FOXBOROUGH — The rain held off but the thunder returned to Gillette Stadium Saturday morning as the Patriots donned their full pads for the first time. The sounds of “real football’’ kicked off shortly after 9:15 with the familiar crackling and thuds of pads hitting pads and bodies hitting the ground.
“It’s exciting,’’ said defensive linemen Lawrence Guy, who was throwing his 6-foot-4-inch, 335-pound frame around pretty good. “Coming out for the first day in months and hitting is great. It’s just another opportunity to get better with your teammates. You can only do just so much without pads on. Now, with them on, you can see the plays a little bit better and as the days go on you can improve and improve.’’
Safety Devin McCourty echoed those sentiments but warned that the road ahead is a long one.
“The first day is always good,’’ he said. “We haven’t been in pads since February, so we’re back, trying to get into that groove. Guys came out and tried to compete today and we’ll try to keep it going. That’s what training camp is. You can’t get too happy or too sad about one day because tomorrow we’ll be back out here getting after it.’’
Except for the obvious — the hitting — McCourty said working out in full gear is an extension of what the team has been doing throughout the spring and during the first two days of camp.
“It’s working on your fundamentals and your techniques [but] with the pads on,’’ he said. “You get a little bit more tired. So you just have to get back and used to that feeling and having fun.’’
As for the guys getting hit, Dion Lewis said they look forward to the contact just as much as the hitters do.
“It’s good to have the pads on and get back to some real football,’’ said Lewis, who missed the opening of training camp last season on the heels of his second knee surgery. “It was a great day.’’
For the record, the 5-8, 195-pound Lewis looks quick (like circa 2015 quick) and isn’t a bit concerned about his place in what appears to be a stacked backfield.
“It’s competition. If you’re scared of competition, you’re probably playing the wrong sport,’’ he said with a smile. “I’m confident in my abilities. I know what I can bring to the table. I’m just trying to come out here every day, work hard, get better, listen to what the coaches are [saying] and try to limit my mistakes.’’
Awkward landing
With the return of contact comes the increase in the chances for injury, and the Patriots avoided a big one late in Saturday’s practice.
Safety Duron Harmon landed awkwardly after a midair collision with Chris Hogan and Malcolm Butler and appeared to tweak his right knee. A league source said the injury isn’t considered “too serious.’’
Harmon, who signed a four-year, $20 million deal in the offseason, was attended to by the medical staff before gingerly walking off without assistance. He stuck around for the remainder of practice and looked in good spirits as he spent time with his family after the final whistle.
Clayborn inducted into Hall
Raymond Clayborn was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame shortly after practice. The cornerback became the 26th member of the club, which coincidentally, is the number he wore throughout his 13 seasons (1977-89) in Foxborough.
Clayborn shares the Patriot record for interceptions (36) with Ty Law. He was also an accomplished return man and his 31.1-yard average and three touchdowns in his rookie season remain franchise records.
“As a big, fat offensive lineman, we really loved those quick [return] touchdowns,’’ joked fellow Hall of Famer John “Hog’’ Hannah.
Clayborn finished his career in Cleveland in 1991, where he played for first-year coach BillBelichick. He signed a one-day contract so he could retire as a Patriot.
In thanking team owner Robert Kraft and Belichick, Clayborn said, “Boy, I wish I could’ve played for the both of you. I would’ve won at least a couple of championships.’’
Clayborn said his finest moment as a Patriot came in the 1985 AFC Championship game when he intercepted a Dan Marino pass and held Mark Duper to one catch as New England snapped an 18-game Orange Bowl skid and punched a ticket to its first Super Bowl.
“[He] truly helped squish the fish,’’ said Kraft.
Praise from Haynes
Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Haynes, who teamed with Clayborn to form one of the great cornerback duos in history, was one of several ex-Patriots to take in practice and be recognized following the session by Belichick. Haynes spent a lot of time watching the defensive back drills, particularly the one on ones with the receivers. Haynes said it looked nothing like the first week of camp to him. “Today’s practice, to me, was something I would have expected like six weeks later [into camp],’’ he said. “I could not believe how sharp the guys look. Throwing the ball, catching the ball, coverage on the ball, reading the ball. I didn’t see a lot of mental errors — you know, obvious mental errors. They’re just really sharp.’’ . . . The Patriots scheduled a news conference for 12:15 p.m. on Sunday but did not specify a reason.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com.
