Patriots Saturday Minicamp Report

The New England Patriots’ rookies have gathered for their first set of underwear practices. Here’s a look at the first day, in our patent-pending (not really) One-Liner style. Rookie CB Darius Butler is wearing No. 27, only days after it was vacated by the Ellis Hobbs trade. With or without Hobbs in New England, Butler knows what he needs to do: “I was going to come in, regardless of who they had on the roster, and work my hardest to get on the field, and do what I got to do to help the team. The fact they traded Ellis Hobbs has no effect on me.” DT Ron Brace has begun to learn the 3-4 after playing college ball in the 4-3. Brace already sounds like he gets it: “College football and the NFL are two different things,” Brace said. “In college you can stick out by being the most talented, but when it comes to here everybody is the most talented and the difference-maker in the person who puts in the most work.” Rookie offensive lineman Jermail Porter has never played a down of organized football. Thirty players are present: 12 draft picks, five undrafted free agents, three current players, and 10 tryout-basis candidates. Third-round WR Brandon Tate isn’t practicing as he rehabs a torn ACL. In non-rookie-minicamp news, DL Richard Seymour’s wife has been cleared of lynching charges.