Seasoned veterans like Tom Brady and Ben Watson know full well what to expect at training camp.
But with 19 players drafted in the last two seasons, the New England Patriots have plenty of young guys to coach up.
Fortunately they have one of the greatest minds in professional sports to coach them up.
Watson, who came out of retirement to join the Patriots for a 16th NFL season, shared a particularly prescient message Belichick delivered to the team Thursday before they took the field for their first training camp practice.
"Coach Belichick talked about it today: Training camp is not punishment, it's preparation," Watson said. " ... While training camp is tough, mentally, physically and emotionally ... it's necessary preparation if you individually are going to perform at your best and if collectively as a team you're going to perform at your best. That's what it's for."
Practices in the oppressive late July heat often feel like punishment, especially when conditioning is involved. (Hill sprints are Belichick's preferred method of torture.)
But Belichick takes these early practices seriously, as they're an opportunity for players to master proper technique and for coaches to begin installing plays.
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"I think every year is its own year and you start from scratch," Belichick said earlier Thursday. "You build from the bottom up every year. That's what we're doing."
That means even the 38-year-old Watson -- who's suspended for the first four games of the season -- and the 41-year-old Brady are starting fresh, despite the latter leading the Patriots to another Super Bowl title in 2018.
As for Brady? Watson isn't expecting him to slow down as he enters his 20th NFL season.
"He's halfway there," Watson joked. "I think he'll go for 40 (seasons)."
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