Perry's Day 1 mini-camp observations: Brady looks like himself

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FOXBORO -- Day 1 of Patriots mini-camp was highlighted by the return of the team's two Hall of Fame-caliber players, but there was plenty that occurred that didn't necessarily involve Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Here's a full rundown of the takeaways from Tuesday's workout...

* It was interesting to hear Bill Belichick's view of the three-day mini-camp period itself. He considers it a continuation of OTAs, even though the first few weeks of practices are voluntary and mini-camp is not. When I asked Belichick if mini-camp served as a re-start of sorts -- especially considering the team was without two of its most it was a continuation of the work already put in. "We've already had five days, yeah," he said. Even though Brady and Gronkowski were absent for voluntary sessions, it's clear that those sessions mattered. They were five mini-camp-like sessions lost.

* Despite the time missed, Brady looked sharp in his return. His most noteworthy throw of the day was a long pass down the sideline to Kenny Britt, which hit the big receiver in stride. He missed a bomb to Britt later in the session but he was generally very accurate. And he was vocal. He spent plenty of time with Brian Hoyer and chatted with Ernie Adams during one period. The one gaffe of Brady's day -- and it may not have been on Brady -- was when several players on the offense false started. Belichick sent the entire offense (including players who weren't involved in the play) for a lap. 

* Gronkowski looked energized in his first practice back with the team. He finished off one of the more impressive plays of the day when he caught a Hoyer pass deep down the field, beating Jordan Richards and Demarius Travis in the process. He had multiple grabs where he finished the play by high-stepping through the secondary. He also finished off the long Hoyer pass with a celebratory scream and a spike in the end zone. 

* Having Brady and Gronkowski back on the field seemed to provide the entire team with a burst of energy. Some acknowledged that after the session. To on-lookers it seems apparent that Brady and Gronkowski's level of play is such that is raises that of their teammates... 

* ...The argument could also be made that things looked a little snappier out on the field relative to the two OTAs that were open to media over the last two weeks simply because it's later in the spring. More practice time equals more reps, which equals better communication, which equals better understanding of the plays and the concepts, which equals better play. Think it's reasonable not to credit Brady and Gronkowski as the sole reason for any improvements noticed between OTA No. 5 and minicamp practice No. 1. 

* Fascinating to watch the Patriots test out the new kickoff formations on Tuesday. The new rules -- which allow only three players deep for return teams and prevent coverage teams from getting a running start before the kick -- will force teams to get creative with their strategies and their methods of practicing those strategies. We'll delve deeper into those as the week continues, but it feels as though there will be some experimentation before the season as clubs figure out what works best for them. 

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* Defensive players -- particularly defensive linemen -- don't get much attention in passing camp practices, but let's give a nod to Adrian Clayborn. Though there are no pads involved, there was a little more contact up front on Tuesday, and on one 11-on-11 rep, Clayborn ripped past right tackle LaAdrian Waddle for a pressure. On the next play, he blew up an end-around run by Hogan. He'll have an opportunity to establish a role for himself on the edge after signing a two-year deal work up to $12.5 million with the Patriots this offseason.

* Sticking in the trenches, Trent Brown got work once again at left tackle with Isaiah Wynn alongside at left guard. David Andrews, Shaq Mason and Marcus Cannon rounded out the group before Cannon went to work on a side field. Waddle ended up getting plenty of work at right tackle in Cannon's place. 

* Julian Edelman seemed to see a bit of a bump in his practice participation on Tuesday compared to what he did in the two OTAs open to reporters. He said that at times it's been difficult not to push himself too hard as he works toward a return off of last summer's season-ending knee injury. "Everyone's a competitor, so sometimes you're your worst own enemy when you're trying to do that," he said. "But, it is what it is and there's a big part of the process and I've got a lot of guys, training staff helping me out – TB12, all that stuff – to get to where I want to be."

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