Players eager to put game faces on

TDJets72027 · Aug 10, 2007

For the last two weeks and 18 practices, the Patriots [team stats] have only hit each other. Tonight they finally get to lay the wood on someone else.
The Pats open the preseason in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers and are looking forward to taking out their aggressions on an opponent instead of teammates.
Were looking at the prospect of coming together as a team, said safety Rodney Harrison [stats]. Instead of always going against the white team, which is the offense, we get to go against someone else. You bring it all together so you can start high-fiving and hugging one another. Were taking one step closer to being a better team and were looking forward to preseason week one.

The Patriots are ready for a game after enduring a number of grueling practices and every other day of double sessions.
You get tired of seeing the same people, but thats what camp is about, said cornerback Ellis Hobbs [stats]. Thats what were out here for and paid to do - to prepare for each other so were ready to face another team. The main goal is to understand that were the New England Patriots [team stats] and were a team out there.
One of the focuses will be avoiding injuries. Patriots fans need no reminder of the disastrous 1989 preseason finale, when the Pats lost Andre Tippett, Ronnie Lippett and Garin Veris to season-ending injuries.
I want to be sure I can go out healthy, but you dont worry about it, Harrison said. Ive always taken care of my body, but you cant help it if someone falls on your knee and tears it up. I dont care how many pushups, situps and squats you do. If someone falls on your knee, guess what - youll blow it out. Im doing what Ive always done and just hoping for the best.
Making the leap
A lot of attention is paid to the jump from Year 1 to Year 2 in a players career. But what about Year 2 to Year 3?
Its just more of a safety hazard, Hobbs said. Dont get too confident. Dont get overconfident now that youve been in the league a couple of years and think youre going to know all the answers. By no means do I have any of the answers. You go out every day ready to learn, willing to learn, trying to understand what you can take from the field today.
Hobbs recognizes that a promising start does not guarantee career longevity.
A lot of guys have gone through the league - Ive seen it in years past or had personal experience with some of my family members - and thought they knew it all, Hobbs said. Nobody could tell them anything on or off the field. My big thing is stay humble. As long as I stay humble to myself, in my heart at the end of the day, thats all I have to speak for.
Practices ending
Training camp continues on Sunday with a practice that is closed to the public because of David Beckhams visit to Foxboro. Practices run through Wednesday, but only two more are open to the public: Tuesday afternoon from 2:30-4:30 and the Wednesday night finale from 5:30-7:30 that marks the official end of training camp. . . .
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http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1016371

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Players eager to put game faces on

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