Friday, September 5    |    Follow Globe Sports 

UNCONVENTIONAL PREVIEW: Should Patriots fans hope that Mike Vrabel’s debut as Patriots coach goes as well as Jerod Mayo’s did? Actually, yes, writes Chad Finn in his first unconventional preview of the season.

BANNED BY BILL: Multiple sources confirmed to the Globe Thursday that Bill Belichick’s University of North Carolina football program has banned Patriots scouts from its facility this season. It's an indicator of the frosty relationship between Belichick and the Kraft family, according to Ben Volin. 

HOLE IN THE DEFENSE?: Cornerback Christian Gonzalez was the only one missing from the start of Patriots’ practice Thursday. If Gonzalez’s hamstring keeps him on the shelf for Sunday’s opener, how does that change New England’s defensive game plan? Christopher Price explains. 

EAGLES FLY: Jalen Hurts rushed for two touchdowns for the Super Bowl champion Eagles, who lost their hot-tempered star defender, Jalen Carter, for spitting on Dak Prescott, then withstood a rare weather delay and needed a late stop to beat the Cowboys, 24-20, early Friday in a wild start to the NFL season. 

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper retired Thursday, a little more than a week after signing a one-year contract to return to the Raiders.

See more Patriots stories here.