In Boston, Adam Kurkjian reports "thousands of fans lined up" this morning outside Gillette Stadium for the opening of Patriots training camp. It is a "testament to the popularity of the team at this point," as fans were "lined up hours before the start" of the 9:15am ET practice. Coach Bill Belichick: "Some people take their week or two week's vacation to come and watch us practice" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 7/27). ESPN.com's Mike Reiss noted a "Play Football" area at Pats camp features "activities for children and adults alike." The team has "installed a mini turf field for kids to test their speed and skills on a football-themed obstacle course" (ESPN.com, 7/26).
NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS: Giants President & CEO John Mara said he has "gotten far fewer" emails from the team's fans this offseason, which tells him that people are "feeling pretty good" about the team. Mara: "They very rarely write you to tell you how great things (laugh) are going, it’s usually to complain about something, and right now it’s been pretty light, so hopefully it’ll stay that way for the rest of the year." Meanwhile, Mara said the Josh Brown domestic violence scandal was a "difficult situation for us, and one where we tried to do the right thing by the player and his family, and it didn’t work out very well for us." He added, "But that’s in the past now. I just wish Josh and his family healing and happiness in the future" (N.Y. POST, 7/27).
DEAL OR NO DEAL? In Pittsburgh, Ed Bouchette notes both Steelers GM Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin are "due extensions before the start of the regular season and there is no indication they won’t be forthcoming." In the past, it has been "done before camp or right at the beginning of camp." Steelers President Art Rooney II has "handled the negotiations" with his coach and GM for years. There has "not been a peep regarding negotiations with either man, which has been typical of the Steelers with their coaches and top personnel men for decades" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/27). Meanwhile, the Steelers will "wear a patch on their jerseys this upcoming season as a tribute" to late Owner Dan Rooney. Players will "sport the patch on the right side of their jerseys featuring Rooney’s initials 'DMR' -- for his full name Daniel Milton Rooney" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/25).
STAY A WHILE: A ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE editorial stated it wants Bills training camp to "stay" at St. John Fisher College. The Bills have been coming to Rochester for training camp since '00, and the team's current contract with the school runs through '21. It is a "bit unusual, these days, for NFL teams to leave their home base for training camp in another city." Though it "used to be all the rage, only nine of the 32 teams do it now." The editorial: "We want you to stay. These fans make up a sizeable portion of the folks who show up at Orchard Park, year after losing year" (DEMOCRATANDCHRONICLE.com, 7/22).
