The NFL Notebook is back, and it’s back big (sorta). I toyed with the idea of opining on the Red Sox and this ridiculous streak, but I’ll leave that to Chris. He’s doing a helluva job. Besides, right now I’d rather drink a cold beverage and enjoy what’s happening on the diamond than worry about whether they overpaid for Adley Rutschman (they did, but whatever)…
Plus, it’s not as if the Patriots are in a dead period. We’re 12 training camp practices in, and I think we’re getting valuable information. It’s not complete, not by a long shot, but the coaching staff is in full evaluation mode and so am I. On that note…some awards for the Pats.
LEVELING UP: Will Campbell. Look, he’s not exactly facing a murderer’s row during one-on-ones or team, but I like what I’ve seen of the 2025 first-rounder (4th overall). For starters, Campbell looks stronger. He needed that. Secondly, he’s not sitting back and trying to anchor late on pass sets. There’s been more variety, and more aggressiveness. Again, that may not play well in Seattle or against some of the elite rushers in the league, but Campbell’s willingness to adapt is important, and his mentality remains exactly what this team wants (QB included). I reserve the right to change my mind, but he’s doing what he should be so far. (Am I a little worried about the brace on his left elbow, and his lack of participation Thursday and Friday? A little because we saw what an injured Campbell was like in the postseason).
WHO IS THAT GUY? A tie between Tanner Arkin and Khalil Jacobs. That said, unlike previous seasons, especially the post-Brady era, there isn’t nearly the need for someone to come out of nowhere and play more than a handful of snaps here or there. This roster is not perfect, not by a long shot, but it is in such a better place than it’s been. Both of those guys (Arkin at TE and Jacobs at LB) would be depth pieces, with Arkin probably getting anywhere from a handful of snaps to maybe a dozen depending on the game plan (i.e., run game), assuming the depth chart remains the same. The joint practices will be big tests for him. Jacobs has shown more in the pads than pre-pads, which is good because the game is, in fact, played in pads (who knew?). Vrabel gave him some love on Friday: “He loves just kind of when you put the ball down to play. When you get to the team periods, you kind of notice his play speed, and I think that’s a great thing to say. … sometimes he knows where he’s going, and sometimes he doesn’t, but he still kind of goes pretty quick wherever he decides to go.”
SAME AS IT EVER WAS? TreVeyon Henderson. I have seen no clear signs of
