The fourth and final mini-camp practice open to the media just concluded here at Gillette Stadium. The final session took place under sunny skies and was much warmer than the previous workouts. Players were again in shorts, jerseys and helmets. The session was just about an hour, seemingly the shortest of the four.

–After limping off from the morning workout LB Tyrone McKenzie was not on the field for the afternoon. He was not the only player missing as attendance fell for the first time with only 22 players actually working out. TE Brad Listorti remained in sweats. Tryout WR No. 15 was dressed but did not take part in the workout. Nor did Brandon Tate. Tryout players No. 43, 9, 10 and 76 were also missing.

–Again, while the team was working out the Dalai Lama was addressing a large crowd inside Gillette Stadium. His words could be faintly heard from the practice fields. The Dalai Lama wore a red Patriots hat for a portion of the time that he addressed the crowd.

–Julian Edelman took practice reps at both WR and RB during the afternoon work. He also got a bunch of reps working on his kick coverage skills. He seems to be getting a little more comfortable with each workout. He showed much better hands during the afternoon and didn’t slip to the ground as often as he had in previous workouts. That said he still seems to lose his footing too often and surprisingly for a short guy doesn’t always seem to have his feet under him in a good football position. I’m sure he’ll work on it. But he clearly is fast, works hard, has a little wiggle to him and is willing to try any position they throw at him. The Wildcat dreams for Patriots will remain at least through training camp and the preseason.

–Patrick Chung gave up a reception to Edelman at one point in practice. Shortly thereafter Bill Belichick gave Chung a few one-on-one pointers seeming to reference his hip level and waist bend and not getting over-extended in his bumping guys. Belichick was all over the field during all of mini-camp, bouncing from position-to-position and drill-to-drill. It’s interesting sometimes to keep track of his location and exactly what he’s watching who he’s coaching at any given time in a practice.

–Rookie free agent Jamar Love had a decent camp, although he dropped a sure interception and potential TD in the afternoon workout. Love, out of Arkansas, is listed as a DB but seemed to line up mostly as a corner in the workouts. That could be misleading since there were only four DBs in attendance and two were safeties Chung and Marcus McClinton. Love may have been repping at corner purely out of need.

–ILB Antonio Appleby, a rookie free agent out of Al Groh’s Virginia program, struggled a little in pass coverage working one-on-one opposite the running backs. Add him to the list of guys I expect to look better in pads in training camp. Plus, inside linebacker with 3-4 experience are clearly more suited to contact drills in the running game than pass coverage in shorts.

–After Belichick called an end to practice and spoke with the team as a group, the rookies then stayed on the field to meet with Patriots strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik. Just a guess, but Woicik may have been giving the guys some things to do/think about as they prepare to return to the team in mid-May.

–By NFL rule the rookies cannot return to the Patriots after mini-camp until May 15 or after their school’s graduation, whichever comes later.

–Tryout WR No. 14 had a very nice camp and would seem to have a chance at earning a contract and spot in training camp. The team generally anounces any tryout players who earn contracts on either Sunday or Monday after the conclusion of mini-camp.