Postcard from Camp, Day Two: Last day before the pads come out

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FOXBORO -- Bill Belichick had some fun with reporters on Friday morning, explaining that there's not a whole heck of a lot that can be taken away from practices where there's no contact. 

With that in mind, here is what we saw from Day 2 of training camp practice -- knowing full well that this isn't really training camp because the pads have yet to come out. 

WHAT WE SAW

* Rob Ninkovich and Joe Cardona were absent from practice for the second consecutive day. Belichick said both are out due to "personal reasons."

* Danny Amendola and Malcolm Mitchell were not spotted on Friday. They seemed to finish Thursday's practice without any issues so the team could simply be trying to manage to important pieces to their passing game. Both have had significant injury histories and could benefit from the occasional down day. 

* Kony Ealy was back on the field after missing Thursday's work. He joins a defensive end group that includes Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom, Derek Rivers and Deatrich Wise. 

* Cody Hollister appeared to suffer an upper-body injury early in practice after diving to catch a Jacoby Brissett pass. He did not return. 

* Patriots owner Robert Kraft showed up at practice early on in the session and was greeted by loud cheers from the crowd in attendance. 

* Kickoff work was part of the focus of Friday's special-teams periods. Emphasizing the point that special teams are considered a critical phase, the Patriots gave Stephon Gilmore and Chris Hogan -- both of whom are presumed to have big defensive and offensive roles -- reps on the kickoff team. That's not unusual in Foxboro, where Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon and Patrick Chung are among their most important special-teamers.

* Undrafted rookies David Jones and Will Likely both worked as kick returners. 

* Behind Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon at the tackle spots are Cameron Fleming (left) and LaAdrian Waddle (right). Rookies Tony Garcia (left) and Conor McDermott (right) have worked with the third team. 

 

NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS

* During a 4-on-3 drill down by the goal line, Jimmy Garoppolo completed a pass to Chris Hogan but Hogan was kept out of the end zone by Cyrus Jones. Hogan took exception to Jones' physicality and the two went facemask-to-facemask. Jones then tried to slap the ball out of Hogan's hands twice. Bill Belichick saw it all and said something softly to Jones before Jones headed back to where the defensive backs were congregating, high-fiving assistant Steve Belichick and others.

* For the second straight day, Garoppolo was picked off by Jordan Richards and Eric Rowe in quick succession. The first came on a pass deep down the field that was uncharacteristically end-over-end by the time Richards camped under it. The second -- two plays later -- came on a back-shoulder throw intended for Devin Lucien. It looked like Lucien had the chance to snag it, but somehow Rowe came up with it while falling to the ground. 

*  Tom Brady and Garoppolo were generally very accurate during 7-on-7 work, but corners had their hands wrapped in gloves with no fingers. The drills seemed competitive, but they weren't all-out. The second set of 11-on-11 plays were also done with defensive backs wearing gloves.

 

11-on-11

* Brady incomplete to Cooks down the sideline. Glimore there in tight coverage. 0-for-1

* Brady complete to Cooks but would've been sacked by Wise. Long rep. 0-for-2.

* Brady incomplete to Hogan. Gilmore in coverage. Gave a little bump. Flag? 0-for-3.

* Brady complete to Lewis with Harris in coverage. 1-for-4

* Brady complete to open Edelman. Miscommunication for J. Jones and Gilmore. 2-for-5. 

 

* Garoppolo intercepted by Richards. Hogan was the target. Coleman in coverage. 0-for-1.

* Garoppolo complete to Burkhead. 1-for-2. 

* Garoppolo intercepted by Eric Rowe. Rowe was all over Lucien. 1-for-3.  

* Garoppolo complete to Edelman with Coleman in coverage. 2-for-4. 

* Garoppolo complete to Edelman. Good coverage by Coleman, though. 3-for-5. 

 

* Brissett complete to Carr. 

* Brissett incomplete to Develin. Roberts in coverage. 

* Brissett complete to Cotton with Thompson in coverage. 

* Brissett complete to Hollister with King in coverage. 3-for-4.

 

11-on-11 (corners wearing restrictive mitts)

* Garoppolo complete to Burkhead. 

* Garoppolo complete to Bolden. 

* Garoppolo complete to Hogan with Coleman in coverage. 

* Garoppolo complete to Lewis. 

* Garoppolo complete to Lewis with Van Noy and McCourty converging in coverage. 5-for-5.

 

* Brady incomplete to Edelman. Broken up by Rowe. 

* Brady complete to Gronkowski with Harmon in coverage. 

* Brady incomplete to O'Shaughnessy. 

* Brady complete to Hogan. 2-for-4. 

 

* Brissett complete to Carr. 

* Brissett complete to G. Gronkowski. 

* Brissett complete to Carr. 

* Brissett incomplete to Hollister with Richards in coverage.  3-for-4. 

 

7-on-7 (corners wearing restrictive mitts)

* Brady complete to White. 

* Brady complete to White. 

* Brady complete to White. 

* Brady complete to Cooks with J. Jones in coverage. 

* Brady complete to Hogan. 

* Brady incomplete to White. Pass broken up by Chung. 5-for-6.

 

* Garoppolo complete to Carr deep down the sideline. Coleman in coverage. 

* Garoppolo complete to Allen down the seam. Would've been lit up. 

* Garoppolo complete to Carr with Coleman in coverage. 

* Garoppolo complete to Burkhead. 

* Garoppolo incomplete out of the back of the end zone. 

* Garoppolo incomplete. Broken up by the paddle. 4-for-6

 

4-on-3 at the goal line

* Brady to White with McClellin in coverage. 

* Brady to Edelman.

 

* Garoppolo incomplete to Lucien. Rowe breakup. 

* Garoppolo incomplete to Slater. Coleman breakup. 

 

* Brissett to Lewis. 

* Brissett out of the back of the end zone.

 

* Brady incomplete to Gillislee. Through his arms. 

* Brady to Lengel with Roberts in coverage. 

 

* Garoppolo complete to Burkhead. Noice route. 

* Garoppolo complete to Hogan but Hogan kept out of the end zone by C. Jones.

 

* Brissett complete

* Brissett incomplete. 

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