Q: How was the heat?
TB: It was hot today. It was a humid day. August is pretty unpredictable. We've had some colder days, some rainier days, some windier days, but today was pretty hot and humid.
Q: How does working out in this heat help with conditioning?
TB: It's good because we don't play in a dome, obviously, so Coach [Bill Belichick] practices us outside basically every day unless we're playing somewhere warm late in the year. It's just good to get out here and experience all these different elements. We've got to get used to playing in whatever it is, so that's usually what Coach says.
Q: Do you feel like the dog days of camp are starting to set in a little bit and how much do you have to help rookies along at this time of year?
TB: Yeah, I mean there's no easy way about training camp. I think you just have to grind your way through it. You try to bring as much energy as you can every day. That's the only way you're going to get the best out of yourself and try to get the best out of your teammates. You really, at this point with the limited amount of practices, you can't afford to lose any ground because a lot of teams are practicing hard. You've got to come out here and you see guys giving it all out there, especially today. Maybe a couple days off, we've been off our feet, then you get back into it and your body's not quite ready, so you've just got to fight through it as best as you can.
Q: Is it good to have James Develin back out on the field?
TB: Yeah, absolutely. He's a big part of our team. Coach [Bill Belichick] always says, 'Do your job,' and nobody does a better job than James. He embraces his role. Obviously, lead blocking; I think the running backs have a lot of trust in what he does. He does a good job catching the ball. He's really a great leader for our team. He always sets the example, so he's kind of a typical Patriot – a dependable, tough, smart football player.
Q: Were there times you missed James Develin last year in short yardage in terms of not having the same versatility?
TB: Yeah, it's hard to replace guys like that. We lost him in our third preseason game last year, so that was a tough loss I think just emotionally for the whole team because of what he did the year before and just the toughness that he brings. In order to be a good football team, you've got to be tough, you've got to be disciplined, you've got to be smart, and he's one of those guys that brings all three to the table for us.
Q: What was your reaction as you saw Gisele walking in the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics?
TB: It was amazing to see her out there and do that. It was the best part of the Olympics for me, and it got over on opening night, so there hasn't been much reason for me to watch outside of seeing her represent her country. It's pretty amazing, she's an amazing woman, an amazing mother, and she represents the best of Brazil, as far as I'm concerned. It was a pretty amazing spectacle and she's an amazing person.
Q: What's your impression been of Jimmy Garoppolo and how he's handled himself in the situation he's in?
TB: He works his tail off to prepare and I know he has the respect of everybody. That's what you try to do, you try to come out here and prepare, earn the respect of your teammates and your coaches, and you've got to put the work in. You've got to show that you're willing to show up every day and do whatever it takes to get the job done. It's been fun to see his development. We got off to a good start the other night and hopefully we keep it going. We have three days of practice coming up against the Bears that will be good preparation for our team. We've got to use them really well and hopefully we can come out of Thursday night, after these practices and the game, a stronger team than we are now.
Q: Are those side competitions (barrel games, etc.) fun with Jimmy Garoppolo, and what is the purpose and benefits of doing those?
TB: I think it's just, it's really good. You're always trying to work on different aspects of the game and it's hard to get the receivers out here after practice and run – we probably throw 20-25 of those balls, and it's hard to have a receiver, after a two-and-a-half hour practice in 90-degree weather, go run a bunch of 30-40-yard routes. You just put the bucket out there, and that little sucker is tough to hit, man. It doesn't move, it's got no arms, it can't adjust to anything. That's why I'm glad we always have guys that have great hands and really attract the ball. It's just good practice.
Q: Is Jimmy Garoppolo holding his own in the side competitions?
TB: He does a good job against me all the time, so he's a good competitor.
