New England Patriots
“I think it’s very important to build that competitive atmosphere and I don’t think a lot of teams in this league are doing something like that.”
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FOXBOROUGH — From sled pushes to scavenger hunts, these Patriots take pride in competing with each other in a variety of events.
The winners get points. The points are tracked throughout the summer. The hope is that the team-building and camaraderie will pay dividends come playoff time.
“I think it’s very important to build that competitive atmosphere and I don’t think a lot of teams in this league are doing something like that,” offensive guard Alijah Vera-Tucker said. “It’s something little, but it goes a long way in late January and Mid-February.”
At the end of Wednesday’s practice, the Patriots divided into groups and raced each other while pushing sleds.
Wide receiver DeMario Douglas said he appreciated the competition, although his team didn’t fare very well in the drill.
“It adds a lot, just like last year how we did a lot of team bonding and stuff,” Douglas said. “This is great team bonding, it builds competition and you get to work with other people in different groups and different positions.”
“I feel like as we all compete against each other, we get to learn each other, see who works, who’s gonna push, and who can take coaching.”
Vera-Tucker, who signed with the Patriots in the offseason after spending four seasons with the Jets, said the competition has helped him feel comfortable.
“I’ve really enjoyed myself out here,” Vera-Tucker said. “I think just to be a part of a team where everybody expects excellence from the meetings, to the walkthoughs, to the practices, I’m just feeling really lucky and blessed to be a part of something like that.”
Vera-Tucker said the energy helps him look forward to coming to work.
“It’s just the energy that everyone brings,” Vera-Tucker said. “Everyone looks forward to the competition in this building. I think the front office and all the coaches have good a great job of bringing in the right people from good backgrounds where everyone is just a grinder, you know, blue collar type of guy.”
Several Patriots players have used their love of competition to raise money for charity this summer.
Drake Maye hosted a celebrity softball game that featured many of his teammates at Polar Park in Worcester. The event raised $174,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital.
Christian Gonzalez hosted a celebrity basketball game at his high school alma mater in Texas.
Douglas attended both events and threw down a dunk in the celebrity basketball game. He joked about how much better he is at basketball than softball.
With one day of mini-camp left before the Patriots take a break heading into training camp, the Patriots ended Wednesday’s practice on a high note.
“I love it. I don’t think I’ve ever shied away from competition,” Douglas said. “Competition is what makes that room better. If you don’t have competition that’s when people get lazy and complacent. We’re getting better every day. As we learn from each other, learn how to practice, learn how to play side-by-side and communicate with each other, it feels like it just flows.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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