FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots let it be known when players stand out in practice.
Practice players of the week don a black jersey throughout the week, and the Patriots are the only team that tweets out the accomplishment. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t expound much when asked about what goes into the decision to name practice players of the week, however.
“They did a good job,” Belichick said. “Doing what he’s asked to do and doing it well.”
The Patriots frequently switch up their practice squad, and one theory behind those continual roster transactions is that the team is trying to find scout team players who will better imitate an upcoming opponent. The Patriots released practice squad wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins last week and signed 6-foot-3, 212-pound wideout Austin Hill as they prepare for the Dallas Cowboys and another bigger receiver, Terrance Williams.
“I don’t think we’ve ever talked about having a player on the practice squad to imitate someone else,” Belichick said, however.
Practice players are in the news because Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill admitted to making disparaging remarks when he was picked off by the scout team defense during a Saturday walk-through — an unimpressive feat, since they’re held at half speed and passes are lobbed. Tannehill admitted to making comments about “a scout team or trophy,” according to ESPN Nation Dolphins reporter James Walker. The scout team is meant to show the starting offense and defense the alignments and schemes they’re expected to see from that week’s opponent.
Practice isn’t taken lightly with the Patriots, and neither are the weekly awards.
“It’s taken pretty seriously,” backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said Wednesday. “It’s our job as the scout team guys to give them a good look. I don’t know if all teams take it as seriously as we take it, but we take it pretty seriously.”
Players aren’t told why they earned the honor, but the weekly award is announced at Monday’s meetings.
“It’s announced, then that’s kind of the end of it,” Garoppolo said. “It’s a little thing, but the better we can do on the scout team, the better look they’re going to get, hopefully the better they’re going to play on Sunday.”
Patriots defensive tackle Khyri Thornton has donned a black jersey for the last two weeks for the work he did leading up to the Week 3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Green Bay Packers third-round draft pick was pleased to earn the award.
“It means a lot,” Thornton said. “Around here, they expect their practice players to be able to fill in if somebody goes down. For them to give me that, I feel it’s an honor. Obviously I’m doing something right out there. I know every day, I don’t just look at it as an accomplishment. I look at it and push forward. I feel like there’s always room to grow.”
Thornton said Packers practice players of the week were allowed to travel with the team, but the honor wasn’t taken as seriously as it is with the Patriots.
Thumbnail photo via Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports Images
