Quick Hits From Patriots Training Camp Day 1
FOXBORO (CBS) - Here are a few quick hits from the Patriots after Day 1 of Training Camp.
-- Vince Wilfork, in his ninth training camp with the Patriots, reflected on the first day.
"First day is the first day; you get the rust off," said Vince. "We're happy to be back out here and do something we love to do and play football. We're back at it. It kind of came quick, and that's a good thing."
"It's something to build on; a stepping stone," he added. "We have to move forward each day. I'm sure we have some things to work on, but for the most part we came out and started fast; we wanted to get the ball rolling and I think we did today."
"It's downhill from here. We just need to move forward from here and hopefully we can do some good things," said Wilfork.
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-- Deion Branch, now in his 11th NFL season, is one of those players that could be on the bubble -- and he knows it. But fighting for a roster spot is nothing new for Deion, and it shouldn't be for anyone else either.
"I've been fighting since I've been in the league. If you think you have a job there's something wrong," said Branch. "I don't think anybody is a guaranteed lock; it's training camp."
As for Day 1 of camp, Branch said it's pretty simple what the players are out there to accomplish.
"Do everything right," he said. "I think most importantly just carry out the assignments that coach Belichick gives us; just playing good football. You can't make the team the first day, but you can not make the team on the first day."
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-- Enough with the veterans though. Rookie Chandler Jones enjoyed his first day of camp in the NFL and says he is just out to learn the plays and earn some respect.
"My job right now is to earn respect from the veterans and be a sponge; learn the playbook and earn respect from Wilfork and the rest of the guys," the 21st-overall pick out of Syracuse said.
For Jones, this is just another new chapter in his career.
"I would say it's more exciting than anything," he said. "Every level of any sport I've played I'm excited to set goals and make new goals. Just stack them up and take it day by day. It's more exciting than anything."
