Live from Patriots training camp: DeVante Parker-Malcolm Butler battle highlights Day 5

FOXBORO – The pads came on and the real competition started on Monday. Day 5 of Patriots training camp was the most exciting as players had their first opportunity to block, hit and tackle each other. This practice saw the first 1-on-1 drills between offensive and defensive players.

With the pads on, a handful of players stuck out. Most notably were Malcolm Butler and DeVante Parker. The two veterans had some of the best battles of the day on Monday.

In the 1-on-1 drills, between receivers and cornerback, Parker beat Butler for a highlight-reel 50-yard touchdown catch. The receiver beat Butler off the line and then jumped over him to haul in the Mac Jones deep pass. That play was reminiscent to one later in practice, during full-team drills, when Parker beat Butler for another 50-yard touchdown play from Jones.

"It's great going against him," Parker said of Butler. "He's also a veteran guy. It's good - we're competing with each other and getting each other better."

Butler turned his practice around later in the 11-on-11 period. The next time Jones tried to hit Parker in the end zone, Butler made a great play to deflect the pass. Two pass plays later, the cornerback did it again by deflecting a Jones pass in the end zone. This time it was for Tyquan Thornton. Overall, it was a strong ending to practice for Butler.

Jones and the offense had a rough start on Monday. The offense’s first play in 11-on-11s was a false start from Isaiah Wynn. The next snap saw Jones throw an interception to Terrance Mitchell on a ball that was supposed to go to Thornton. That marked Jones’ third practice in a row with an interception.

This padded practice saw more run plays than pass, but Jones settled down after that and finished 5-of-8 in 11-on-11s and 5-of-6 in 7-on-7s. Rookie Bailey Zappe finished 5-of-9 in 11-on-11s and 5-of-6 in 7-on-7s. Zappe’s best pass of the day came on a 40-yard laser to tight end Devin Asiasi. The rookie needs to work on his ‘touch’ on shorter throws, but certainly has a strong arm.

The Patriots first 1-on-1 drills pitted tight ends against safeties and then receivers against cornerbacks.

In the tight end/safety portion, Asiasi stood out as the only tight end to go 2-0 in the drill. He beat Devin McCourty on both reps. Jonnu Smith went 1-3, Hunter Henry 1-2, Matt Sokol 1-2 and Dalton Keene 1-1. Zappe was the quarterback in these drills and not all his passes were accurate. For example, Brenden Schooler won both his reps, but the tight ends in coverage never had a chance. Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips finished 1-1 against Smith and Henry.

The receiver-cornerback drills were competitive. Only two receivers finished 2-0: Kendrick Bourne and Thornton. Thornton had one of the best catches on the day, hauling in a 50-yard touchdown pass from Jones. He beat JoeJuan Williams on both his reps. Bourne beat Jalen Mills twice.

At cornerback, only Myles Bryant and Marcus Jones went 2-0. Bryant beat Jakobi Meyers and Ty Montgomery. Marcus Jones beat Tre Nixon on both reps.

We also saw offensive linemen and defensive linemen go up against each other in 1-on-1 drills. Trent Brown was a standout here. He decisively beat Josh Uche on one rep. Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux looked dominant for the defense.

Three players return to Patriots practice

Day 5 of training camp saw three players return to practice.

Jonathan Jones and Jabrill Peppers came off the physically unable to perform list on Monday and were present for the first time this summer. Cornerback Myles Bryant came off the non-football injury list and practiced for the first time in camp as well.

Brian Hoyer missed his third practice in a row. Deatrich Wise didn’t participate, either. They joined James White (PUP list), Chasen Hines (NFI list) and Andrew Stueber (NFI list) on the absent list.

The Patriots return to camp tomorrow, Tuesday, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Patriots grateful for late Celtics legend Bill Russell

Matthew Slater never met Bill Russell, but the Celtics legend always held a special place in his heart. Following Russell’s death on Sunday, Patriots like Slater and Devin McCourty opened up about just how much the transformative Boston legend meant to them.

Russell is known as one of the most successful athletes, winning 11 NBA championships, but he also dealt with a myriad of racism at a time where it was commonplace in America.

In 1961, Russell and his black teammates were refused service at a local restaurant prior to an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky. Russell and his teammates refused to play and flew home. The Celtics legend also dealt with racism at his home residence in Massachusetts. Through it all, he helped pave the way for black athletes in professional sports.

For those reasons, players like Slater and McCourty are forever grateful

"It's really hard to put into words what a man like Bill Russell has not only obviously meant to this city but has meant to professional sports, has meant to Black athletes and just the progress that we've seen in this country,” Slater said on Monday. “... When I think of Bill Russell, I don't think of necessarily the championships or the Celtics and the winning -- which I think is a legacy that speaks for itself. I think of what he did for Black athletes and I'm a beneficiary of the actions of men and women like Bill Russell who were willing to step out on a limb and advocate for Black athletes and Black Americans and really push for change and push for equality.

“I can't imagine having to have gone through the things he had to go through, especially early on in his life and his career. The reality is that he wasn't even seen as a full citizen in this country when he started his life -- so really think about that. ... When I think about Bill Russell, I celebrate that part of his legacy more than anything else.”

McCourty and Slater have done a lot for the New England community over their playing careers. Last year, the Patriots raised $450,000 in the name of social justice. McCourty has fought for criminal justice reform as well as issues with racial inequality over the course of his career.

McCourty said he's always been motivated by the courage that Russell displayed.

“As an athlete who gets to play in this area, I drew a lot of inspiration and motivation from how he viewed things and the role he paved for Black athletes to be successful in this city,” McCourty said. “All of us here try to be like Bill Russell. On the day that he’s gone I think it’s great to be able to talk about him, his sacrifices and what he meant, obviously to basketball, but to all sports.”

Slater added: “I wouldn’t be here doing what I am doing today without men and women like Bill Russell.”

Pats sign punter Jake Bailey to extension

The Patriots have locked up one of the NFL’s best punters for the foreseeable future.

According to ESPN, Jake Bailey reached a four-year, $13.5 million extension with the Patriots on Monday. The deal included $6.5 millions in guaranteed money. This deal keeps the Pro Bowl punter in New England through the 2025 season.

"I'm just so happy and blessed I get a few more years here and get to play with guys like (Slater)," said Bailey. "... It's fun and a huge milestone in my life and I'm just thankful God put me in this position."

Bailey, 25, was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round in 2019. The next season, he developed into one of the NFL's best, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. Bailey's numbers were down in 2021 as his unit struggled. He had three punts blocked last season, which was an NFL high.

Bailey came into this season with a high salary number ($3.986 million). By signing this extension, his 2022 cap number will drop a little over $2 million, giving the Patriots added cap space. On top of that, Bailey becomes one of the top three highest paid punters in the NFL.

"I wasn't really expecting anything," said Bailey. "... This was always the first option. You want to stay with what you know and what's comfortble for you. I'm just so happy this worked out."

Five takeaways from the first week of camp: Updates on Patriots position battles and more

Welcome to Day 5 of Patriots training camp

For the first time this year, we’ll finally get a glimpse of real football. Monday marks the first practice the Patriots will have in pads. That means the team will get a real opportunity to evaluate their offensive linemen and defensive players in the front seven. Up to this point, players have been in either t-shirts and shorts or just shells.

These padded practices historically mean more for the Patriots when it comes to evaluating their roster.

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Patriots assistant coaches are scheduled to speak at 9 a.m. Practice begins at 9:30 a.m. and the media will talk to a handful of players after that. Stay tuned as we’ll have you updated throughout the day.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: New england Patriots sign punter Jake Bailey to extension