FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Bill Belichick looked puzzled at first.
It’s been raining heavily at times the last two days here in New England, and with that in mind, a questioner asked Belichick the location of Wednesday’s practice -- inside or outside?
Belichick relayed that the team would be outside, before asking a question of his own: “Is there any reason we shouldn’t be out there?”
A little rain -- or in this case a lot of rain -- has never stopped Belichick.
He wants the team practicing outside whenever possible (it’s viewed as good experience for what they could face on game-day at some point during the season), which essentially means that unless it’s lightning, players can expect to be in the elements.
That was the highlight of Belichick’s news conference Wednesday, as the Patriots continue preparations for Sunday’s season-opener at Tennessee. A full-pad practice was scheduled.
A few quick hits from Belichick:
Roster moves to come. Belichick said the team has a couple of roster moves coming, but because there are some “moving parts” involved, the club planned to relay them all at once when solidified. Projected moves to be announced: 1. Signing of tight end Michael Hoomanawanui; 2. Veteran tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) to land on injured reserve; 3. Receiver Kerry Taylor signed to practice squad; 4. Receiver Sam Kirkland released from practice squad.
Wendell’s journey revisited. With four-year veteran Ryan Wendell a leading candidate to start the season-opener at center, Belichick was asked how far Wendell has come in his time with the club. Belichick reflected on how the Patriots had signed Wendell as a rookie free agent out of Fresno State in 2008, and released him after that camp, initially not even bringing him back for the practice squad. But Wendell has shown a steady improvement over the years. “Lot of hard work, stringing a lot of good days together -- day after day, week after week, year after year,” Belichick said. “He’s definitely earned it.” Belichick said Wendell could have been in the same position last year if not for injuries.
Titans TE Cook? Hell yeah. Belichick was asked about Titans tight end Jared Cook in the context of Cook not being mentioned by media members in the category of some other younger up-and-coming players at the position. Belichick jumped on the question. “Not mentioned by who?” he asked, before telling the questioner to take it up with those who don’t put Cook in that group. When told that Cook is a talented player, Belichick said, “Hell yeah. This guy’s good.”