NFL: Patriots Camp—Why So Physical?

If the Patriots thought they were going to breeze through their 2008 creampuff schedule on their way back to the Super Bowl, they quickly discovered upon their arrival at training camp that they were sorely mistaken. Literally. No, instead of 2008 AFC East Champs hats and an AFC Championship Game placeholder, all they’ve gotten are beatings from each other on a daily, and sometimes twice-daily, basis. Eleven of the first 14 practices for the 2008 Pats have been in full pads, with heavy contact. There have been lots of 11-on-11 goal-line work, including Saturday, when rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo stuffed Laurence Maroney on the 1-yard line and got the win for the defense. Patriots Fan Weekly reporter Paul Perillo called it the play of camp thus far , and that makes me warm and happy inside. But why so physical? It’s possible Bill Belichick might be worried his team could be overconfident heading into a schedule that sees them playing teams with a 2007 winning percentage of ... (link)