slides: Intensity Ramps Up on Day 4 of Patriots Training Camp

Monday, August 03, 2015

Joe Calabro, GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

Rob Gronkowski

After a week of talking about deflating footballs, lawsuits and appeals, it was finally nice to focus on real football on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium.

The New England Patriots are through four days of training camp, two of those days coming in full pads, and the intensity is picking up. That was signified by the battle between cornerback Malcolm Butler and receiver Julian Edelman as well as Tom Brady's intensity level during seven on seven and 11 on 11 drills.

"We just come out, try to push each other every day, he go hard, I'm going hard, a couple of other receivers, a couple of other cornerbacks out there making plays so, it's not just me and Julian, the whole wide receiver group, the whole cornerback group, safeties, we're all out here trying to get better," said Malcolm Butler.

The last couple of days have been grueling for the Patriots, practicing in full pads and heat, however, players don't have to look far for motivation.

"That's what's great about this team, if your feeling down low, feeling tired, guess what, the guy next to you is gonna bring you back up cause he is working hard, that's what gives you the motivation to push through during this camp," Rob Gronkowski said after the session.

After four straight days of camp, the Patriots will have Monday, August 3rd off before returning to the field on Tuesday (Aug. 4th) at 1:45 p.m. That practice is open to the public.

SEE THE FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP BELOW.

Related Slideshow: 5 Takeaways From Patriots Training Camp

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Limited/no action

The Patriots were once again in full pads on a warm day at Gillette stadium in front of another capacity crowd.

Linebacker Dont'a Hightower was on the practice field but in a red no-contact jersey and did not participate in ball security drills. He ran sprints instead.

Quarterback Matt Flynn was at practice but did not participate as he is still on the non football injury list.

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Aaron Dobson

After an injury plagued season in 2014 and an inconsistent season in 2013, wide receiver Aaron Dobson has looked strong during this year's training camp.

Dobson has been getting extra reps due to Brandon LaFell sitting on the PUP list and has been one of Tom Brady's main targets in this camp, along with Edelman and Gronkowski, of course.

“I'm just trying to have fun, play ball, I've been playing this game for a long time so just trying to have fun," Dobson said after practice.

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Malcolm Butler

The competitiveness was ramped up in Sunday mornings practice, most notably between corner back Malcolm Butler and wide receiver Julian Edelman.

During one-on-one sessions, the two players got after it a bit and when Edelman made a catch, he was sure to let Butler know about it. Even Tom Brady got into the action.

"When we're at practice. I tell Tom, 'Throw the ball, throw the ball! Throw at me, throw at me!' And when he gets me, he's gonna let me know he threw it. So he let me know he threw it," Butler said after practice.

On Edelman's trash talk - "Most people talk and can't back it up, that's one of the guys that can back it up," Butler added.

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Jimmy Garoppolo

Due to what is going on with Tom Brady and his potential suspension, the spotlight has shined a little brighter on back-up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in this training camp.

Garoppolo has made a number of plays and has shown the ability to throw the deep ball throughout camp, much like last season when he played.

During a throwing drill, Garoppolo and Brady were pretty much on target when it came to throwing deep.

However, what's interesting is that Brady is still taking most of the first team reps and has been throughout camp.

Maybe the Patriots know something that we don't.

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Tom Brady

Tom Brady continues to receive standing ovation's and chants of "Brady, Brady" whenever he takes the field and or completes a pass.

Brady has been on fire in this training camp, with every throw being just about where it is supposed to be.

Near the end of practice, Brady ran a two minute drill with the offense against the first team defense and were able to move them up the field courtesy of a catch by Aaron Dobson deep down the field.

Edelman, Gronkowski and Aaron Dobson have been Brady's go to guys during training camp and were again on Sunday.