WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Day one of the Patriots and Saints here in West Virginia was pretty uneventful. Unless you consider Tom Brady was on the practice field carving up the Saints defensive backs instead of talking Deflategate suspension in court.
The first thing you realize here is West Virginia is the weather was perfect for training camp. There were a number of Patriots fans along with the Saints Who Dat Nation that have supported the black and gold last training camp.
Bill Belichick and Sean Payton couldn't have been any more complimentary of one another. Payton going as far as saying when he got in to coaching he used the Patriots as one of his team models, because Belichick was so successful.
On the field it was a pleasure watching Drew Bress go up against the Patriots defense. During the 11-on-11 Brees beat Malcolm Butler for a long td pass of 40 yards plus. Immediately following that play, the Saints set up on the goal line and Drew responded with a nice td in the back of the endzone.
Meanwhile Tom Brady was as cool as ever going against a Saints defensive backfield that is missing all of its starters. Tom was confident and accurate hitting Rob Gronkowski during 11-on-11. Gronk put a scare in to the crowd after his leg was rolled up on.
"This is football. I'm ok." Gronk told the media after practice. So Gronk's leg was ok, but his nose was not. He told me after he got hit in the face at some point. Unfortunately for me Gronk's height made it impossible for me to talk to him without seeing the remnants of blood inside the end of his nose.
It was also great to catch up with former Patriot turned Saints tight end Benjamin Watson after practice. Watson one of a few players participating in the joint practices that has stared for both teams, told me he went through Spygate and feels if there's any team that's equipped to deal with "the noise" it's a Bill Belichick squad. Benjamin, who's wife gave birth to their fifth child last week, also had a lot of complementary things to say about New England as a whole. Pointing out it was the birthplace of his oldest daughter although the roster has changed significantly he's still VERY friends with Brady.