Practice report

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots are holding their afternoon practice inside Gillette Stadiium, braving frigid temperatures. The team is in full pads.

Since the season began, this is the first time we can remember the Patriots holding a week of Wednesday-Thursday-Friday practices in full pads. As one player said in the locker room, "We can't forget where we came from."

Full-pads practices are usually tougher on players, as they involve more contact. Prior to this week, the Patriots had a long string of non-pads practices.

The focus on full-pads work might be a reminder for players not to take the Dolphins lightly. Coach Bill Belichick has reminded players of Dec. 20, 2004, when the 12-1 Patriots traveled to Miami and lost to the 2-11 Dolphins by a 29-28 score.

"It's just a good example that records don't mean anything," Belichick said earlier today at his press conference. "Go look up any of the last three years -- we won the first game, they won the second one. That's the way it's been since '04."

At practice, CB Randall Gay, TE Kyle Brady and OL Billy Yates were not spotted at the media-access portion of the workout, which included stretching and special teams work.