There was a special visitor at Patriots practice on Friday
“He’s one of us."
ATLANTA — There was a familiar face in the Patriots’ huddle Friday at Georgia Tech’s fieldhouse, where the team held its final practice before Super Bowl LIII.
Former star safety Lawyer Milloy, who posted a pass deflection and three tackles in the last Patriots-Rams Super Bowl, led the group with its “Awww Yeah!” catchphrase to close the session. Despite a bitter end to his seven-year tenure in New England, in which he was released for not wanting to take a pay cut, Milloy was one of coach Bill Belichick’s longtime favorites.
“He’s one of us,” Belichick said, via pool reporter Jenny Vrentas. “He’s here pulling for us. I appreciate that.”
Every Patriot was a full participant for Friday’s practice, which lasted just over an hour. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower returned to the field after missing Thursday’s practice with an illness, as did Malcom Brown who had been limited with a calf injury.
“He did everything today,” Belichick said of Hightower. “You could hear him talking out there, and that’s usually a good sign with him. He has plenty of energy.”
Wearing their helmets and jerseys, with no shells, the Patriots covered red-zone, two-minute, goal-line, short-yardage, and two-point plays, in addition to regular down and distance plays. Belichick called the day “a quick review.”
“This is our sixth practice,” he said. “We have hit everything.”
The Patriots had the rest of Friday off. The team will visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday morning for a walk-through, team photos, and a get-together with family and friends.
