It was one joint practice in mid-August, but go ahead and tip your cap to Patriots center and Vikings castoff Garrett Bradbury for literally being in the middle of a New England offense that won Wednesday’s tussle against Brian Flores and a vaunted Vikings defense that’s been making life pretty much miserable for J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota offense this summer.
“When we blocked it up, there were some big home runs,” Bradbury said on a day when Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye looked especially sharp behind good protection that Bradbury helped set.
Former Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs looked good after being inadvertently tackled to the ground by cornerback Jeff Okudah on the first snap of 11-on-11 drills. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson also shined, particularly on a 70-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline to close the two-minute drill portion of the practice with Bradbury and his offensive mates celebrating.
“That was pretty sweet,” Bradbury smiled. “It’s two-minute. It’s touchdown or you lose. That’s kind of the dream as an O-lineman. You block it up and you see your running back going down the sideline for 70 yards. Theoretically, the game is over, right? So we’re going to go down and celebrate with him. A good way to end it.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks to his team as they began a joint practice with Vikings on Wednesday at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
“There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback [time],” O’Connell said. “We got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost.”
Bradbury was asked Wednesday what he thought when he heard O’Connell’s comments.
