FOXBORO - The New England Patriots got a little extra heat on the field Thursday, and that’s exactly the point.
On the 11th practice of training camp, the most memorable moment came when A.J. Brown and Christian Gonzalez, two of the team’s best players, finally let the competition spill over.
During an end zone drill, Gonzalez broke up the pass, then celebrated after the play. That set off some finger pointing and a brief exchange of words as the two kept chirping while the team moved on to the next drill.
Kayshon Boutte stepped in before it escalated any further.
"I was just trying to pull A.J. out to go on to the next," Boutte said after Thursday's practice. "I heard him say something about 'You a grown man'. So, I just (got in there) before it got too far."
It was a quick flash of tempers, nothing more. But for a Patriots team that wants its best players pushing each other every day, it was the kind of edge that makes training camp worthwhile.
"That’s just competitiveness," Boutte said. "You know, two guys, two great players going back and forth. They’re going to make plays, one going to win, one going to lose, regardless if it’s A.J. or Gonzo."
That matchup has been the story of camp all summer. Brown and Gonzalez have lined up against each other repeatedly, and both know the value in that work. Gonzalez said the two are simply making each other better.
"It’s good on good. He’s the number one receiver in this league, going up against the number one corner,” Gonzalez said Thursday.
"I mean, that’s how it’s going to go. It’s football at the end of the day; there’s never no disrespect or anything.
We’re just battling and getting each other better.
"He’s going to face corners like that that are going to yap at him, get to try to get in his head. And I’m going to face receivers like that that are strong and come right back at me. So it’s great work for both of us."
Brown said the same thing Friday, making it clear the back-and-forth is part of the job.
"Every day’s a battle with him," Brown said Friday. "It’s nothing but respect.
Ultimately, it’s not about me and him. We’re out here competing.
All of us are challenging each other. And, ultimately, for.
It’s nothing. Guys who are going back and forth, guys who are trying to play hard, and compete.
That’s all."
The two won’t be stuck on each other forever. Next week, the Colts are in town for a joint practice and preseason game, which means both Brown and Gonzalez will get a different look. With the preseason game coming next Thursday, the leash figures to stay short, so the real work has to happen on the practice field now.
That’s where the Patriots want the edge. Gonzalez is set to see receivers such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Amon-Ra St.
Brown, Justin Jefferson and Garrett Wilson this season, while Brown will be tested by corners like Patrick Surtain II and Devon Witherspoon. For both players, the daily battles in Foxboro are designed to sharpen them for those matchups.
"It’s competition. That’s how you get better," Gonzalez said. "That’s how he can get better, how I can get better."
Mike Vrabel said earlier in camp that he likes exactly what he’s seeing from the two of them.
"I appreciate what A.J. and Gonzo have done," Vrabel said earlier in camp. "It’s been a good battle, and that’s pro football. I love watching it, and I think that there’s a great amount of respect that each of those players have for each other and understand that the work that they’re putting in now is going to pay dividends in the season."
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