Consider it a distraction from the distraction.
The Patriots will be back in the news for actual football reasons this week. They opened organized team activities yesterday at Gillette Stadium and will begin a three-day stretch of media availability, starting with today’s introduction of first-round draft pick Malcom Brown.
Fellow draft picks Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers, Tre’ Jackson and Shaq Mason will meet the media tomorrow.
Yesterday marked the start of the sixth week of the Patriots’ nine-week offseason workout program. The OTAs, which are the third and final phase, permit the offense and defense to finally practice against one another, though contact and pads remain off limits.