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Felger: Patriots lack of work being put in during training camp is costing them

The New England Patriots are off to another slow start after suffering a loss to the Miami Dolphins and falling to 0-2 on the season. On Monday’s Felger and Mazz,…

Bill Belichick

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots argues with line judge Jeff Seeman #45 during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots are off to another slow start after suffering a loss to the Miami Dolphins and falling to 0-2 on the season. On Monday's Felger and Mazz, Felger gave his thoughts as to why the Patriots are continually getting off to slow starts to the season and it involves a lack of work in training camp.

Audio

Is a lack of training camp work costing the Patriots? 

Felger: I can kind of see how guys have trouble getting to work when frankly the entire August is a country club and no one does anything in training camp anymore. This another thing that's just began to bother me, how little work they put in training camp. It's like you see it and I say it every year, it's like, how could they possibly be ready? And they're not. And they're not.

Fourth straight year, slow start. Fourth straight year. It keeps getting worse, too. They keep doing less in training camp and they keep getting worse in September. So at some point is someone going to say, "why don't we actually put a little something into training camp here and not start out 0-2, 1-3, or 2-4?" Like this is how they've been starting out every year here now. And they do absolutely nothing in training camp. They don't play in the preseason. They barely hit during practice.

And I don't want to hear that it's the new rules. Someone's winning these games. Someone's a little more prepared than the other team. So I think they're doing less versus the field and now they get into September and no one's ready. Well isn't that a shock? How are they supposed to be ready in September when they do nothing in August?

Mazz: Yeah. And If you want to tell me Philadelphia did nothing too...they have more talent.

Felger: And they're not ready either.

Mazz: No, no that's what I mean.

Felger: I'd sort of be barking about the same thing in Philly.

Mazz: Yeah, but they can get away with it more than the Patriots can because they have better players.

Sep 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill (10) scores a touchdown during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY SportsPaul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 17, 2023; Foxborough, MA: Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)

Felger: You need a good start. The coach needs a good start. The young quarterback needs a good start. The whole program could use some positive momentum early in the season as opposed to this thing of, "Oh, well, we'll just throw it out there and figure it out and we'll be there at the end".

Do they still think that's how it's going to go? Like they should really focus on getting off to a good start, good momentum, positive reinforcement, that sort of stuff. Because it's already starting to get a little tenuous in there.

You give these guys an excuse to let go of the rope and they will let go of the rope. They're human beings. So 0-2 and if they lose this week, look out. That's bothersome.

Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!

Kevin Maggiore has been producing on the Felger & Mazz program since January of 2022 and has been producing with 98.5 The Sports Hub since 2018. Kevin also produces New England Patriots broadcasts on The Sports Hub and has produced Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins broadcasts in the past. Kevin grew up in Saugus, Massachusetts and is still in the area today. A lifelong hockey fan, Kevin collects hockey jerseys and has over 100 jerseys in his collection. Kevin loves spending his time away from the office on the golf course. Kevin writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.