Healing process continues
Teammates share memories of Hill
FOXBOROUGH -- With heavy hearts, the Patriots held their first official team activity yesterday since the death of defensive lineman Marquise Hill.
Richard Seymour, one of the club's captains, felt his emotions grow stronger when he walked through the locker room for the first time.
"I think it kind of hit me a little more when I walked past his locker and they have flowers up by the locker," Seymour said. "I think guys were just kind of looking at each other and really not saying much, and not knowing what's next."
Seymour served as a mentor to Hill the last three years, and said the team's leaders and coaches are still determining how best to honor Hill this season.
"I'm not even sure the right words to use to express the way a lot of guys on the team feel," Seymour said. "I think it's always good when you have family and friends, and you can look back at a situation like this and say, 'Football is not who I am, it's just a part of what I do.' "
The on-field football activity yesterday came during a two-hour workout behind Gillette Stadium. In the voluntary noncontact passing camp practice, players wore shorts, jerseys, light shoulder pads, and helmets.
The camp offered the first glimpse of some of the team's new players, such as receiver Randy Moss and free agent signee Adalius Thomas.
Defensive lineman Ty Warren said the passing camp was therapeutic in the sense that "it always helps to be around somebody, to have somebody in your corner, when you're going through something like this."
Running back Kevin Faulk believed Hill would have wanted the players at the workout.
"He wouldn't want it any other way; that's the type of person he was," Faulk said. "He was probably the first guy here every morning."
Said Warren, "He always had a smile on his face. He was just a fun guy to be around."
He'll be all over the place.
Thomas spent the majority of the two-hour practice playing inside, which is a change from the outside spot he primarily played with the Ravens. But the 6-foot-2-inch, 270-pound Thomas also took snaps at outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense, and even played defensive line.
Versatility was touted as one of Thomas's calling cards, and yesterday provided an early glimpse of how that could affect his teammates.
If Thomas lines up inside, it could free Mike Vrabel to play more outside linebacker opposite Rosevelt Colvin. But if Thomas plays on the outside, it could help reduce the load of Vrabel or Colvin, while opening up an opportunity for Junior Seau inside.
Defensive lineman Jarvis Green and cornerback Randall Gay were in Louisiana mourning Hill, with whom they played at Louisiana State.
Others not practicing on the field included cornerback Asante Samuel, receiver Chad Jackson, running back Laurence Maroney, tight end David Thomas, Seymour, and safeties James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather.
Samuel has stayed away from all offseason activities because of his displeasure with the status of a contract extension, but some players are recovering from injuries or surgeries, such as Jackson (knee), Maroney (shoulder), Thomas (foot), and Seymour (knee).
Faulk felt it was a classy gesture for chairman/CEO Robert Kraft to charter a plane for all team members.
"It speaks volumes for the team and organization for getting the plane down there for the whole team, not just the owner, the head coach, and a couple of captains, but for the whole team to be involved and to show the support for [Hill] and his family," Faulk said.
Hill's agent, Albert Elias, said the Patriots sent multiple members of their organization to New Orleans earlier this week -- including assistant strength and conditioning coach Don Davis -- to assist in the funeral planning.
"While this condition is obviously very serious, both Joe and his doctors feel he will quickly be on his way to a full and speedy recovery," said Joe Linta, Andruzzi's agent. Andruzzi, 31, was a member of all three Patriots Super Bowl championship teams.
He played the last two seasons for the Cleveland Browns and is currently a free agent.
