Competition hot at TE in New England

FOXBORO, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is good enough to essentially carry a team's tight end depth chart by himself. But according to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, New England's competition at the key position in the team's offense is probably as good as it's ever been.

The trade for Martellus Bennett brought another potential Pro Bowl pass catcher to the position. The team also added veteran tight end and H-back Clay Harbor and veteran blocking tight end Bear Pascoe to a mix of youngsters that includes returning late-round pick AJ Derby as well as undrafted rookies Steven Scheu and Bryce Williams.

"It's been probably as good of a tight end situation, overall from top to bottom, as we've ever had here," Belichick said. "The guys are all competitive; they can all do enough things to be competitive."

Speaking of Bennett, the tight end was asked of his impressions of Gronkowski at this early point in their playing relationship.

"Gronk is really (expletive) good," Bennett said.

--Defensive end Chris Long has plenty of experience around the game of football. He grew up in a football family, his Hall of Fame father Howie leading the charge that's seen son's Chris and Bears guard Kyle reach the top of the game.

Long proved himself enough in college to be the No. 2 overall pick with the Rams. While in St. Louis, he had some dominant seasons and played for a number of coaches.

But in his first season in New England, Long is adjusting to life with a new team and coach. At one point in practice this week, he received some one-on-one coaching from Bill Belichick on the finer points of defensive line play.

It's a conversation that left Long even more impressed than he already was with his new football boss.

"Great coach. He knows the game, he knows defense, he knows defensive line play, so it's always nice to have that as another voice as a head coach,'' Long said of Belichick. "That's not the case everywhere, and he just knows football."

Long should fit in well on a Patriots' front that likes to be multiple and use players in a variety of spots, something the veteran has already done on the practice field this summer.

"There's nowhere here that I've been put that I haven't done before. I've played up and down the line before, and I have an open mind as far as what I'm asked to do," Long said. "I'll just continue to line up where I'm asked to, try to be fundamentally sound, disruptive, and play hard."