With the first full-squad practice of Patriots training camp just days away, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that talks with defensive lineman Richard Seymour on his contract are expected to intensify. Cafardo cites a source familiar with the negotiations as saying Seymour's decision to hold out of training camp will likely be based on how much progress is made in the next couple of days.
Michael Felger of the Boston Herald offers his seventh in a series of position-by-position looks at the Patriots heading into training camp. The seventh article in the series takes a look the Patriots backup quarterback situation. Felger notes that it should make for an interesting battle as quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Rohan Davey vie for the chance to backup Tom Brady.
In Alumni news, Ian Clark of the Union Leader Sports reports that former Patriot Russ Francis will be hosting a radio show on Concord's WTPL 107.7 FM every Saturday morning from 9:00am to noon. The program will debut on August 6th.
*USA Today* offers its "Inside Slant" which discusses Tedy Bruschi's decision to sit out the 2005 season as he continues to recover from a stroke he suffered this past February.
Greg Garber of ESPN.com offers a story about the trend of NFL players threatening to hold out of training camps as a contract renegotiating tactic. NFL players such as Javon Walker, Terrell Owens, Edgerin James as well as 20 other NFL players have expressed displeasure with their current contracts and have threatened to hold out of training camp.
Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News offers his daily sports blog with Patriots notes.
