FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots were scheduled to hold three mandatory minicamp practices this week, but plans have changed.
Ahead of Monday’s session, head coach Jerod Mayo announced that Tuesday’s practice would be canceled in favor of “something special” planned for players. We now know how the Patriots will spend their off day, and what the rest of their week will look like.
Patriots Cancel Practice, Schedule ‘Community Day’
On Tuesday, the Patriots will send groups of players, coaches, and staff members to four locations around Massachusetts to participate in community/charity events. All four events will run from 10 a.m. ET to noon.
A group of players will visit Perkins Community Center/Lee School in Dorchester, Mass., to interact with students in sports, such as football and kickball, and various art activities. At the same time, a quarter of the team will visit Lila Fredericks Middle School in Boston for the school’s field day.
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Additionally, team members will head to Lawrence, Mass., to attend a youth art and social justice organization called Elevated Thought. Finally, a quarter of the team will visit Meryl’s Safe Haven, a youth emergency assistance shelter in Worcester, Mass.
The Patriots will be back on the practice field Wednesday morning for their final minicamp session. The practice will wrap up hours before the main event: Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame Ceremony.
New Details on Tom Brady Ceremony
The Patriots have been tight-lipped about Brady’s Hall of Fame ceremony, which will start at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday. But we now have details, some confirmed by the team and others reported by Patriots insiders.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The event will stream exclusively on Patriots social media accounts and the team’s official website. It will not air on TV.
- The event will last roughly 2 1/2 hours.
- A red carpet event, hosted by Jason McCourty and Deatrich Wise Jr., will air in the stadium from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- The Patriots recommend that fans be in their seats by 6:30 p.m.
- NBC’s Mike Tirico will host the Hall of Fame ceremony.
- There will be a slew of “special guests,” including comedian Bill Burr.
- Bill Belichick is expected to attend, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic.
- A panel of former players and coaches, including Belichick, will speak and tell stories about Brady.
- The “hundreds” of former Brady teammates expected to attend include: David Andrews, Drew Bledsoe, Deion Branch, Matt Cassel, Patrick Chung, Julian Edelman, Kevin Faulk, Rob Gronkowski, Brian Hoyer, Dan Koppen, Ty Law, Logan Mankins, Devin McCourty, Willie McGinest, Randy Moss, Rob Ninkovich, Matthew Slater, Wes Welker, James White, and Vince Wilfork.
Pro Football Network will be at Gillette Stadium throughout the day, providing coverage of both Patriots minicamp and the Brady ceremony.