New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel reacted to second-year wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk missing a third training camp practice on Friday.

Mike Vrabel and Jabrill Peppers had a playful exchange after the Patriots coach wore the safety's number in practice.

The Patriots took it easy at practice Friday, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a lot to learn about their new offense.

The New England Patriots are pretty well set along the defensive line, but head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday the team will kick the tires about signing recently released defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

For his pre-practice press conference prior to the team’s first official day of training camp, Vrabel strode to the microphone on Wednesday with a puppy named Nash clutched under his arm. It’s part of the team’s second Pet Adoption Day (sponsored by the Kraft family via The Patriots Foundation in coordination with local animal shelters).

FOXBOROUGH — Mike Vrabel has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind. That’s been true since the Patriots coach was still a player. Vrabel was an NFLPA player rep, and ahead of the 2011 NFL lockout, the linebacker ripped into Robert Kraft.

A new era of Patriots football is upon us, with the team set to kick off its first training camp under head coach Mike Vrabel on Wednesday​.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye admitted the team is tired of losing when speaking with media members after a training camp practice. There's hope for a culture shift for a Patriots team that finished with a 4-13 record in consecutive seasons.