FOXBOROUGH -- Following four straight days of training camp practice, and nine practices in the span of 10 days, the New England Patriots will enjoy an off day Sunday.

Kind of.

Upon retreating from the rains that shortened his ninth practice, linebacker Elandon Roberts said the team "definitely" needs its upcoming recess. And yet when Sunday rolls around, he'll be back inside Gillette Stadium for treatment and an assortment of other reasons.

"Everybody got their own routine. Me, I'll come here," Roberts said. "Probably go to the training room, get another lift in; probably jog a little bit and then go attack the film."

Defensive end Trey Flowers interpreted the news of an impending off day as a sign from coach Bill Belichick that he approves of the team's performance thus far (an off day also becomes mandated by league rules after five straight camp practices). And yet to Flowers, Sunday won't be a time to entirely break free from the grind of preparing for a season.

"I guess he understands how hard we work and how much we put into it. So giving us a day off and things like that, it's cool," Flowers said. "But you've still got to come in and get your body right and prepare well and stay on top of it. It's camp."

At the very least, Flowers says he plans to wake up later than normal. Patriots players typically report to the facility at 6 a.m. on practice days. Flowers, like Roberts, will receive treatment and perhaps get some cardio in.

So in true Patriot fashion, even in the heat of training camp with the team's first preseason game less than a week away, there are no days off.

"You don't want to go into a day off and sit at home and eat ice cream and chips and things like that. Definitely you want to come in and you've got to be a pro about it," Flowers said. "You've got to take care of yourself."