New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed this afternoon the New England Patriots will join the Saints in West Virginia for joint practices before the teams square off in a preseason game.
The Patriots have frequently worked out with other teams in August, most recently working with the Redskins and Eagles in 2014. The Pats and Saints have practiced together twice before.
The workouts, first reported by ProFootballTalk.com, will be held at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, where the Saints have held their training camp the last few seasons. Heat and humidity in Louisiana is brutal in the months of July and August, so the relocation to West Virginia helps the Saints stay fresh.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has frequently lauded the benefits of practicing with other teams during the preseason. Competition levels are typically raised, which leads to sharper focus from the players on both sides. Also, the change of scene and routine breaks up the monotony of training camp.
The Patriots open the preseason August 13 against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium. During the next week, the Patriots will travel to West Virginia to work out with the Saints before continuing to New Orleans for the teams' preseason matchup on August 22.