New England Patriots

Jimmy Garoppolo throws two interceptions during rainy practice

Both interceptions went through the hands of his receivers.

Jimmy Garoppolo delivers a pass during training camp Sunday. Steven Senne/AP

By Henry McKenna

3 minutes to read

The rain may have gotten to Jimmy Garoppolo and his receivers on Sunday.

Garoppolo threw his first and second interception of training camp. During 7-on-7 drills, Garoppolo hit Martellus Bennett on the hands, but Bennett tipped it to Devin McCourty, who fielded it for a turnover. Later in 11-on-11 drills, Garoppolo targeted Chris Harper, who also tipped the ball into the air for a Brock Vereen interception.

Attendance

  • Rookies Vincent Valentine, D.J. Foster, Malcolm Mitchell, and veteran Brandon Bolden were practicing Sunday after missing Saturday.
  • Veteran linemen Bryan Stork and Jonathan Cooper were not on the field Sunday after leaving practice on Saturday.
  • Chris Hogan left practice early.
  • Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Kevin Faulk was on the practice field on Sunday wearing a shirt that said “Sunday Funday.” He a spoke to the entire team in a post-practice huddle.

Observations

  • Receiver DeAndre Carter muffed a punt at the beginning of practice. It was the first sign of the rainy conditions.
  • Fullback James Develin has been practicing with the first team. He missed all of 2015 with an injury, but appears to be picking up where he left off.
  • Center David Andrews took first-team reps at center in light of Stork’s absence.
  • Tom Brady was practicing a hard count during an offense-only drill, and fooled offensive lineman Marcus Cannon.
  • Jimmy Garoppolo worked the same drill afterward, and somehow he ended up offsides, falling backward away from the center while the rest of the offense stood still.
  • Jamie Collins skipped the first round of drills to do some leg stretching with a trainer.
  • Marcellus Bennett, Bear Pascoe, Jacoby Brissett, Kyler Kerbyson, Garoppolo, and Andrews, ran laps. Brissett, Garoppolo, Andrews, and Kerbyson were punished for fumbling the snap.
  • Chris Harper, who infamously muffed a punt in the Patriots’ regular-season loss in Denver last season, spent time fielding punts in the rain with special teams coaches.
  • Patriots practices are tight and efficient. Players move between drills within a minutes. They sometimes change drills every 10 minutes, and the players and coaches communicate well to be in the right place at the right time.
  • Rob Gronkowski burnt Jordan Richards in a 1-on-1 end zone drill, stiff-armed the safety, and danced his way in for a touchdown.
  • Jacoby Brissett threw a gorgeous deep ball to a streaking Harper, who beat rookie Cre’Von LeBlanc.
  • Malcolm Butler broke up two passes for Aaron Dobson in 1-on-1 drills. Justin Coleman also got a pass breakup on Dobson in the slot.
  • Dobson got redemption later in practice by beating Logan Ryan on a deep route down the sideline. Garoppolo delivered a pretty ball.
  • Harper and DeAndre Carter both gave cornerbacks fits in 1-0n-1’s with their quickness.
  • Mitchell caught the ball easily over cornerback Darryl Roberts in the end zone in 1-on-1 drills. Mitchell went 4-0 during those drills, via the Providence Journal’s Mark Daniels.
  • V’Angelo Bentley has gotten a significant amount of work as a returner, and has often gotten pulled aside to catch punts.
  • Gronk, Bennett, and Brady continue to toss around during any bit of free time they get.
  • Because Garoppolo and Brissett had to take laps after fumbling snaps, there was more rotation than normal among quarterbacks in team drills. Garoppolo and Brissett were constantly subbing in and out, which may have affected their rhythm.
  • The Patriots’ skill players went nuts with celebration after tight ends Gronk, Bennett, and Bryce Williams caught touchdowns over the span of seven plays.
  • Brady took the final hurry-up drill off while Brissett and Garoppolo worked. Brady and Mathew Slater chatted during that time.
  • Like Saturday, Brissett carried Brady and Garoppolo’s pads off the field.
  • Bentley, LeBlanc, and Roberts stayed out on the field working on special teams long after practice ended.

7-on-7 Drills

Brady: 9 of 11.

Garoppolo: 8 of 11 with an interception.

Brissett: 8 of 9.

11-on-11 Drills

Brady: 5 of 6.

Garoppolo: 4 of 7 with an interception.

Brissett: 0 for 1.

LeGarrett Blount: two carries.

Donald Brown: two carries.

James White: two carries.

Tyler Gaffney: two carries.

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D.J. Foster: one carry.

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