QBs for Patriots, Saints enter important preseason stretch

Former University of New Hampshire player R.J. Harris was on the field in Foxborough as the Patriots and New Orleans Saints held a joint practice as the teams prepare for their preseason opener Thursday night.

New Orleans and New England have become regular summer workout partners in recent years as Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a clear fan of joint sessions, made it clear the Saints are a almost ideal practice partner. He said, ‘It’s just like it’. He will make his preseason debut when the Saints and Patriots play at Gillette Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Rain or shine, the Saints and Patriots were going to dial it down the day before a game. “I have nothing bad to say about either one of them”.

Almost two weeks into camp, joint practices offer a new opponent, new competition, new schemes and a freshness that players and coaches alike as the dog days of summer begin to set in.

“It’s fun”, Patriots free safety Devin McCourty said about facing the Saints in practice. Since arriving in the National Football League in 2000 and 2001, respectively, the two QBs have combined for 20 Pro Bowl selections, five first-team All-Pro nods, four Offensive Player of the Year Awards and five Super Bowl rings.

“It’s always different on game day”.

The following week, it’s the Chicago Bears’ turn to have joint-practices in Foxborough, followed by a game on August 18.

While there were a couple minor tussles in the first action with the Patriots and the Saints on Tuesday, they are rare and short-lived. The two teams have joined forces many times before.

Obviously, the two quarterbacks have plenty of similarities, but Hoomanawanui said there aren’t many differences. We’re progressively getting better. “Tom actually threw it out there”.

“One of the best“, McCourty said of Brees. “I haven’t really thought about it recentl at all”.

Brady was 7-of-11, while Jimmy Garoppolo, who will be the starter when Brady sits out the first four games of the regular season, hit on 7 of 15 pass attempts.

“We played against each other in college”, Brees explained.