For the first time in the 2010 season, the Patriots will get a chance to hit someone besides their teammates when New England hosts the Saints in joint practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. New Orleans is in town in preparation for Thursday's preseason game with the Patriots.
Tuesday's schedule has the Pats and Saints practicing at 9 A.M. and then again at 3:45 P.M. (NFL officials will be on hand as well).
Bill Belichick provided details on Monday as to what was in store the next two days:
Both teams will be on the two practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. The opening third of the practice will have the Saints on one field and the Patriots on the other.
For the final two-thirds of practice, the teams will come together.
When the teams come together, the work will be varied, including everything from 7-on-7 drills to a possible full-team scrimmage.
"This will be a chance for us to do it against somebody else," Belichick said. "Their schemes and players are different than ours, so it just creates some new matchups."
The intensity level is expected to be ramped up a bit over the next two days, which probably explains why the players sound so excited. "This will be great for the fans to see. I think there will be a pretty good buzz throughout practice this week," LT Matt Light said.