1. The New England Patriots have made a point of keeping their dinged up veterans off the field because there's little wiggle room should a player like tight end Rob Gronkowski or Dont'a Hightower suffer a long term injury. The same approach applies to players with injuries of the more minor variety. Head coach Bill Belichick left players like Julian Edelman, Aaron Dobson, Scott Chandler, and Bryan Stork at home for their recovery, even though they're all nearly healthy. The thought: why engage these key players in a high-octane joint practice if they're not ready?
Sunday NFL Thoughts: Playing Time, Practice Fights, and Football Culture
