Patriots Planning Joint Training Camp With AFC Rival
Despite the NFL not releasing its 2023 schedule yet, a report from ESPN has already shed some light on what the New England Patriots are planning for training camp.
“Word from the NFL annual league meeting is that [Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Titans coach Mike Vrabel have been talking about the possibility of joint practices in Nashville, similar to what the teams did in 2019,” reporter Mike Reiss writes.
Vrabel and Belichick share a lot of familiarity. Vrabel played for the Patriots under the legendary head coach for seven seasons, 2001-08, winning three Super Bowls in that time. Since transitioning into coaching, Vrabel has now coached against Belichick twice with the Tennessee Titans, holding a 1-1 record.
In fact, Vrabel's one win against his former team is a significant one in franchise history for the Patriots, as it came in the 2019 AFC Wild Card game, quarterback Tom Brady's final game before leaving for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Oddly enough, it was during that 2019 training camp that the Titans and Patriots last held joint practices.
These joint practices will be a good test for both sides, allowing them to scrimmage against another team without having the same familiarity on each side as with intra-squad scrimmages, getting the players and coaches closer to game-like situations.
Last Summer the Patriots training camp practices with the Carolina Panthers were marred by almost daily fights.
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