High times here with Dont’a back
FOXBORO — Dont’a Hightower might not be 100 percent just yet, but having him as a participant at this stage and moving so well is a great sign.
The Patriots linebacker, who suffered a torn pectoral muscle last October and missed the remainder of the season, hopes to keep heading in the right direction with an eye toward training camp and the start of the regular season.
“It feels good. It’s been a while,” said Hightower, who was essentially a full participant during the Patriots fifth OTA session yesterday. “It feels good to get my feet wet, get my feet back under me. It feels good to be out there with my teammates, new and old. Just ready to keep moving forward and getting better.”
Hightower said he hasn’t been limited and has felt great moving around, but he’s still technically rehabbing the injury. He’ll know more about timelines for an exact return when he puts the pads on.
Naturally, it wasn’t fun having to miss the playoffs last season. Hightower still stayed connected, trying to help the linebackers as best he could.
“It hurt, but I was just trying to do what I could do,” he said. “I still talked to Kyle (Van Noy) and E-Rob (Elandon Roberts) and those guys and gave them my ear when I could. But it hurt and stuff, but it just goes to show you’re one play away from missing. You know, you’re used to missing a couple games and being able to fight through it, but this year I wasn’t able to do that. So, I’m trying to take every measure I can to prevent that from happening again.”
Hightower acknowledged it was difficult to see the defense struggle to contain Nick Foles and the Eagles in the Super Bowl. He doesn’t know if he would have made a difference, but it was tough watching.
“Philly is a damn good team and they went out and they proved that,” he said. “But, man, it (was tough), but there’s not much I can do about that now. Again, all I can do is just concentrate on doing what I can do and just try to stay healthy.”
Hightower said during his down time he watched a lot of film and tried to work on man-coverage skills. He also spent time with Dr. James Andrews to try and strengthen some joint areas that have troubled him in the past.
As for the absences of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski during the voluntary sessions, Hightower said he hasn’t seen much of a difference. It’s just like if they were injured. Next man up.
“Honestly, it hasn’t changed. I feel like everybody comes in, we’re all doing our workouts, we’re all doing our film and we’re not missing any meeting time,” he said. “Whenever (Brady) gets back, we’ll be glad to have them both, but it’s not going to stop us from working.”
Kobe pays visit
Kobe Bryant was in the house Wednesday, as the Lakers legend paid a visit to the Patriots practice session. Stephon Gilmore took a selfie with Bryant and posted it on Instagram.
“He was my favorite player growing up. I watched him,” Gilmore said. “He’s still my favorite player ever to play the game, so to have someone come like that, come talk to the team or come watch the team, it’s an honor.”
Coach Bill Belichick is also a fan.
“I have a ton of respect for Kobe,” Belichick said. “Obviously a great player, had a great career. Spent the day with him (Wednesday) and he had a lot of great observations and things we can learn from. He’s a tremendous guy.”
Devin McCourty said Bryant spoke to the players about playing basketball and working out, likely pumping his new book: “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.”
“I just think it was his sense of how he viewed everything to do with playing basketball,” the veteran safety said. “Obviously, it’s a different sport but he was so meticulous on everything and how he worked out and shooting jump shots and how he motivated his teammates to play at the level he wanted them to be at. He kind of looked at basketball overall from every aspect that you could kind of see it. Relationships and games and practices and All-Star (games), he kind of looked at the total and not just himself as an individual.”
Missing pieces
Along with Brady and Gronkowski, WR Malcolm Mitchell, DB David Jones, RB Brandon Bolden, CB Cyrus Jones, DB Nate Ebner, OL Joe Thuney and WR Cody Hollister missed the workout. Mitchell appeared on the road back from his latest knee trouble, but he’s missed the last few OTA sessions.
Boston College coach Steve Addazio and members of his staff were on hand to watch practice.