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Pats, Saints to 'practice jointly' as well

Print | Comments () Posted by Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff May 25, 2010 11:42 AM

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Apparently the word "scrimmage" has become a dirty one in the NFL, because teams don't seem to want to use it anymore...so the term du jour is "joint practice."

At any rate, the Patriots will likely have a couple more, now with the New Orleans Saints. According to a league source, the two sides have agreed in principle to the practices, but the details are still being worked out.

New England's first preseason game is at home against the defending Super Bowl champions, and the two teams will hold some joint practices before the Aug. 12 tilt.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton has not made a secret of his admiration for Bill Belichick; as Saints' beat writer Jeff Duncan noted today, the two became friends during the 2006 Pro Bowl, over deep-sea fishing and Coronas.

Last Friday came the news that New England and Atlanta will hold joint practices at the Falcons' facility in advance of their preseason game Aug. 19.