There are very, very few circumstances under which we can imagine Bill Belichick letting one of his players to miss training camp time. But the Summer Olympics is apparently one of them.
On Monday, USA Rugby men’s sevens head coach Mike Friday named the squad that will represent the country at the Olympics in Brazil, and among the 12 men named is current New England Patriots safety/special teamer Nate Ebner.
Rugby is making its Olympic return after a nearly 100-year absence; the last time it was played in Summer Games competition was in 1924, when the United States won gold (the standard 15-men to a side was played then).