The New England Patriots are practicing in California this week in preparation for their game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.
Being away from home for an entire week during the regular season is a bit of a change for Patriots players, but they are looking to make the most out of the experience.
Team captain and core special teamer Matthew Slater discussed the opportunity for this trip to be a team-building experience Monday during a conference call with reporters.
"It's an opportunity for us to clear our minds, spend a lot of time together and just focus on the task at hand of playing the Chargers this week," Slater said. "I think you are right that it is a bit of a team-building experience. Hopefully we can make the most of it."
Fellow team captain and starting left guard Dan Connolly seconded Slater's comments as he compared the week to training camp.
"It definitely has the feeling of training camp where we are all together," Connolly said via conference call. "But it's important for us to not be distracted by other things that are going on out here and realize we have a job to do this week. We have to treat it as much like a normal week as we can and still prepare for the game that we have on Sunday."
In Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Patriots are used to cold, winter weather, but in San Diego, they will have warmth and sun. Don't expect the Patriots to be distracted by some warm weather. Slater said this week is all business.
"I don't think there will be very much difference," Slater said. "We are going to put the same effort, time and preparation into it that we normally would. The coaches are going to be doing everything that they normally do.
"The only difference is the location that we are doing it in. Other than that, there is no difference. We are all professionals and we understand what we need to do and we are going to do it."