Bill Belichick pointing out that spring practices are a time for teaching and implementation rather than competition and evaluation is a yearly tradition in New England. Any reports coming out of the Patriots’ currently ongoing organized team activities therefore needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
That does not mean the information available is not still valuable and can help paint a clearer picture of the 2022 team, especially when properly contextualized. That is exactly why there is to some optimism surrounding linebacker Raekwon McMillan.
McMillan played a starter-level role at the off-the-ball linebacker position during Monday’s OTA practice open to the media.