing.......
You care a little about the Jets, or you wouldn't be on here. I agree with the sentiment that I don't hate like that poster does.
Like fellow rookie Dont’a Hightower, Jake Bequette prepping for multiple roles Arkansas rookie Jake Bequette stopped and chatted with reporters today following the Patriots first padded practice. The Herald’s Adam Kurkjian was on hand, and put togther the following blogpost: Rookie defensive end Jake Bequette has more than a few similarities with fellow rookie Dont’a Hightower: Both hail from SEC West schools (Bequette from Arkansas, Hightower from Alabama); both were drafted in part to help improve the pass rush; and both will be asked to do it from multiple positions (Bequette from defensive end or outside linebacker, Hightower from inside or outside linebacker). Despite butting heads every year in the SEC, Bequette, who had 10 sacks as a senior, said his interactions with Hightower were limited before coming to New England. “We never really talked other than handshakes before games at the coin toss. But obviously he’s a very competitive guy. He was a great player at Alabama. We had some great battles back in college, but we’re up here as teammates now, so we’re just trying to help each other and get better.” Bequette has gotten looks both with his hand down and standing up so far in training camp. Despite having less experience with the latter coming in, Bequette maintains that didn’t matter to him coming into the league. “To be honest, I really didn’t have a preference. I just wanted to be able to help whichever team picked me up in the best way possible. Whether that was playing outside linebacker or defensive end or whatever, I just wanted to be able to contribute.” The adjustment to the pro game for Bequette has been a challenge so far, but one he seems happy to take on. “Well, I couldn’t point to one thing (that’s toughest about the transition to the pros). It’s a bunch of things. Not that I’m overwhelmed, but there’s a lot of things you have to do every day on the field, off the field, in the weight room, learning a new system. It’s a great challenge and I love improving.”
Brandon Lloyd won’t jump the gun and talk about how great he and Tom Brady will be Our eyes tell us Brandon Lloyd is developing a nice rappport with Tom Brady, given how he’s pretty much caught balls all over the field, and had the crowd cheering wildly over many of those catches. Lloyd, however, isn’t about to announce the duo a finished product. Asked if he’s felt the progression between he and Brady since OTAs, minicamp, untl now, the wide receiver answered: ”Not yet.” Lloyd, who made several circus catches today, including one off Sterling Moore’s helmet, and another he deflected to himself while he was diving to the ground, said it’s just a matter of time. ”We’re continuing to talk, working together, and seeing what we’re expecting out of the route-running,” he said of his constant chats with Brady. ”Then eventually it’ll start clicking.” Given how great they look already, was it too early to start dreaming about their potential together? ”Way too early,” Lloyd said with a smile. When will it happen? ‘’It just happens. Most of the time that kind of stuff happens when you’re in the game, and everybody is on the same level,” Lloyd said. ”You can talk, and you can discuss and practice a lot of stuff. But you really figure stuff out in game time situations.’’
What base defense are the Pats zoned in on? Try multiple choice The Patriots are consistent. They give away nothing. Director of player personnel Nick Caserio provided the press briefing today, and was asked if it would still be accurate to call the Pats a 3-4 base defense team, even though it was understood they are a multiple defense that does a variety of things. Caserio wouldn’t bite. Was the defense being taught the 3-4 as its base? Once again, Caserio dodged. ”I’d say we’ve been a multiple team for a long time,” Caserio said. ”For as long as I’ve been with the Patriots, we’ve been a multiple defensive team. It’s really specific to the opponent we’re playing. Some weeks, you might have more of an emphasis on one thing, another week, you might have more of an emphasis on another. So, I think the most important thing you’re trying to do in training camp is put your foundation in place, a lot of the principles, and the communication and a lot of those types of things and gradually build. To this point, we’ve only really played some basic coverages.”
Aaron Hernandez can do it all ‘Boring’ TE shows versatility FOXBORO — Compared with his more celebrated tight end teammate, Aaron Hernandez’ summer was quite boring. How could it not be? There were no naked photo shoots and spreads in national magazines. No reality dating shows. No Madden NFL cover duels. No home run-hitting contests. No co-hosting assignments for “Access Hollywood Live.” No partying at events for the ESPN The Magazine issue and ESPYs. No Kardashian rumors. And no six-year, $54 million contract extension. No, the Summer of Hernandez was nothing like the Summer of Gronk. “My (summer) was more private,” Hernandez said with a laugh when asked yesterday how his downtime compared with that of teammate Rob Gronkowski, “but I still had some fun.” We’ll see what the fall brings. Hernandez just might have the kind of fun that comes at the expense of Patriot opponents. Just like last season, it’s going to be really tough for teams to cover both of the Patriots [team stats]’ star tight ends. The logical choice to focus on is the record-setting Gronk, which, in theory, will leave Hernandez to do more damage. Last season, Gronk put up outrageous numbers, setting the new tight end standard for a single season in receiving yards (1,327), receiving touchdowns (17) and total touchdowns (18). Hernandez’ numbers weren’t too shabby for a tight end, with 910 yards and 7 TD catches in 14 games. They just weren’t in the same stratosphere as the man who took it all off for ESPN the Magazine’s annual “Body Issue.” But given his talent, and the imagination of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Hernandez star might also be on the rise if he’s able to stay healthy. Listening to the former fourth-round pick yesterday, he’s already loving what he’s hearing and seeing from McDaniels, who figures to utilize the tight end/wide receiver in plenty of ways. “We have a great coach. Our offensive coordinator is a monster,” Hernandez said of McDaniels. “He knows how to create plays to get people open. He makes it exciting. I love playing for him.” Of course, it will be interesting to see where he lines up, be it closer to the line with his hand down like a traditional tight end, or more toward the slot standing up in the mold of a wide receiver. Should the Patriots opt to place the franchise tag on him in two years, his camp might argue that he be labeled as a wide receiver, which would make him considerably more money, and strike up an interesting little battle. How does Hernandez view himself? A wide receiver or a tight end? “I consider myself a tight end that can do a few things,” he answered. Yesterday, those few things also included returning punts, although it’s doubtful you’ll see that scenario playing out during the season unless it’s an emergency. “I just love being able to have the ball in my hands and make plays. It’s another opportunity,” Hernandez said of returning punts. “Hopefully I get an opportunity to be back there but Julian Edelman does a great job, and we have other people like Wes (Welker) to step in. I just love football and making plays. And if they give me the opportunity, hopefully, I can do something.” Hernandez did do something remarkable yesterday, making a nice catch on a back shoulder throw by Tom Brady [stats] over defender Marquice Cole. The defensive back was no match for Hernandez all day long, as the tight end repeatedly beat him on short and intermediate routes during 7-on-7 drills. Who knows? Maybe Hernandez will move on to be the next nude cover model, although he didn’t seem too interested in that possibility. His favorite moment from Summer of Gronk? “I don’t pay attention to most of that stuff. I’m sure he was having fun,” Hernandez said of Gronkowski. “I definitely get laughs when people tell me about some stuff. I’m more laid-back, chilling.”
