BOURNE, Mass. — The New England Patriots aren’t allowed to practice yet, so they’re using the next four weeks to get their bodies, and trash talk, in game shape.
Patriots captain Devin McCourty will have new starting cornerbacks around him in 2015, but at this point, he’s not too eager to get back on the practice field to see how the new-look secondary jells.
“Uh, not really,” the safety said laughing at the Patriots’ “Football for You” clinic at Joint Base Cape Cod on Wednesday. “I like the process and the pace that comes with it. We get to come in four weeks before we get on the field, and I think it’s good for all of our bodies to get in that shape and start running around with our team. I think it all works out pretty well once we do get on the field. At that point, the trash talking builds up, so it’s better we get the month to get at each other and start trash talking, and then get out there and compete.”
The Patriots’ voluntary offseason program began Monday and runs through June 18, when their three-day mandatory minicamp wraps up.
Running drills for the children of servicemen holds a special place in McCourty’s heart — the safety’s father and older brother were both in the Army.
“I think it’s just awesome to be here,” McCourty said. “So many of these people are big fans of ours, and I think sometimes when we come, they get to find out how big of fans we are. We root on and admire them just as much as they do watching us on Sunday. They don’t get as much glory or get looked at by the rest of the country like we do, but we truly appreciate it and it’s a great representation.”
McCourty was joined by teammates Nate Solder, Jonas Gray, Joe Vellano, James Morris, Michael Buchanan and Cameron Fleming at the volunteer event.
Thumbnail photo via Doug Kyed/NESN
