Camping

I've come to the realization that I either need to learn to like cantaloupe or I have to stop ordering the fruit cup. I generally like the other pieces of fruit, the grapes, strawberries, watermelon and pineapple but it seems like fully half of it is cantaloupe.

Life. You have to learn to like the cantaloupe.

 

Most of the non-"Does Brady look like Deflategate is getting to him?" news out of Patriots training camp has been about injuries. As long as I don't hear Gronkowski's name in the "Who left the field limping" section of the daily reports I won't be too worried. It's just August 9th, after all.

Getting a longer look at the guys who were on the bubble isn't necessarily a bad thing, either, assuming most of the absences are due to dings and nicks. I'm sure Josh Boyce agrees. And converted TE Jake Bequette wasn't going to get any reps with Brady until Scott Chandler was walked off the field. On the other hand, I'm still waiting to exhale on Bryan Stork's injury, it was disappointing hearing Aaron Dobson's name and the word "hamstring" in the same sentence (again) and LeGarrette Blount's sprained MCL is not a good thing, especially with Tyler Gaffney already sidelined.

It could be worse, of course. So far, nobody from the Patriots has been clocked at 143 mph with a 12-year old child and a loaded gun in their Bentley.

And there's been some good news, too.

The Rookie Guards

Tre Jackson and Shaq Mason have been running with the Brady Bunch from Day 1 and other than noting they're running with the starters, we haven't heard too much about them, and "no news is good news" certainly applies when we're talking about offensive linemen. Mason may only be holding down the fort at left guard until Ryan Wendell is healthy or he may be picking up the pass protection skills he rarely had to use in his days at Georgia Tech faster than any of us could've hoped. As for Jackson, it looks like we can put down the pencil and pick up the pen when it comes to the starting right guard position.

Jabaal Sheard and the NASCAR Front

Yes, we're still a bit nervous about the cornerback position but the front seven is looking to be everything we hoped for and more. Jabaal Sheard is showing up on the practice field and looks more than capable of filling that rotational role with Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich to help keep those to fresh and healthy. Even better, we've already seen a glimpse of what could be the New England version of the NASCAR Front, with Jones kicking inside to DT alongside Dominique Easley and Sheard and Ninko on the outside.

That's pretty good.

Now add Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower jumping into the A gap while Geno Smith poops his pants (figuratively, of course).

Does it matter who's playing cornerback when the quarterback is sacked for a 12-yard loss?

Jamie Collins is Super Freaky

Speaking of the front seven and Jamie Collins, from the early reports, it sounds like the athletically gifted super freak just keeps getting better. Keep in mind, in 15 games played in 2014, he recorded 116 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 recovered, 2 interceptions and 3 passed defended. And he's getting better.

Most teams would put this guy at right OLB and just have him rush the passer and he'd easily be in double-digit sacks every year. That might look good on paper but Collins has so many other talents. Belichick and Matt Patricia will use him in multiple roles, taking advantage of his ability to cover tight ends and running backs as well as his ability to set the edge and rush the passer.

Assuming Hightower and Jerod Mayo are fully healthy, the Patriots could easily have the best linebacking corps in the NFL and not to take anything away from those two but the biggest reason for that has to be Jamie Collins.

Feeling Good About Danny Amendola – Wait-What?

Remember when we all hated Danny Amendola? Amendola was arguably a key contributor to the playoff run that ended with the Patriots once again kissing the Lombardi Trophy. Even so, when he re-worked his deal in the off-season, the consensus amongst the good citizens of Patriots Nation that it would make it that much easier for New England to release Amendola after the 2015 season and that was a good thing. The sooner the wide receiver made of glass was shown the door, the better.

With Brandon LaFell starting camp in a walking boot and Julian Edelman missing time with an injury to be named later (or not at all), Amendola appears to have picked up where he left off in February, showing (okay, finally) the abilities and production (okay, YAC in camp doesn't count) that was expected when he got Wes Welker's money. And he's getting reps with Brady, which should pay off big time in the long run.

Amendola, Edelman, LaFell and (fingers crossed) Aaron Dobson (or select one from the pu-pu platter of Brandon Gibson, Brian Tyms, Josh Boyce or Chris Harper) give McDaniels the option to go four wide (and maybe Travaris Cadet figures into this equation, too.) With Gronk, Scott Chandler, Hooman and (maybe) Jake Bequette (or a swing tackle like Marcus Cannon or Cameron Fleming), they could put four tight ends on the field and play smash mouth football with Blount, Jonas Gray or Brandon Bolden and still go play action with two pretty good pass catchers in Gronkowski and Chandler.

Whatever the combination, it will put pressure on Patriots' opponents. The defense will declare and Brady will decide.

Malcolm Butler – You May Have Heard of Him

Can you tell the story of the Super Bowl without mentioning Malcolm Butler's interception? It's got to be on any list of the Top 10 Plays or Top 10 Moments in Super Bowl history. I tried to come up with a list off the top of my head and I could only think of a few plays that I would put on the list with Butler's INT. John Riggins' 4th and 1 run. James Harrison's 100-yard Pick 6. Something called "The Helmet Catch?" (I'm a little fuzzy on that one.) Marcus Allen's run. Lynn Swann's catch. That's a lot of weight to carry for Butler.

Based on the early reports from camp, it appears Butler is up to the task.

Brady Being Brady

Making plays, talking trash, pushing himself and his teammates to be better.

Tom Brady doesn't look like a man who's worried about anything other than a fifth ring, the one ring to rule them all, the ring that shuts down any argument about who is the greatest of all time. 

Brady knows that every game he plays for the rest of his career will be a referendum on his legacy. You think this guy had killer-eyed, spit-flying, head-butting, fist-pumping intensity before? I believe we're about to see something unprecedented and historic; an athlete having the best five years of his career at age 38-43. I believe Brady will play seven more years; along the way he will certainly win a fifth and could eventually bring home a sixth Lombardi Trophy to Foxborough.

You have doubts about that? Should I remind you that Tom Brady has been doubted all the way back to his college days at Michigan? Should I remind you of how he's met and overcome every challenge he's faced along the way?

I want to see Brady on that winner's stage one more time. I want to see him shake Goodell's hand and not let go. I want to see him squeeze the commissioner's hand until Goodell goes to his knees and tears well up in his eyes and he begs Brady to let go. I want the boom mike to pick up the sound of the bones cracking in Goodell's hand.

Or Brady could just take the Lombardi Trophy, hold it up over his head and smile.

Five rings. One ring to rule them all.