I said after the Bruins lost the to Caps, and then Celtics lost to the Heat that the blog would be tough this summer. Basically they cost me an extra few weeks of game recaps and previews. And we knew even then that the Sox weren’t going to do anything and after another loss in Texas last night they’re back, tied in last place and a game below .500.
Then why is your headline Happiest of Days? Well, that’s an easy one friend. The Pats open training camp today.
I think I’ve mentioned it before to you guys but if you’ve never been down to training camp, you have to go. It’s just a great way to spend a day in Foxboro. You watch camp for a while, then head over to Toby Keith’s Bar & Grille, Red Robin, or CBS Scene at Patriot Place. There’s other eateries but those are the ones that I’ve been to and can recommend any without hesitation.
Want to make a night of it? Stay over at the Renaissance by Marriott that’s right there. Speaking of good eateries their bar has an amazing brick oven pizza that’s worth the drive even when the Pats aren’t playing or practicing.
But enough of being the Foxboro Board of Tourism spokesperson. Obviously the primary reason you head down is to see the Patriots practicing. If they’re practicing that just means they’re one step close to playing games and of course football games mean we can put this failure of a Red Sox season to bed.
The Pats already fired a shot across the bow yesterday releasing Joseph Addai. He was brought in as the veteran running back to help the young guys but many doubted he had anything left in the tank. It was a low risk signing to begin with. This means the second year guys, Vereen and Ridley will be competing against Danny Woodhead for the starter’s spot. Eric Kettani (who?) is on the roster as well as a running back. I wouldn’t be surprised if the pulled a Mike Cloud type player off the scrap pile just to have another body in camp. Maybe the return of Kevin Faulk (God I hope not).
There are several other positional battles that are going to shake out in this camp too. Wide out, d-line, linebackers, and secondary to name a few. But let’s not get into all of those we can take our time and savor the fact that football is back.
And since we’re likely not getting hockey till January, if at all, we need to savor football.
