Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, left, and assistant coach Matt Patricia jog on the field during training camp on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass. Mary Schwalm/Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH — With Josh McDaniels gone to the desert, finding his replacement has been a major Patriots storyline this offseason.
Matt Patricia has clearly been relaying plays to Mac Jones early in training camp, but according to the offensive assistant, there’s not a ton that goes into that at this stage of the summer.
“It’s great this time of year because fortunately all the plays are scripted in a row and you just read down through them from that standpoint,” Patricia said. “We’re all sharing the responsibilities based on what periods we’re at in practice. So from that aspect of it, it’s structured.”
In competitive 11-on-11 periods, it’s almost always been Patricia with the walkie talkie, while Joe Judge will sometimes substitute if the offensive line coach is with the linemen during 7-on-7 periods.
Ultimately, it all runs through Bill Belichick.
“I think that we have an established culture here where we all understand there’s input that comes across the board,” Patricia said. “Certainly when there’s a hard decision that needs to be made we’re lucky enough that our head coach here is involved in all aspects of the game and really has an expertise above anybody else – really to be honest with you – in all of those areas. So when we need a push in either direction, we really can rely on him, which is great, to help us get through any of those sticky points.”
So is there any clarity on who will be calling plays when Week 1 rolls around?
“We’re really just trying to get through today’s practice and go through camp. Fortunately we don’t have a game tomorrow. So we’re just going to get through practice and go from there,” Patricia said. “Everything I defer to Coach (Belichick) on that. He’ll handle it.”
PUNTER JAKE BAILEY isn’t going anywhere.
The All-Pro punter signed a new four-year, $13.5 million contract with $6.5 million in guaranteed money that runs through 2025, adding three more seasons to Bailey’s previous deal, which had one year left on it.
What made Bailey feel like New England was a place he wanted to be long-term?
“The guys, teammates, coaches,” Bailey said. “Love playing for Coach (Bill) Belichick. I love being a part of Boston. This town is awesome.”
During the negotiation process, Bailey made it clear that he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“You want to stay with what you know and what is comfortable to you,” Bailey said. “I am happy this worked out.”
Bailey was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Patriots out of Stanford. He beat out Ryan Allen for the starting job that preseason and quickly made an impact, being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 3. Bailey also took over kickoff duties that season when Stephen Gostkowski went on injured reserve.
Kickers, punters and long snappers are usually isolated during practice and mostly work on their own. Bailey has spent most of the last three years working with long snapper Joe Cardona, kicker Nick Folk and punt protector Cody Davis.
Bailey thinks the people around him within the organization have made him a better punter.
“(Cody Davis) and Joe (Cardona) I probably rely on the most,” Bailey said. “They are my guys each and every play. (Matthew) Slater, Justin (Bethel). Without those guys I don’t think I’d be in the position I am in today. I’m just so thankful to them that they have worked hard and put me in this position.”
PATRIOTS DEFENSIVE BACKS Jonathan Jones, Jabrill Peppers and Myles Bryant made their training camp debuts Monday.
Jones (shoulder) and Peppers (torn ACL) started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Bryant had been on the Non-Football Injury list. All three returned in time for the Pats’ first padded practice of training camp.
Quarterback Brian Hoyer missed his third straight practice. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise returned after his own string of absences, but worked separately on a lower conditioning field, as did fourth-round rookie running back Pierre Strong.
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