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Mike Reiss
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Elliss’ time: When the Patriots held their ultimate spring follow on Tuesday, with the protection buzzing as music blared and the offense labored with a silent snap rely, linebacker Christian Elliss was on the coronary heart of the motion.
Elliss aligned subsequent to big-money free agent signing Robert Spillane with the highest unit — a reminder of how far he is come, and the way this offseason has been transcendent for him and his rising household.
“Humbling, particularly,” the 26-year-old Elliss stated in a quiet second as minicamp concluded. “My whole life, particularly my soccer profession, it has been a combat to get to the place I am at, and to get on the sector.”
Whether or not Elliss stays in that spot will probably be among the many staff’s high competitions when coaching camp begins July 23, with veterans Jahlani Tavai and Jack Gibbens amongst these vying for the function.
However the 6-foot-2, 231-pound Elliss, who entered the NFL in 2021 as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho and has been launched six occasions, already enters camp on a excessive observe having skilled life-changing monetary safety and one other household milestone.
As a restricted free agent, he was tendered a suggestion from New England that might have paid him $3.26 million on a one-year contract — this coming after he performed in 16 video games (5 begins) final season and totaled a career-high 72 tackles. However the Las Vegas Raiders, envisioning him as a substitute for Spillane as a centerpiece of their protection, signed him to a two-year, $13.5 million provide sheet in hopes of prying him from the Patriots.
The Patriots matched the provide, which got here shortly after Elliss and spouse Kaysie welcomed their third son, Matai, becoming a member of Koa and Elaia.
It has all occurred so quick, with Elliss adapting to first-year head coach Mike Vrabel’s most well-liked attacking defensive system the previous three months.
“I am so pleased with the progress I made. Our coaches are superb. They have been serving to us get every part detailed, lined up, and realizing precisely what it’s a must to do,” he stated, noting how his consolation has grown in zone and man protection tasks, in addition to defending the run.
“Daily has gotten higher. That is the identical suggestions I’ve gotten from the coaches, and it is the identical suggestions I would give to my teammates — simply watching us come collectively, it has been good to see.”
In the meantime, Sunday’s celebration of Father’s Day is particularly significant to Elliss.
His father, Luther, performed defensive deal with for the Detroit Lions (1995-2003) and Denver Broncos (2004), showing in 134 video games and totaling 322 tackles and 29 sacks. Luther and spouse Rebecca had 12 kids, seven of whom had been adopted. Three presently play within the NFL — Christian, Kaden (Atlanta Falcons) and Jonah (Denver Broncos) — making the Elliss’ one among two households with three brothers presently on NFL rosters, becoming a member of the Sewell household of Penei (Lions), Nephi (New Orleans Saints) and Noah (Chicago Bears).
Of Luther’s affect, Elliss stated: “He taught me what it means to be a person. To take accountability. To guide courageously. To just accept accountability. After which to hunt the larger reward, which for us is the dominion of God. He all the time instilled that after we had been rising up.”
Elliss and Kaycie hope to observe an analogous path by including to their household by adoption, a course of they began final summer time in Utah and had been knowledgeable could possibly be so long as a two-year wait.
“Seeing my dad do it with all my siblings, it has been placed on our coronary heart to do it additionally,” he stated. “We aren’t going to push for a sure quantity however we will allow them to come as they might.”
As for his plans main into the beginning of coaching camp, Elliss intends to stay in Foxboro for the period, with one journey to Utah for a extremely anticipated household reunion. For Father’s Day, principal gadgets on the agenda are to make use of a brand new energy washer to scrub a fence at house, then have a particular meal with Kaycie and their boys.
In essentially the most memorable offseason of Elliss’ life, the easy issues with household nonetheless resonate with him most.
2. The place’s Wilson? Third-round draft selection Jared Wilson, the middle/guard from Georgia, was largely a spectator throughout spring practices after participating within the staff’s preliminary rookie minicamp. Contemplating the offensive line stays arguably the Patriots’ high query mark, Wilson’s undisclosed damage was an vital, however maybe neglected, storyline.
Whereas veteran Garrett Bradbury initiatives because the beginning middle — with former NFL coach and present Sirius XM analyst Todd Haley calling him among the many staff’s most vital free-agent signings due to the assistance he can present quarterback Drake Maye — Wilson could possibly be within the combine for the wide-open left-guard job. He is also a high inside backup on game-day.
Thus, his readiness for the beginning of coaching camp is close to the highest of the staff’s listing in the case of accidents/rehabilitation.
3. Fenway enjoyable: First-round decide Will Campbell, the left deal with from LSU, stated he hasn’t had a lot of an opportunity to discover New England apart from Vrabel taking the rookie class to a Crimson Sox sport in opposition to the Angels on June 3. The Sox misplaced 4-3 in 10 innings, however it did not damper the expertise.
“That was fairly cool. You all the time hear about Fenway [Park],” Campbell stated.
4. Williams’ plan: Defensive deal with Milton Williams was a full participant within the voluntary offseason program after signing a team-record four-year, $104 million contract. And he appeared to embrace Vrabel’s method of being hardest on the staff’s greatest gamers.
Williams’ plan is to spend many of the subsequent 5 weeks coaching in Texas, saying, “I am prepared to make use of a few of this physicality. When coaching camp comes round, I will be prepared, for positive.”
Leftover from Patriots obligatory minicamp with WR Stefon Diggs, with some added takeaways:
🏈 Diggs led off WR particular person drills
🏈 On this one, he’s specializing in the finer particulars of the route and calls out to WRs coach Todd Downing afterwards to debate
🏈 Downing proper… pic.twitter.com/D58oMIFiDx
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 12, 2025
5. Barmore’s fireplace: Williams teamed with fifth-year veteran Christian Barmore all through spring practices, giving the Patriots a possible potent 1-2 defensive deal with mixture. Barmore was restricted to 4 video games final season on account of a recurrence of blood clots however is now absolutely cleared and motivated.
“A variety of fireplace in my coronary heart. After that state of affairs, folks neglect who I’m,” Barmore stated earlier than the staff’s ultimate two practices of the spring.
6. Chuck Vrabel’s affect: Vrabel was a visitor on Boston School head coach Invoice O’Brien’s podcast, protecting a wide range of matters, together with the affect his father, Chuck, had on him whereas rising up in Northeast Ohio and the way it has formed his method as a coach.
“I grew up an solely youngster of two educators. My dad was a gymnasium/well being trainer and basketball coach, in order that’s all I knew,” Vrabel advised O’Brien, for whom he labored for 4 seasons with the Texans (2014-2017). “[Through] these groups, my dad taught me a number of issues. While you’re an solely youngster, you get what you need, however I appreciated the actual fact I discovered the worth of how vital being a part of a staff was and the worth of onerous work …
“The staff was an extension of my siblings, my brothers that I did not have. I can keep in mind saying, ‘Let’s go house after the sport, keep the evening, we’ll go swimming.’ If I used to be saying that to 2 folks, my dad was like, ‘Both the entire staff is coming or no one is coming.’ I’ve all the time appreciated that and being round that set the tone for what was to come back.”
7. Robinson grieves: Second-year guard Tyrese Robinson, who took some high reps at left guard this spring, was excused from obligatory minicamp when his sister died of most cancers. These near him thanked Vrabel, VP of Participant Personnel Eliot Wolf, fellow personnel government Matt Groh and the Patriots for his or her assist.
8. Riley’s PBUs: Undrafted linebacker Cam Riley (Auburn/Florida State) had two move breakups within the ultimate spring follow, serving discover that he could possibly be a worthy under-the-radar participant to look at in coaching camp.
“He is been nice up to now. He has improved every day,” inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr stated of Riley (6-foot-4, 228 kilos), who totaled 167 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 passes defended and 1 pressured fumble in school.
“He is studying what it is wish to be a professional and there actually hasn’t been any slip ups, so I am enthusiastic about his path proper now.”
9. They stated it: “I really feel quicker now than I did in my complete profession. Flip again the clock a bit bit.” — Eight-year veteran exterior linebacker Harold Landry, who was a full participant within the Patriots’ voluntary offseason program
10. Do you know? The Payments have a 66% likelihood to win the AFC East, in keeping with ESPN Analytics, which is the best mark of any staff in any division. The Patriots have a 13% likelihood to win the division, behind the Dolphins (17%) and forward of the Jets (5%)
