For his pre-practice press conference prior to the team’s first official day of training camp, Vrabel strode to the microphone on Wednesday with a puppy named Nash clutched under his arm. It’s part of the team’s second Pet Adoption Day (sponsored by the Kraft family via The Patriots Foundation in coordination with local animal shelters).

Former Tennessee Titans center Ben Jones spent five years with New England Patriots' new head coach Mike Vrabel in Tennessee and recently opened up on what to expect from Vrabel in his first Patriots' training camp.

During Tuesday's press conference, Vrabel fielded a handful questions from the media, as is the norm. The moment the presser took an edgier turn was when the Boston Globe's Ben Volin asked what Vrabel thought of the players returning to their first training camp practice after the NFL offseason, with an emphasis on their conditioning level.