FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Veteran defensive lineman Andre Carter is in his 11th season, and he knows at this point of training camp, sometimes it can help to lighten the mood.
That appeared to be Bill Belichick's intention Tuesday.
At the end of the team's nearly three-hour practice, Belichick called on receivers Wes Welker and Chad Ochocinco to kick 34-yard field goals. Both were no good -- Welker's sailing wide left and coming up a bit short, while Ochocinco's was more of a line-drive attempt that also hooked left.
"It's all about camaraderie, a bunch of guys coming together," Carter explained. "Sometimes, in football, we get a little tense and a little heated. It's training camp, you've got bumps and bruises, so it's always good to have a little sense of humor, a little fun to the game. You crack jokes and go about your way."
Carter said there was nothing on the line for the team with Welker's and Ochocinco's attempts, such as a night off from meetings.
Meanwhile, kicker Stephen Gostkowski was quick to defend Welker and Ochocinco.
"Kickers, we make excuses, so the grass was bad, it was into the wind, and they got no warmups," he cracked.