New England Patriots News

The Patriots give up the services of cornerback Butler

2011-09-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

New England Patriots decided they do not need the services of cornerback Darius Butler for the next season, while the player is unaware of the reasons why it was not considered to be part of the team.

Butler said "I'm not really sure about the reason why I was left out the team, "but with the decision taken by the Patriots acknowledged that" it is better to go separate ways. " He added: "I cannot honestly give the reasons why I'm out, because I do not know."

He said "I recognize that last year was difficult for me, so I guess the team thought it might be better off with people who have." Butler said "I do not know exactly why things didn't turn out well. But that is the past. "

Butler was elected in the second round of the 2009 draft as a rookie he started five games and started in 2010 as a starter, but he could stay in that place for only the first three weeks. "This is a business and the fact that I have not been within the team, is not the end of anything. " With this move, the Patriots have five cornerbacks, and Butler became one of the three owners that the Patriots did not consider, after they also gave up the deep hire James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather.

Rough Night for the Belichick Defense

2011-08-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Whoa, that attacking 4-3 everyone's been screaming sure didn’t look good against the upstart Lions.

We now know that when the season comes around, they will be in a 3-4, its Belichick’s defensive philosophy. We think a smart guy like Belichick doesn’t just switch up mid stream with a defense that has won him championships. One that half the league has gone to and gives Bill the flexibility he covets.

Let's take a look at the Lions game and break down what went wrong. We'll start with run defense. The Lions threw a reverse screen that went for a large gain. Using that 4-3 ‘look’ going upstream and pursuing left the defense way out of position. That’s one reason you won’t see them use it as a base defense. Belichick believes in gap principles and reading plays.

Sure everyone loves blitzes, until they don’t work (See everyone who was screaming for an attacking defense). Chasing the fake threw the entire defense off balance and they won’t be doing that all season.

Secondly, The defensive linemen were being sealed because of their aggressiveness coming off the ball and not ‘2 Gapping', as they will be when the season starts. The personnel the Patriots have are tailor made for a 3-4 base. Andre Carter is a linebacker posing as a defensive end and he will be standing up come regular season.

It really doesn’t matter if they are standing up or down, it's about the defense they trying to play. It's not that big of a deal, like Bill Parcells once said "You're telling me a guy can play or not play cause his hand is touching the ground?". With Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher not playing, it was the line who was supposed to cover the linebackers, and they didn’t. Detroit had 33 carries for 114 yards with an average of 3.5 per carry. Not bad until you factor in that their top backs didn’t play and they couldn’t stop the 3^rd and 4^th stringers.

This includes Drew Stanton’s two runs of 18 yards (on one, Mark Anderson had him wrapped up and he somehow got away). When they get Shaun Ellis and Albert Haynesworth into the lineup along with Vince Wilfork, that will be your starting defensive line. Everyone else will be used in sub packages using 3 and 4 man fronts.

Here's a thought - what are you going to do with Dane Fletcher, Gary Guyton and Brandon Spikes?

Are two of them going to have minimal playing time? Have you seen Dane Fletcher this preseason? He's been a beast and Guyton is their most athletic LB with speed. The 4-3 takes them out of any first down situation.

The Pass defense was horrific. Darius Butler is a goner because the dude just can’t cover. To bolster the 3-4 point is that you get an extra defender in the passing game and if the four man rush plays like it did against Detroit, might as well go with three and help the defensive backs out.

Devin McCourty had a rough night guarding Nate Burleson and Calvin Johnson, getting lost and not being able to track the ball. Even the break up he had against Burleson in the endzone; he didn’t know where the ball was. Our guy Kyle Arrington gave up a TD in the endzone, but had help or the lack of it with James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather. Matthew Stafford went 12-14 for 200 yard and 2 TD’s in a little than a half of work.

The safeties didn’t fare much better as Brandon Meriweather and Patrick Chung had tough nights in coverage. Chung’s tackling was very good, but there were too may WR’s and TE’s running free. As mentioned, Sanders and Meriweather couldn’t get help to Arrington on a bullet thrown by Matthew Stafford to Nate Burleson.

Top Five Patriots Games to Look Forward To in 2011

2011-08-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

With the Patriots playing some great preseason football on all strings, it’s making me extremely impatient because I just want the season to start already!

With all the transactions that have gone on in the past month or so, we’re expecting a pretty intense season all around the league. Looking at the Patriots’ schedule, I wanted to break down my top five most anticipated games this season. Now, I’m excited for all of the games, with our recent major pick ups on defense, and adding Ocho to our offense, it’s going to be interesting to see what kind of brain powered playmaking recipes Bill will cook up for our offense this year.

1. Kansas City Chiefs: November 21st, 2011

I’m excited for this game because it’s the first game that Matt Cassel comes back to New England after his successful 2008 season with the Patriots.

He’s been making a big name for himself, as he led the Chiefs to playoffs last season. It’s a shame cause 2008 could have been a big year for the Patriots. Imagine if the Pats went to the playoffs with a backup quarterback and won? That could have changed the history of the New England Patriots. Would Tom Brady be playing for another team? Doubt it, but it will be good to see Cassel come back to where he started.

2. @ Philadelphia Eagles: November 27th, 2011

This is gonna be an exciting game. I can’t wait to watch the number one defense (on paper) that the Eagles are going to bring against what could very well be the number one offense by the Patriots. We’ve had some success against Andy Reid’s defenses in the past especially in Super Bowl 39 against what I remember being a pretty stacked defense with Dawkins and Trotter. This is surely one game I can’t wait to watch.

3. @ Pittsburgh Steelers: October 30th, 2011

There are a few reasons I’m looking forward to this game. First off, it’s always a good game when the Pats and the Steelers face off. The Steelers were the AFC Champions last year and they’re the only team with multiple Super Bowl championships besides New England in the past 12 years. Also, if any Patriots fans can remember back in 2004, we played the Steelers on Halloween in which we were destroyed by rookie Big Ben and Plaxico Burress as we ended our 21-game winning streak.

This game is on all hollows eve. Will it be another horror story for us against the Steelers? Doubt it, but you can rest assure that this will be a 12 round bout.

4. New York Giants: November 6th, 2011

Everyone knows the significance of the Pats/Giants regular season game this year. Now it’s hard to call this game a revenge game—tt’s not the Super Bowl, it’s not the same Giants football team, and the Giants are more than likely not going to be playing for anything this time of year. I personally think the Eagles and Cowboys will be running the division, but you can’t count the Giants out.

The great part about this game is that it’s in New England and after Super Bowl 42, the crowd is definitely going to be in full rage. I’m expecting this game to be similar to last year’s game against the Jets in New England. All we need is a Bruschi night and some snow to make this a magical night for New England fans. Oh and I did I mention? I’m driving up to Boston to see this game in what will be my first ever Patriots game in Foxboro. For once I will not be at Giants Stadium seeing them kick the crap out of the Jets!

5. @ New York Jets: November 13th, 2011

Sunday football game in New York; I’m attending and there will be nothing better than shutting up Rex Ryan twice in one season. I love the sound of dead air during the Jets game as I cheer along the very few Pats fans as we’re winning.

We’ve lost the last two seasons in NY against the Jets and it’s time for that little streak to end. This is war. In the words of one of the biggest POS’s on the Jets, Bart Scott, “CAN’T WAIT!”

Other notable games that I didn’t add to my top five are against the Colts, Chargers, and the Cowboys. Every year the Pats and the Colts put on a great show. This year I think it’s gonna be different. I don’t think the Colts will be the dominating team in their division. I think the Texans are going to top AFC South this year.

Nothing crazy about the Pats/Chargers.

As for the Pats/Cowboys game, it’s gonna be a good one to watch, but it’s not making my top five.

Do the Patriots really need more receivers?

2011-08-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Patriots traded for wide receiver Chad Ochocinco to pair with Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Aaron Hernandez and the rest of the jumbled group of people the Patriots call the Wide Receiver depth chart. There are now talks that the Patriots could be adding another member to that group.

Mike Reiss over at ESPN Boston is reporting that the Patriots are set to meet with former Bengals and Ravens receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh, a player that is coming off one of his worst seasons as a professional last year. It seems to be a strange meeting for the Patriots as they already have 11 receivers in camp, and that’s not even including the receiving tight-ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. There seems to be no reason for the Patriots to even entertain the option of bringing in Housh.

The only thing I could see the Patriots trying to do is get him into camp to learn the system. Players like Julian Eddleman and Brandon Tate have missed a couple days of practice which could be a worry for the Patriots. By bringing in Housh, they can simply put another name on the list of players on the speed dial list “In case of injury”.

True, Housh hasn’t had a productive season since 2008, but he wouldn’t be asked to be Brady’s number one option here like he was in Seattle or to some extent in Baltimore. At 33 years old, he would simply be another large possession target for Brady to throw to. When he’s on and healthy, he’s basically a bigger version on Deion Branch. He has a knack for getting open in the middle of the field and on the outsides with his route running. He could be a good target for Brady, it’s just not a need for the Patriots.

New England Patriots continue to add veterans

2011-08-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

The New England Patriots are continuing to add veteran players to their roster. After acquiring WR Chad Ochocinco and DT Albert Hayneswoth, the Patriots have added two veterans to the defensive side of the ball over the weekend, DE Shaun Ellis and DE Andre Carter. The Patriots have been known for bringing in aging players and getting good production from them under the leadership of head coach Bill Belichick.

Ellis, who played for the rival New York Jets last season, agreed to a one-year deal with New England over the weekend. The move to join the Patriots irked Jets head coach Rex Ryan who told reporters, “The fact that he chose them and all that, like I said before, there’s no way I’m going to wish him well”. Ellis recorded 4.5 sacks and 36 total tackles last season, and has 72.5 sacks in his 10-year career, all 11 seasons being spent with the Jets.

Andre Carter is entering his 11th season in the NFL. Carter has spent time with both the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. In five seasons with the Redskins, he recorded double digit sacks twice but struggled with Washington last season as the club switched to a 3-4 defensive scheme. Carter announced his signing on his Twitter account Sunday night.

The move to sign Carter, who plays much better in a 4-3 scheme, is interesting. After the franchise acquired Albert Haynesworth, another player better suited for a 4-3, speculation arose about the Patriots switching to a 4-3 defense. Amid speculation, New England’s head coach Bill Belichick has deflected questions about the team’s defense. Addressing questions about the team’s possible philosophical defensive switch, Belichick told reporters, “I think honestly that’s something of a media fabrication”. Then again, what would you expect from the master of saying nothing at all when he speaks?

Will the Patriots Be Switching to a 4-3 Defensive Alignment?

2011-08-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

It is unclear of what changes are about to come to New England’s 3-4 defensive system, but it appears that changes will be made in Bill Belichick’s scheme.

Tom E. Curran of CSN New England indicated that the Patriots could have some defensive changes coming their way, following the recent release of players this Friday. Former defensive end, Ty Warren, who was cut by the Pats this Friday, spoke with Curran and discussed the possibility of their scheme shifting a bit.

“I think the team was looking to do some things differently on defense and I wasn’t in the plan.”

Erik Frenz, at Bleacher Report wrote up a terrific piece today speculating the possibility of change in New England’s near future.

Early indications from training camp sessions over the past two days point to a change in defensive philosophy for the New England Patriots. The Patriots have done this before, practicing in a 4-3 front early and switching back to their standard 3-4 later on.

With the recent acquisition of Albert Haynesworth, it may seem like Belichick could be changing his scheme a bit, as Haynesworth is more fit for the 4-3 alignment rather than New England’s current 3-4—but that does not mean he can’t succeed as a Patriot.

New England ran a sub-package 55.7 percent of the time according to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston. The sub-packages can variate from a two-man front to a four-man front—allowing the massive presences of Vince Wilfork and Haynesworth to shift around freely.

New England may have only ran a 4-3 defensive front four times as Frenz reported, but Belichick has rolled out many different looks out of the 3-4 alignment with roots of a 4-3 front—notice the picture posted to the left.

The Pats line up with three down linemen, however they have four linebackers. It appears that Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes are the two inside linebackers while the other linebackers, Jermaine Cunningham and Tully Banta-Cain, are lined up in a standing defensive end stance.

In my opinion, New England will stay true to it’s colors of being a base 3-4 defensive team, despite folding in multiple variations of different fronts. As New England’s defense gains more experience, the more wrinkles Belichick can add, and with the recent addition of Haynesworth, it appears that Belichick can now roll freely with multiple defensive fronts.

Tom Brady is to a have a rating of 99

2011-07-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is one of just four players to be tabbed with a 99 rating in the Madden 12 video game, set for release on Aug. 30. He’s joined by Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu and Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.

This is the first time in several editions that Peyton Manning doesn’t begin with a 99 rating, which he lost last year during a roster update, during which players may have their scores adjusted in-season.

Who Will Step Up For the 2011 New England Patriots?

2011-07-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

Despite not winning a single playoff game in 2010, the New England Patriot's season in most people's minds can be considered somewhat successful. Not simply because the team achieved a league best 14-2 record, but because they did so with one of the league's most youthful defenses, where numerous rookies and second year players were expected to perform to a high level. Furthermore, the team did it whilst shifting offensive philosophies mid-season and subsequently trading away their primary wide receiver. To me, this is a great foundation to build on in 2011.

Whilst the upcoming 2011 season will no doubt have its own team successes once more for the Patriots, for the team to truly progress to the next level, it will require a number of players to really step up, not just as leaders for this team, but key contributors in the clutch. Much has been made of Mike Vrabel's recent retirement and one sentiment which was common amongst analysts was Vrabel's ability to step up in the biggest of games. Here, I identify five players on the Patriot roster who I feel are key to the team's upcoming season - how they perform will not necessarily define the Patriot season but I feel it will certainly play a huge role. This is NOT a criticism of how these players have performed, but simply a selection of key players who I want to take their game to the next level because, in doing so, I think they could hugely effect the outcome of the 2011 season for the Patriots. I am hoping these players will step up, perform and lead this team to achieve all it is capable of achieving...

Ty Warren

Patrick Chung

Jermaine Cunningham

Brandon Spikes

Dan Connolly

These are players who I think can be vital to any Patriots success in 2011.

After 14 NFL seasons, Mike Vrabel retired on Monday !

2011-07-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

After 14 NFL seasons, former Patriots LB Mike Vrabel retired on Monday. Here's a look back at his career in New England, where he won three Super Bowl titles and was a key figure during a championship era.

For the record, Mike Vrabel finished his Patriots [team stats] career with 404 solo tackles and 48 sacks. But you can take the statistics or leave them.

It’s not the numbers he produced that stood out to those who watched a ring-riddled 14-year NFL career that officially ended yesterday. In New England, it’s what the outside linebacker stood for that led the discussion.

“It’s no coincidence that Mike won championships everywhere he played,” said Scott Pioli, who has served as general manager for the Patriots and Chiefs. “If there were a Hall of Champions, Mike Vrabel would be a first-ballot selection.”

Vrabel knew his career was finished once the Chiefs, his team for the past two seasons, lost in the playoffs to the Ravens. Without hesitation, he proudly accepted his dream job yesterday — linebackers coach at his alma mater, Ohio State.

“I just came to the point where I couldn’t train to prepare for an NFL football season,” the 35-year-old Vrabel said at a news conference yesterday to announce his post under new Buckeyes coach and former roommate Luke Fickell. “I’m proud of my career, but I’m more excited now for this opportunity.”

A chorus of voices echoed Pioli’s praise of Vrabel, who also helped build a dynasty in his eight-year Patriots career.

After the Pats signed in 2001 the mostly anonymous former Steelers third-round draft pick, Vrabel became a building block for vaunted defenses, helping the team win three Super Bowls alongside teammates Tedy Bruschi [stats], Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison [stats] and others.

When discussing Vrabel’s career, friends and former bosses noted the statistics, such as the 57 sacks, 505 tackles, and 10 receiving touchdowns. But they harped more on his skills as a teammate and on his character.

“Vrabel was just a consistent player, and you knew what you were going to get out of him,” former Patriots star Lawyer Milloy said. “He played the game within the game. If the edge needed to be set, he was going to set it. Didn’t really look too flashy at first, but just when he got out there, he made plays. Once he got into (coach Bill Belichick’s 3-4) system, he was able to shine.”

Only a Pro Bowler one time, the 6-foot-4, 261-pound Vrabel never had more than 73 tackles in a season. Only once, in 2007, did he eclipse 10 sacks. But his methods, business-like demeanor and defensive role, along with his propensity for bringing out the lighthearted side of Belichick, earned him a leadership role.

“During his Patriots career, there was no player more respected for his football intellect and revered for his leadership by his teammates than Mike,” Belichick said. “He was elected a team captain by his peers and is a player who everyone knew was destined to become a coach after his NFL playing career was over. I have no doubt Mike will develop tough, intelligent, fundamentally sound winners.”

Known as a hard-nosed, do-it-all linebacker who could stuff the run and rush the passer, Vrabel exited the Pats in a package deal that also sent quarterback Matt Cassel to the Chiefs. Before he did, he impressed by playing tight end, as well, even catching two touchdowns in Super Bowls.

“The biggest thing that stuck out as a kid is, you watch a guy that’s a linebacker line up at tight end and catch all these touchdown passes,” Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty said. “At that age, I didn’t know X’s and O’s, so I just remember him as an NFL player going both ways.”

The memories of Vrabel’s prowess did vary, from creating pressure that led to Ty Law’s fabled interception in Super Bowl XXXVI to simply diagnosing a play before it happened. What did not vary was the respect of those who knew him well.

“Mike Vrabel was a key contributor to the most successful era in Patriots franchise history,” owner Robert Kraft said, “and I will forever be grateful. I am sure this is a dream come true for Mike and will be the start of a long and successful coaching career at Ohio State. I’ll be rooting for him. Mike is a true Patriot.”

2011-07-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

Being overweight isn't just unhealthy, it can be very dangerous.

When you're overweight you put tremendous stress on your body and become at risk for back, joint issues and many other health problems.

In addition to medical issues, being overweight often depletes energy, robbing you of the ability to get things done during the day, and turning your body into that of a lazy couch potato. These are just a few of the reasons to take advantage of this risk free trial of our weight loss formula and let the power of Acai help you get the fit body you deserve.

http://mhlnk.com/2C30AB3A http://mhlnk.com/BB0967F4 http://mhlnk.com/8F61918C http://mhlnk.com/D82EDB44 http://mhlnk.com/00C37287 http://mhlnk.com/3B36F9FD http://mhlnk.com/09252F10 http://mhlnk.com/55727C59 http://mhlnk.com/CA237F5B http://mhlnk.com/8F61918C http://mhlnk.com/F5633F6E http://mhlnk.com/87FF108A http://mhlnk.com/9C0B2628

In just 30 days I lost weight and I feel great. I'm no longer embarrassed to wear a bikini. Thank you so much for changing my life with this wonderful product.
Gucci Singh, USA

Parties still have ground to cover for labor deal on NFL Lockout!

2011-07-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

After holding another full day of labor negotiations, the NFL and its players will continue productive talks, but philosophical differences about some core issues remain, numerous sources with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.

For instance, significant work on how rookies will be compensated still must be done, according to multiple sources, with both parties at odds over how much negotiation will remain in the signing process and how much will be straight slotting, in which players will receive a preordained raise over the person drafted in their spot the previous year. The parties have worked on the issue for weeks but aren't seen as being near a consensus.

"That one is still a real live wire," said one source involved in the process.

"Still a lot of work to be done there," another source said.

The parties haven't really started discussing how they will settle the pending litigation involved with the Brady et al v. National Football League et al antitrust case, which also is a potentially big hurdle, nor have they covered whether the NFL Players Association will reconstitute itself as a union and if federal judicial oversight will be involved in the future collective bargaining agreement.

There are issues involving veteran free agency, too. The owners have requested the right of first refusal to retain their existing free agents coming out of the lockout. But it's a divisive issue, termed by several sources as "a deal-breaker" from the players' perspective.

"That issue could break the whole thing up," one source said. "Players will not budge on it."

Ultimately, several sources opined that the owners would relent on that as the parties come closer to a deal, but for now, it remains a contentious issue that will continue to be addressed.

The owners are requesting that three offensive line designations (tackle, center, guard) be added to the franchise tag, whereas now there is only one offensive line designation across the board. Several sources believe that won't become a major stumbling block that would hold up a deal.

Although major gains have been made in creating a revenue model, there still are differences on whether certain forms of sales tax and charges would be included. This, too, is a relatively minor issue.

The NFLPA conducted a conference call with the Brady lawsuit plaintiffs Thursday night, and it highlighted some of the significant differences that remain between the parties as negotiations continue into Friday.

"It was pretty much what you would expect," said one source with knowledge of the call. "It was an update on where things stand, that we're close on a lot of things, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who's mediating these talks, leaves for vacation Saturday. Negotiations could be extended into the weekend, depending on how things progress Friday in New York, or tabled until next week.

"That's still fluid," one source said. "It might make sense to take 48 hours to regroup and then get together again next week. That's a fluid situation."

Fish Food

2008-09-22T20:23:00.001-07:00

Fish Food

Since beginning this blog, I have never had to use the word "embarrassment" to describe an effort by your AFC Champ New England Patriots. There's a first time for everything.

In the most un-watchable game in memory, the lowly Miami Dolphins flat-out embarrassed the Pats—using trick plays and intensity to squash New England 38-13. 38-13! Are you kidding?

Matt "My Home Is Apparently NOT My" Cassell looked helpless and hopeless, raising the question of whether Jeff "Really, I'm Not" Garcia should be shipped in ASAP.

It says here, "YES!"

FN Chiefnoreply@blogger.com

To read the full article click here.

Add Powerful Affiliate Ads to your site

To unsubscribe from this feed, click here

To manage your other subscriptions, click here

Post-Brady Depression?

2008-09-18T17:22:00.001-07:00

Post-Brady Depression?

The over-bearing sense of doom that descended on "The Nation" after "The Hit" on Brady's knee has been somewhat transformed into a "hey, what the heck" attitude among fans. This, as the AFC Champs have "cruised" to a 2-0 mark under Matt "My Home Field Is My" Cassell.

After handling the Pop Warner like Chiefs with relative ease, the Pats headed into Sodom on the Hudson with a considerable swagger. This is how it would have been anyway this year, after the Super Bowl embarrassment in the wake of a perfect 16-0 run. You could tell by the fact that everyone showed up at voluntary workouts over the Summer. It was going to be a "chip on the shoulder pads" kind of year—Brady or no Brady.

Time will tell whether this "us against the world" schtick is going to continue to work—it did after all help us get our first 3 SB rings. Attitude can take you only so far, talent carries the big load. From here, they still look like one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. That fact, plus the puff schedule should still result in 10-11 wins. You read it here first. Of course, we had pretty much altered the masthead last February with an additional silver chalice. Oh well.

FN Chiefnoreply@blogger.com

To read the full article click here.

Add Powerful Affiliate Ads to your site

To unsubscribe from this feed, click here

To manage your other subscriptions, click here

Patriots Week One: Three Up, Three Down

2008-09-10T11:38:00.005-07:00

Patriots Week One: Three Up, Three Down

Three Up

Matt Cassel
If he keeps stringing up 100+ QB ratings, I think New England will be just fine. Cassel has strengths that Belichick and McDaniels will tailor the Patriots gameplan towards.

Jerod Mayo
Six solo tackles is what the stat sheet says, but no visible mistakes for a rookie in Belichick's defense is wonderful. Look for Mayo to start making big plays soon.

Ellis Hobbs
A great kickoff return, some big hits, and a crucial interception all add up to a monster day from Ellis Hobbs the third. The former Iowa St. Cyclone running back is still refining his cornerback game, and the improvement is visible.

Three Down

Patriots Crowd
Maybe it was Tom Brady's injury, but other than the final four plays of the game, the crowd was pretty dead. We were expecting a lot more on third down.

Kevin Faulk
If Kevin Faulk is in the game, Bernard Pollard never makes it to Tom Brady's knee. We believe in forgive and forget, but we hope you enjoyed your fun Kevin.

Sammy Morris
Morris had a strong running day, but was awful on blitz pickup, allowing the Chiefs to hammer Matt Cassel after Tom Brady had already been taken out.

Matt Gutierrez Signed by Patriots

2008-09-10T11:38:00.004-07:00

Matt Gutierrez Signed by Patriots

According to ESPN, Matt Gutierrez has been signed to the practice squad for your New England Patriots. He was released during the cutdown to the final 53-man roster, with current starter Matt Cassel getting the nod over Gutierrez. Expect him to be active for Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Does anyone know who their quarterback is?

NFL Draft Stock Report

2008-09-10T11:38:00.003-07:00

NFL Draft Stock Report

Stock Exploding
Mark Sanchez, Southern Cal -- Still a junior, Sanchez is showing that he might be ready to play in the NFL. Squaring off against Malcolm Jenkins and James Lauranaitis will show us more about Sanchez's ability.

Stock Up
Marshawn Gilyard, Cincinnati -- Although he's a bit bigger at 6'1", Gilyard is following in Desean Jackson's footsteps, trying to parlay some impressive returns and a some good receiver skills into a first-day pick.

Stock Down
Chris Wells, Ohio State -- Although we doubt that many teams are moving him down their draft board, foot injuries tend to lead to other foot injuries. Let's hope he gets back on the field soon.

Stock Tanking
Pat White, West Virginia -- Although they were small in the first place, his dreams of ever being a QB in the NFL are officially over. Having trouble getting the offense out of poor play-calls doomed the Mountaineers. White still shows some promise as a WR prospect, a la Antwan Randle-El.

NFL Jump to Conclusions Week

2008-09-10T11:38:00.002-07:00

NFL Jump to Conclusions Week

Well, Week 1 of the NFL Season is over and it is now time for everyone to jump to conclusions, a la Tom Smykowsi from Office Space. You just witnessed a little over 6% of the season. Did you know whether "300" or "Dark Knight" was going to be awesome after eight minutes?

Not every team that lost badly this week is going to be terrible. Not every team that won impressively is going to the Superbowl. Some guys will step up for injured stars, and some other players will get injured later.Based on some of the projections we've read already, here are ten conclusions we jumped to for this 2009 NFL campaign.

1. The Patriots will finish 1-15, with a peg-legged Tom Brady signing on as a QB coach next year.

2. Vince Young will be in a padded room by Week 12.

3. Michael Turner's 2800 yard season will shatter all the records.

4. The Chargers will finish with 32 players on IR, with Nate Kaeding playing TE, K, and CB by the end of the year.

5. The 15-1 Cowboys will face the 15-1 Steelers in the "Superbowl of the Century."

6. The Jets will release Mike Nugent and sign another WR, as they don't need kickers.

7. Bernard Pollard will be the UFC Middleweight champion.

8. The Colts will release Peyton Manning.

9. Jimmy Traina, Andy Gray, and the rest of the Extra Mustard crew will post about Women's Tennis. A lot.

10. MVP and Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan will continue to wow the Atlanta natives by putting Pepsi out of business, convincing Lebron to come to Atlanta, and not killing domesticated animals.

What conclusions are you jumping to already?

Patriots Opening Day: Pregame

2008-09-10T11:38:00.001-07:00

Patriots Opening Day: Pregame

Check out Part One of Patriots Opening Day.

We started the morning off at, where else, Dunkin' Donuts. We tailgated a bit with some new friends from Worcester, and then headed off to pay the $40 at General Parking. Nothing like a "small regular" to get your blood flowing.

Patriot Place is just plain amazing. This is a shot of the interior of the new Patriots Pro Shop. Due to us getting there at the exact right time, we were the first people to enter, and were met with a nice ovation. Very cool place, and a must for your Patriots gameday apparel needs. The Patriots Hall of Fame upstairs wasn't ready for the public yet, but will be amazing when it is. The snowplow from the snow game will be a big hit.

The CBS scene was also pretty cool. The setup is real nice, being able to watch vintage CBS shows as well as football highlights and DIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket. We weren't very impressed with the food, as their isn't much of a selection yet.

A view of Patriot Place from our seats up in section 301 as the game was about to begin. It would be a game that would forever change the future of the Patriots 2008 season.

Go Bruins!

2008-09-08T20:22:00.001-07:00

Statement From The New England Patriots:
"After extensive tests this morning, it was revealed that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's left knee, which was injured in the first quarter of yesterday's
game, will require surgery. He will be placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2008 season."

NFL Fooball WK 1 Picks UPDATES

2008-09-06T10:07:00.001-07:00

Thurs 9-4	@	My Picks	±	TIME (EST)	NET
Redskins 7	Giants 16	Giants	+	7 PM	NBC

Sun 9-07
Seahawks	Bills	Bills		1 PM	Fox
Texans	Steelers	Texans		1 PM	CBS
Buccaneers	Saints	Bucs		1 PM	Fox
Lions	Falcons	Lions		1 PM	Fox
Rams	Eagles	Eagles		1 PM	Fox
Jaguars	Titans	Jaguars		1 PM	CBS
Jets	Dolphins	Dolphins		1 PM	CBS
Bengals	Ravens	Ravens		1 PM	CBS
Chiefs	Patriots	Pats		1 PM	CBS
Cardinals	49ers	Cards		4:15	Fox
Panthers	Chargers	Chargers		4:15	Fox
Cowboys	Browns	Cowboys		4:15	Fox
Bears	Colts	Colts		8:15	NBC

Mon 9-8
Vikings	Packers	Vikings		7 PM	ESPN
Broncos	Raiders	Broncos		10:15 PM	ESPN

Super Bowl XLII: New England Patriots

2008-01-29T19:43:00.000-08:00

DID YOU KNOW?

The Patriots and Giants have finished the preseason and regular season against each other, and will now finish the postseason together. The Patriots beat the Giants 27-20 in the preseason finale Aug. 30 at Gillette Stadium and 38-35 in the regular-season finale Dec. 30 at Giants Stadium.

CITY OF TRI-UMPH?

For a city with an inveterate inferiority complex, Boston has been feeling awfully superior lately. The Red Sox just won a second World Series in four years after an 86-season drought. The Patriots, already winners of three Super Bowls this decade, are storming into Sunday's game on an unprecedented 18-0 rampage. And the Celtics, only months after being accused of trying to finish with the NBA's worst record, have the league's top mark at 34-8.

No city has ever fielded a threesome in the most popular national team sports as dominant as the current Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics. The closest – fittingly – was New York from 1969 through 1970, when the Jets won Super Bowl III, the Mets won the 1969 World Series and the Knicks won the 1970 basketball title.

But New York had multiple baseball and football teams, which Boston does not. That inspired Carl Morris, a statistics professor across the Charles River at Harvard, to calculate the chances of a monofranchised city having the three best teams in one year: about 1 in 29,000.

“I'm not sure if people here realize how unlikely this thing really is,” Morris said. “No city is ever going to see anything like this again.”

MEET A PATRIOT

Mike Vrabel, a 6-foot-4, 261-pound linebacker, was one of the free-agent signings that helped the Patriots to their first of three Super Bowl rings this decade back in 2001. He has been on both of the franchise's Super Bowl-winning teams since.

Vrabel, 32, moved from inside to outside linebacker in 2007 and had one of his best seasons. He tied a career high with four forced fumbles and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He frequently lines up as an eligible receiver in goal-line situations and is more than a decoy. He has caught eight career passes, all for touchdowns.

The pre-med major at Ohio State, now considered one of the league's more physical players, is interested in coaching after his playing career.

STAT OF THE DAY

The Patriots' 4.1-yard rushing average this season was their highest since 1985. They have averaged 4.9 yards in their two playoff games.

DAILY INJURY REPORT

Tom Brady participated in his first practice since injuring his ankle in the AFC Championship Game, though to what extent was not revealed. He did have his right ankle heavily wrapped.

Patriots will have to wait until start of free agency to re-sign Moss

2008-01-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

The chances seem good that Randy Moss will re-sign with the New England Patriots for 2008, and probably beyond that, and perhaps even finish his NFL tenure with the franchise that this season helped resurrect his slumping career.

In fact, Moss said as much here Tuesday during the Media Day session for Super Bowl XLII.

"I would love to finish my career [in New England], just for the fact of they have everything you want in a football organization," Moss said. "They handle things from the top, all the way to the bottom, and they do a good job of that."

But short of designating their star wide receiver as a franchise player, the Pats cannot preclude Moss from at least testing the unrestricted free agent market on Feb. 29, if he so desires.

As part of the April 29 trade that brought Moss to New England, the club adjusted the existing contract that he had with the Oakland Raiders, which had two seasons remaining on it. Scheduled to earn a base salary of $9.75 million in 2007 under that deal, Moss signed a one-year contract with the Patriots which included a signing bonus of $500,000 and a $2.5 million base salary.

He also earned performance and Pro Bowl bonuses totaling an additional $2 million.

But a technicality in the collective bargaining agreement, NFL and team officials confirmed on Tuesday, prohibits the Patriots from again adjusting Moss' contract before the start of free agency this spring. There were reports during the season that the Patriots had presented Moss and his representatives with a contract extension proposal late in the year, but that was not the case, since the club could not do so.

So unless New England uses the franchise tag to limit Moss' mobility, a move that can be made Feb. 7-21, he will be available as an unrestricted free agent and able to solicit offers from other teams.

The tender level for a franchise-designated wide receiver for 2008 has been set at $7.848 million.

New England is not opposed, recent history demonstrates, to employing the franchise marker to retain a player's rights, and the team did so last spring with cornerback Asante Samuel. But the Pats also experienced the downside of using the franchise designation, and the acrimony that often accompanies such a move, with Samuel.

The standout cornerback sat out all of the offseason activities and training camp before signing a one-year qualifying offer of $7.79 million just 12 days before the start of the regular season.

It's not known how Moss would react to the franchise tag. But coming off a career season, one in which he broke Jerry Rice's single-season record for touchdown receptions, he reiterated on Tuesday how much it has meant to him to play for a franchise that emphasizes common goals.

"The team concept is not just on the field, it's inside the locker room," Moss said. "For me to be able to say that I would love to become a New England Patriot and finish my career here... that is something that I can really believe in."

Patriots Look To Sweep Schedule

2007-12-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

Patriots have been the team to beat since quarterback Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in a five-minute span in the fourth quarter of last month’s 24-20 victory over defending Super Bowl champions, the Indianapolis Colts. Already they are being compared to the Miami Dolphins team of 1972, which went through the season unbeaten. Having reached 12-0, the Patriots face their stiffest challenge to remaining unbeaten in the regular season when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers today at Foxborough.

The problem is that nobody loves them and many people would delight in their demise. Although Patriots coach Bill Belichick is respected for winning three Super Bowls in the space of four years this decade, his reputation was besmirched this season by the ‘Spygate’ scandal when a Patriots video assistant was caught by NFL (National Football League) security filming the New York Jets’ defensive signals. This flagrant violation of the rules resulted in Belichick being fined $500,000, the largest ever imposed on a coach in American football’s 87-year history and the maximum under NFL rules.

The Patriots were also fined $250,000 and will forfeit their first-round pick in the 2008 draft.

“The Spygate thing has diminished what they’ve accomplished,” declared Don Shula, the legendary coach of the Dolphins, who led his team to their unbeaten 17-0 record in 1972. “You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They’ve got it and I guess you got the same thing as putting an asterisk by Barry Bonds’s home run record. It will be noted that the Patriots were fined and a No 1 draft choice was taken away during their year of accomplishment.”

Meanwhile, the Steelers are determined to give the Patriots a run for their money today. “We’re going to win. I can guarantee a win,” Steelers safety Anthony Smith said on Monday, which aggravated rookie head coach Mike Tomlin. Linebacker James Farrior felt compelled to caution that Smith has not been in the NFL for long and may not have realised the impact his words could carry. “He better keep his mouth shut,” Farrior suggested, for when it comes to making guarantees, Smith is no Joe Namath.

But the Steelers have the best defence in the NFL, and their optimism has been strengthened by the prospect that the Patriots are no longer dominating as they did when winning their opening 10 games by an average of 25.4 points. New England were heavy favourites in their previous two games over Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens but in each game they were taken to the brink of defeat before prevailing by scores of 31-28 and 27-24 respectively. “People are talking about how they appear to be beatable,” Steelers coach Tomlin reflected. “The reality is that they display their greatness. They find ways to finish games out and win, regardless of how they begin or how they develop.”

Brady, who has completed 70.2% of his passes (302 of 430) for 3,696 passing yards, is just eight touchdown passes shy of equalling the record set in 2004 by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, having thrown 41. Having been sacked only 16 times through 12 games, his protection is exemplary. The Patriots have averaged 39.1 points per game through their first dozen games, leaving them on course to break the record of 38.8 points set by the LA Rams in 1950. The Steelers play more of a running game and, in Willie Parker, they possess the American Football Conference’s leader in rushing yards. If they are unable to overcome the Patriots, the question will be asked, “Can anybody?” Neither the New York Jets (3-9) nor the Miami Dolphins (0-12) will be capable of making much of a dent in coming weeks, which would leave only the New York Giants (8-4) on the final day at Giants Stadium capable of inflicting a blemish on the Patriots’ regular season record.

Steelers Sit Polamalu Against Patriots

2007-12-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu sat out his third consecutive game, missing the Steelers' matchup with the New England Patriots on Sunday with a sprained knee.

A Pro Bowl selection the past three years, Polamalu injured the knee Nov. 18 against the New York Jets. He aggravated the injury Wednesday and missed practice Thursday and Friday.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who worked out on a sprained right ankle on Friday, was active. Other Steelers inactives: receiver Willie Reid, running back Gary Russell, linebacker LaMarr Woodley and offensive linemen Marvin Philip, Darnell Stapleton and Trai Essex.

The Patriots listed as inactive receiver Troy Brown, defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith, offensive linemen Stephen Neal and Wesley Britt, defensive backs Eddie Jackson and Rashad Baker and linebacker Chad Brown.

No. 13 easier than 11 and 12 for Patriots

2007-12-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

When Bill Belichick finds a weakness in an opponent, he exploits it, exploits it, exploits it ...

Which is as good a way as any to explain why his New England Patriots are 13-0, three victories away from a perfect regular season and back in the form they showed before they stumbled a bit in their past two games.

In this case, the Pittsburgh Steelers' weakness in the Patriots' 34-13 win Sunday was that, for most of the second half, they were missing three of the four guys who started the season in the secondary. So the Patriots, as usual, eschewed conventional wisdom and played as if it were a touch football game on a sandlot, simply throwing down the field - in at least one case with a play that came right off the sandlot.

"We thought we had the matchups there," Belichick said when asked why the Patriots went into the final three minutes of the game without having called a run in the second half. Or very many in the first half, although they did manage to run four times before intermission.

One of the hoariest chestnuts in the coaches' lexicon is "balanced attack." But Belichick doesn't believe in hoary chestnuts, so New England won a game in which it ran for 22 yards and passed for 399.

It hasn't happened yet this season, but you can bet if Belichick found the opposite kind of matchup, the Patriots might beat someone by rushing for 399 and passing for 22.

The most blatant example of the Patriots' strategy came early in the fourth quarter after they stopped the Steelers on a fourth-down play at the New England 1. Conventional wisdom is that in those situations, especially with a 31-13 lead, a team muscles its way out, if nothing else getting enough room for its punter to put the opposition back on the other side of midfield and to use up time.

Not Belichick.

With the ball back there on the 1 against a team that was statistically the stingiest defence in the NFL, he had Tom Brady throw. And throw. And throw.

Specifically, he threw to Wes Welker, who is listed at five-foot-nine but is closer to five-six or five-seven. First completion was for 22 yards to the 23, then for 11, then for 7, then for 15 to the Pittsburgh 44, then for 8 to the Pittsburgh 36.

"I kept thinking, 'Hey, Wes has enough. Throw it to someone else,' " said Randy Moss, who got his yardage in larger chunks: seven catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

If Moss had said that to Belichick, the coach would have replied "Why?"

Yes, the Patriots have superior players. But they also have a coach who simply does what works, over and over until the other guys figure out a way to stop it. In this case, why not exploit a secondary without starting safeties Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark and then without cornerback Deshea Townsend, who went out in the third quarter?

He also doesn't mind gadgets like the one that broke open this game: a long, cross-field lateral to Moss, who dropped the ball, picked it up, and threw it back across the field to Brady. The star quarterback then threw it 63 yards to Jabar Gaffney for a touchdown. That was the first play of New England's first possession of the second half and it turned a 17-13 lead into 24-13.

And no, Moss' drop wasn't designed. Even the dour Belichick smiled when he heard someone ask if it was.

Off this game, the Patriots seem back on track.

Pittsburgh is 9-4 and one game ahead of Cleveland in the AFC North. It likely will be seeded third in the conference playoffs and is certainly a better team than the Ravens and Eagles, who came within three points of New England in the Pats' last two games.

The party line is still game to game in New England.

"I just want to be 14-0," Brady said when asked if he was thinking about an unbeaten season.

But subtly, the players are thinking ahead.

"This is the point in the year when we're going to have to start playing our best football," offensive tackle Matt Light said. "I don't think anyone can say we've been doing that the past couple of weeks. It's good to be back on track."

Yes, for two weeks, the Patriots looked beatable. No longer, in part because their coach eschews conventional wisdom.

Rodney Harrison Fined For Taunting

2007-12-07T20:18:00.000-08:00

Patriots S Rodney Harrison was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct in Monday night's win over the Ravens.

The NFL Network first reported the fine for Harrison.

The fine was levied because Harrison was deemed to have unncessarily taunted the opponent's coach on an interception return.

Polamalu unlikely to play against Pats

2007-12-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is likely to miss Pittsburgh's game Sunday at New England after sitting out practice for the second day in a row Friday because of a sprained knee.

Polamalu, who has missed the Steelers' last two games, aggravated the injury during practice Wednesday and has been unable to practice since. He is listed as doubtful, meaning he has a 25 percent chance of playing.

Polamalu, a Pro Bowl safety the last three seasons and the team's highest-paid player, injured the knee Nov. 18 against the New York Jets. He is not having a big year statistically -- he doesn't have a sack or an interception -- but his versatility is a key to Pittsburgh's zone blitz defense.

The Steelers almost never allow players to play in a game when they are physically unable to practice on Friday -- one reason why wide receiver Santonio Holmes struggled through the team's workout on a sprained right ankle.

Holmes, also out for two games, continues to have pain in the ankle and was urged earlier this week to sit out another game. Holmes said the game against New England (12-0) is too important to the Steelers (9-3) to miss and he plans to play.

Holmes has averaged 17 yards per reception on 39 catches. He leads the Steelers with seven touchdown catches.

Patriots Game Rated Highest Television Audience

2007-12-07T20:14:00.001-08:00

The New England Patriots’ 27-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on ESPN on Monday night was seen by 17,522,000 viewers according to Nielsen Media Research, making it the most-watched program in cable television history. The number of viewers for the game surpassed the 17,241,000 viewers who watched High School Musical 2 on the Disney Channel on Aug. 17, 2007. That program held the previous record for the largest cable television audience.

As of today, Patriots games are also the two highest-rated programs of any kind since the 2007-08 television season began on Sept. 24. New England’s 24-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 4 earned a 20.1 rating on CBS, which is the highest of any television program of any kind on any channel this season. The second highest-rated program of the 2007-08 television season is the Patriots’ 48-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 14, a telecast that earned an 18.0 national rating on CBS.

At any given point during the Patriots-Colts game on Nov. 4, 33.8 million viewers were watching, making it the largest audience for a Sunday afternoon regular-season NFL game since CBS began keeping records in 1987. In all, 66.4 million people watched at least six minutes of the Patriots-Colts game.

The Patriots-Cowboys also earned a historically high rating, although its records were eclipsed by the Patriots-Colts game the next month. The 18.0 rating earned by the Patriots-Cowboys game was at the time the highest-rated regular-season NFL game on CBS since the network resumed televising NFL games in 1998.

The Patriots-Ravens game this past Monday night earned an 11.1 rating, making it the highest-rated Monday Night Football game on ESPN and the highest-rated NFL game on ESPN in 12 years. The Patriots-Ravens game broke the previous ESPN Monday night record (10.6 rating) achieved by the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants game on Oct. 23, 2006. The 11.1 rating for the Patriots-Ravens game was the highest-rated NFL game on ESPN since Dec. 3, 1995, when a Buffalo-San Francisco game garnered a 12.8 rating.

Moss Wins Offensive Player of the Month (November)

2007-12-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

Wide receiver Randy Moss of the New England Patriots, linebacker James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and kick returner Joshua Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for November, the NFL announced today.

Moss, the NFL's leader in touchdown receptions (17), finished November with 24 receptions for 316 yards (13.2 average) and five touchdowns as New England clinched its fifth consecutive AFC East title and posted a 3-0 record for the month. He averaged 105.3 receiving yards-per-game in November and had two games with at least 125 receiving yards. In a match-up against the Colts on Nov. 4, Moss posted nine receptions for 145 yards (16.1 average) with one touchdown. Against Buffalo on Nov. 18, the veteran receiver was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after recording 10 receptions for 128 yards (12.8 average) with a career and franchise-high four touchdowns. All four TD receptions came in the first half, tying the all-time NFL record for most touchdown receptions before halftime. In the same game, Moss became the Patriots' single-season touchdown reception leader, surpassing STANLEY MORGAN (12 in 1979).

In his 10th season from Marshall, this is Moss' first career Player of the Month Award. Moss is the second Patriot to win the award this season (TOM BRADY in September and October).

DEFENSE: LB JAMES HARRISON, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

A key factor for the NFL's top ranked defense, Harrison recorded 19 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one interception, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed in November. Harrison's 5.5 sacks led the AFC for the month, and his team-high 8.5 sacks are tied for fourth in the AFC. He posted his best performance in a Monday night affair on Nov. 5 against the Ravens. Harrison earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, recording nine tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

In his fourth year from Kent State, this is Harrison's first Player of the Month Award.

SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-PR JOSHUA CRIBBS, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Leading all NFL kick returners by more than 200 yards in the month, Cribbs was a major contributor on the Browns' special team units with 664 yards on 19 kick returns (34.9 average, league-high), including a career-long 100-yard KR-TD. Cribbs also returned 11 punts for 119 yards (10.8 average), registered six special teams tackles and one forced fumble as Cleveland posted a 3-1 record in November. In Week 11, Cribbs combined for 306 return yards (245 KR, 61 PR) and became only the third player in history to total 300 or more return yards in a game. Through Week 13, the third-year returner leads the NFL with a 31.2 kick return average.

In his third year from Kent State, this is Cribbs' second career Player of the Month Award. Cribbs is the first Browns player to win Player of the Month twice in a season.

Patriots Visit Pine Street Inn

2007-12-07T20:07:00.000-08:00

There is not a single New England resident that is a stranger to the region's bitter winters, complete with its freezing temperatures and seemingly weekly snowstorms. While most of us escape the frigid winter months by staying inside by the fire, there are more than 6,000 men, women and children in the city of Boston who do not have a place to call home and have found themselves without shelter.

The Pine Street Inn in Boston, Mass. is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to providing both shelter and hot meals to hundreds of the city's homeless individuals each and every day. On Tuesday, December 4, just hours after returning in the middle of the night from the Patriots Monday Night Football game in Baltimore, several Patriots players took time out of their day to visit the Pine Street Inn to serve dinner to over 350 of the Inn's homeless guests. Running back Laurence Maroney, wide receiver Chad Jackson, special teams captain Larry Izzo and Patriots Hall of Famer Andre Tippett teamed up with student athletes from Boston English High School for the community service project.

While at the Pine Street Inn, Izzo and Maroney were stationed on the men's side where, in addition to serving a piping hot meal, they discovered that they had quite a few fans.
Many of the guests had watched the Patriots-Ravens game the night before while staying at the shelter and were thrilled to talk about the game. Jackson and Tippett served dinner on the women's side before going to the Inn's main kitchen to prepare and package sandwiches to later be distributed throughout the city via the Pine Street Inn Outreach Van.

"We want to be out in our community making an impact", Jackson said. "We want to show people that we are more than just football players and that there are people in the city that need our support".

Series Breakdown For Patriots and Steelers Game

2007-12-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost the last two games against the New England Patriots. Here's a look at the game notes for Sunday's match-up: Series History: Series began in 1972
Overall: Pittsburgh leads 13-9
At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 9-8
At New England: Pittsburgh leads 3-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 25, 2005 (in Pittsburgh) New England 23, Pittsburgh 20
Postseason Series: New England leads 3-1

Pittsburgh owns a 13-9 all-time record against the New England Patriots, including the postseason.

The Steelers are 12-6 in the regular season, including a 3-2 mark in New England.

Pittsburgh has not won in New England since a 24-21 overtime victory in 1997.

The Steelers snapped the Patriots’ NFL-record 18-game regular-season winning streak in 2004 with a 34-20 victory at Heinz Field on October 31.

New England has won five of the past six games in the series, including victories in the 2001 and 2004 AFC Championship games, both in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers are 9-8 overall against the Patriots at home.

Pittsburgh and New England have met four times in the postseason and the Steelers are 1-3 in those games, including a 1-2 record at home.

The Steelers defeated the Patriots, 7-6, on January 3, 1998, in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
Pittsburgh lost, 24-17, to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game January 27, 2002, and 41-27 in the 2004 AFC Championship Game.

Ravens Say Late Game Calls Favor Patriots

2007-12-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

Controversy seems to follow the New England Patriots wherever they go, and their victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night was no exception. A furor has ignited over the conduct of the officiating crew during the game-winning touchdown drive that saved the Patriots’ perfect season.

The N.F.L. said yesterday that it was looking into allegations made by Ravens players that the head linesman Phil McKinnely called Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle “boy” during that drive, which angered Rolle and his teammates.

The Ravens were also upset about a series of calls that they felt favored the Patriots and made their comeback possible. Rolle said his exchange with McKinnely began after Rolle questioned whether McKinnely had ever played football.

McKinnely, who played offensive tackle for the Falcons, the Rams and the Bears, replied by repeatedly calling him “boy,” Rolle said. “I have a wife and three kids, don’t call me a boy,” Rolle said. “Don’t call me a boy on the field during a game because I said, ‘You’ve never played football before.’”

Rolle and McKinnely are black.

Rolle’s exchange with McKinnely was only part of the Ravens’ late-game meltdown. The Patriots’ drive took only 2 minutes 46 seconds but it seemed to last an eternity, in large part because the Ravens kept drawing the attention of the officials.

With the Patriots facing fourth-and-1 from the Ravens’ 30-yard line with 1:48 remaining, the Ravens appeared to have stuffed Tom Brady on a quarterback sneak. But the defensive coordinator Rex Ryan had signaled for a timeout just before the snap. The players were apparently unaware of the timeout, although Brady said after the game that he heard the whistle.

Assistant coaches do not typically call timeouts, but game officials are instructed to grant a last-second timeout from the bench area, which includes the head coach, assistants and players.

The Ravens’ defensive players looked unhappy with the coaches when they realized what had happened, and defensive end Terrell Suggs seemed to sum up their feelings when he said: “You only get a few times to really get the N.F.L.’s poster boy in that type of situation. It looked like all 22 men on the field played as if no timeout was called.”

Ravens Coach Brian Billick said the timeout was called because his staff did not think the defense was in the right configuration to stop a sneak.

Several Ravens said no whistle was blown. “I didn’t hear a timeout,” Bart Scott said. “That was very convenient.”

The Ravens’ comments will certainly provide fodder for those who believe that the Patriots are getting plenty of breaks from the officials. Suggs said he thinks everybody is cheering for New England to go undefeated and break all the records, something the Patriots might find surprising, considering the amount of vitriol they have received from those who are still talking about the video scandal that engulfed the start of the season.

“It’s hard to go out there and play the Patriots and the refs at the same time,” Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister said. “They put the crown on top and they want them to win.”

As the game entered its final two minutes, the Ravens went into a full-scale implosion. On fourth-and-5 from the Ravens’ 13, Brady threw an incomplete pass intended for Benjamin Watson. But defensive back Jamaine Winborne was called for holding to give the Patriots a first down.

Rolle was outraged that a holding penalty was called in such a critical situation, saying that the players should be allowed to decide the outcome of the game. The league reviewed the play and determined it was the correct call.”

The Patriots did not waste the call. On the next play, Brady passed to Jabar Gaffney in the back left corner of the end zone for an apparent touchdown. But did Gaffney have control of the ball as he went out of bounds? The replay was unclear, although the league said Gaffney’s hand never came off the ball, which would have indicated that he was not bobbling it.

In the end, the replay was too close to overturn the initial call.

In the meantime, Scott was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and was so infuriated by the call that he picked up the official’s yellow flag and hurled it into the stands. That meant another unsportsmanlike penalty. And will probably result in a fine.

“They called it a touchdown and he had bobbled it,” Scott said. “We outplayed them for 60 minutes. We made the play to end the game.”

The Ravens can take small solace in one thing. The Patriots were not thrilled about the officiating either. The Boston Herald reported that linebacker Mike Vrabel was screaming at the officials as he made his way off the field. And Brady was clearly unhappy that the Ravens were not being called for more holding penalties.

“I was really still confident in what we were doing and then the flags came out and they started seeing the game,” Patriots receiver Randy Moss said. “They were holding for three quarters and now they want to throw the flags in the fourth quarter. It was a good thing to see that they called the game right.”

That, the Ravens would attest, depends on your perspective.

Heated Battle - Pats and Ravens

2007-12-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

The free-falling Ravens have lost five in a row and are almost three-touchdown underdogs in their Monday night game against New England.

As dominant as the unbeaten Patriots have been, that's a staggering line given that the Ravens are at home and are less than a season removed from winning 13 games as well as a division title.

This game will probably turn out to be as lopsided as the oddsmakers predict, making the Adalius Thomas-Ray Lewis feud one of the few storylines that bears watching.

The former teammates engaged in a war of words that was triggered by comments Thomas made to Sports Illustrated in October.

In comparing his former team with his current one, Thomas, who signed with New England during the offseason, said the Patriots were a selfless group that put the team before individual glory.

He described the Ravens, to SI, as having a "star-studded system, starting with the head coach (Brian Billick)."

Game on.

At least it was for the outspoken Lewis.

"When you take a shot at men that you claim to love to go to war with, I call those cowards," Lewis said on his radio show. "If you have something to say privately, you don't have to go to a newspaper. If you have something to say to a man, speak it."

Thomas said he is still upset about Lewis calling him a coward and will talk to him about it in private.

But, he added, the two have smoothed over their differences for the most part.

"That is done, over with," Thomas said last Wednesday. "I'll let you figure out if we spoke or not. I'm not going down that road because you guys are going to make it something that it's not."

Talking a big game

Bears defensive end Alex Brown said he didn't want to get Giants defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora "riled up."

Brown, however, probably did just that when he said Chicago's defensive ends are better than the New York bookends that have combined for 18 sacks this season.

"I'm going to start by saying that I respect them so much because I believe they are very, very good," said Brown, whose team hosts the Giants today. "But I think we're better."

The Bears do have one of the better defensive ends in the NFL in Adewale Ogunleye.

He has nine sacks while Mark Anderson, who had 12 sacks as a rookie last season, has 4 1/2.

Brown had just 1 1/2 sacks this season but past success against the Giants may have prompted him to make his rather bold assertion regarding the teams' defensive ends.

Brown had 4 sacks in a game against the Giants in 2004 and two more when the teams met last season.

"I believe our offensive line will hold their own," he said of today's matchup, "and hopefully we can get after their quarterback a little bit."

Many happy returns?

Shaun Alexander is expected to play today when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Philadelphia Eagles.

The question, and one that would have been preposterous a couple of years ago, is this: how much will Alexander help the Seahawks' running game?

Alexander, who has missed the last three games with a sprained knee, has gone over the 100-yard rushing mark just twice this season. And Alexander hasn't accomplished that feat or scored a touchdown since September.

But after practicing consecutive days last week, Alexander said, "I'm like a kid in a candy store right now."

This season has been anything but a sweet one for the 2005 NFL MVP.

Alexander has rushed for just 492 yards and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry, which is a yard lower than his career average.

He had been playing with a cast on his left wrist (he sustained a crack in his wrist at the beginning of the season). But that has apparently been replaced by a heavy wrap, and Alexander said of the injury, "It's definitely something I can play with."

Speak up, dude

Here's hoping reporters ignore Arizona kicker Neil Rackers the next time he makes a game-winning field goal.

With the Cardinals' game against the 49ers tied last Sunday, Rackers missed a 32-yard field goal in overtime. Arizona ended up losing, and the defeat may prove devastating to their NFC West title hopes.

Following the game, Rackers said to reporters, "I got nothing (to say) dude."

After reporters complained to the NFL, Rackers spoke with them the next day.

Way to be a professional, Neil.

Extra points

The Colts only have a one-game lead in the AFC South over the Jaguars, who visit Indianapolis today for a 1 p.m. contest. But history suggests they will be tough for Jacksonville to overtake in the division. Since the AFC South's inception, Indianapolis has gone 26-7 in division games and has led the division in 90 of the 97 weeks it has existed. ... Larry Fitzgerald is only in his fourth NFL season but the former Pitt star is already the Cardinals' leader in career touchdowns (30). ... The team that has done the best job of scoring touchdowns after it has moved inside its opponent's 20-yard line is New Orleans, not New England. The Saints have scored 26 touchdowns in the 35 times (74.3 percent) they have been in the red zone this season. The Patriots have scored touchdowns 72.2 percent of the time they have been in the red zone.

Forgotten man for the Patriots

2007-12-01T22:05:00.000-08:00

Chris Hanson would have been the perfect subject for those old American Express commercials.

“Do you know me?”

True story: On Thursday morning, two reporters approached Stacey James, the New England Patriots' vice president of media relations, specifically requesting Hanson's presence during the press' daily access period at Gillette Stadium.

Later that day, Hanson told James he had honored the request, reported to the Patriots' locker room, stood near his locker stall for what the punter estimated to be a good 10 minutes and was never approached.

There really is no reason to doubt the veracity of Hanson's account.

Who would recognize him?

Eleven games into the season, Hanson has been called upon to punt on exactly two dozen occasions, an average of 2.2 times per game.

Modern-day baseball has given us the era of the pitch count.

Perhaps Bill Belichick has Hanson on a punt count.

“We don't want him to punt nine times,” the Patriots head coach said, understating the obvious. “We're trying to avoid that.”

Consider it done.

At this point, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson (1,081) and Pittsburgh's Willie Parker (1,006) have covered more ground rushing than Hanson has punting (981) this season.

Don't even bother asking about receiving yardage.

Dallas' Terrell Owens (1,249), Hanson's teammate Randy Moss (1,095), Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald (1,060), Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne (1,041) and Cleveland's Braylon Edwards (1,011) all surpass Hanson's number there.

To put Hanson's, ahem, workload in further perspective, consider that quarterback Tom Brady has carried the ball nearly as many times (22) as Hanson has punted it.

Fortunately for Hanson, who was signed by the Patriots on Aug. 30, two days after his release from the New Orleans Saints, he isn't getting paid by the foot.

“I wouldn't say so,” long snapper Lonie Paxton answered when asked if, given his less-than-strenuous workload, Hanson might be hard-pressed to develop any sort of rhythm. “I would just say we do a lot work on the sidelines, in pregame and in practice.

“Game rhythm is so situational for punters, anyway, that you've got to be ready when called on.”

This nation's football fandom seems to feel that Hanson is answering the call.

In a bizarre development, NFL fans have established Hanson as the leading vote getter among AFC punters — a development made strange by not one, by two facts:

1. Falling shy of the 2.5 tries per game the NFL's official statistician, the Elias Sports Bureau, requires, Hanson hasn't even punted often enough to qualify on the league leaders' list.

2. Even if he did qualify, with the 40.9-yard gross average he'll carry into the Patriots' next game, at Baltimore on Monday night, Hanson would rank a distant 30th in the league.

Despite that, Belichick insists that Hanson, whose nine-year career includes a Pro Bowl appearance with Jacksonville in 2002 (when he led the league in gross and net punting average with numbers of 44.2 and 37.6, respectively), is doing his job.

And while his gross average may indicate that he has been stubbing his toe, Hanson's net average of 36.8 yards does rank him a more respectable 19th in the NFL. That's nearly a yard better than the 35.9-yard average Todd Sauerbrun, who concluded the 2006 season as the Patriots' punter, has compiled in Denver this year and a shade better than the 36.7 yards Steve Weatherford, the punter who beat him out in New Orleans this season, is averaging with the Saints.

“You know, we've talked about it many times,” said Belichick. “Punting is a lot like golf. It's not like standing on the driving range and hitting all drivers out there as far as you can hit them.

“I'd say probably well over 50 percent of a punter's punts are situational punts, either based on what the return team is doing or based on field position or the game situation that dictates do you want the punt directional, do you want it with hang time, they're rushing (and) you have to kick it a certain way (or) you're trying to kick away from (someone).”

Take Hanson's performance in the Patriots' 38-7 victory over Buffalo at Gillette Stadium back on Sept. 23. Called upon twice, Hanson totaled 59 yards, a 29.5-yard average, but was lauded by Belichick after the game for placing both of his punts out of bounds, thus negating the Bills' Roscoe Parrish's game-breaking ability as a punt returner.

“A lot of it is situational punting,” Belichick said this past week, “like using all of the clubs in your bag that a golfer would do.”

So while Hanson may not be a heavy hitter in the mode of John Daly off the tee …

“I think that Chris is a very good athlete,” said Belichick. “He handles the ball well, he's got good hands, and he does a good job of getting the ball off and placing it and doing the things that we ask him to do from a situational standpoint.

“He's given us some real good kicks in clutch situations where we needed the ball down the field and changed field position a little bit,” said Belichick. “Like last week (in the third quarter of the Patriots' 31-28 win) against Philadelphia, kicking out of the end zone, we had the false start penalty and we were backed up on the 5-yard line and he gave us a great field position punt (49 yards) and Kelley (Washington) gave us a big tackle on that for little or no return (throwing Reno Mahe for a 2-yard loss), whatever it was.

“That was a big play. Sometimes that's what the situation calls for. Sometimes it's getting the ball down inside the 5-, 10-yard line, and Chris does a good job of that. Sometimes it's, like I said, directionally kicking or utilizing some type of wind or return key or whatever it is.

“I think he's been effective for us. Is there room for improvement? Of course. But I think he's been effective for us.”

It's on to the Dome for Patriots

2007-12-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

Just when it looked like the upcoming Class A football Final Four would find them at home, Wilcox High’s Patriots instead miraculously earned themselves a trip to the Dome.

And to say they did it the hard way Friday night would perhaps rank as the biggest understatement involving a Wilcox athletic team in years.

Facing a three-touchdown deficit just over six minutes into the Elite Eight battle vs. two-time defending state champion Lincoln County, the Patriots rallied for a shocking 34-24 win over the state’s top-ranked team.

That victory sends Region 2-A titlist Wilcox into a 9 a.m. Friday clash in the Georgia Dome vs. Region 8-A king Athens Academy which earned its slot in that contest by nipping Brookstone, 14-13. Both are now 12-1.

Clinch County, a 26-13 victor over Fellowship Christian, and Emanuel County Institute, a 34-17 winner over Warren County, will play in the other Class semifinal bout at noon. The winners clash the following week.

“I don’t know how we did it,” beaming Wilcox coach Mark Ledford told his jubilant team in a post-game meeting that drew hundreds of well-wishers. “All I know is that Friday at 9 o’clock we’re in the Dome.

“The heart of you guys is like no other. And to the seniors let me say your leadership did it as you’re the main reason we are where we are. There is no one MVP, though, as this team is full of them. Big-time players make big-time plays and tonight several of you came through.

“You guys in the trenches did your job, too, as did all those folks on the sidelines and up in the bleachers. It’s just beautiful.”

There was no early indication the evening would turn out so pleasant for the Patriots, though, as they fell behind 21-0 in the first 6:15 of the hard-hitting contest.

Like piranha gnashing their teeth in a feeding frenzy, the visiting Red Devils appeared ready to devour the Patriots when they capitalized on early breaks to take a seemingly insurmountable lead.

A low snap and resulting punt block by Keestan Wynn gave perennial power Lincoln County the football at the Wilcox 16. Three plays, quarterback Austin Goldman scored on a 1-yard sneak. Vance Tarver tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 edge with only 2:33 gone.

The Patriots had a chance to pull even just over a minute later only to have Alfonzo Dennard’s 76-yard scoring run nullified by an illegal block in the back.

Was Moss Slacking Against Philly?

2007-12-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

Or Was Jaworski Just Driving Ratings?

Ron Jaworski, generally regarded as one of the best NFL tape analysts not coaching the New England Patriots, says Patriot wide receiver Randy Moss lived down to his slacker reputation in New England's 31-28 win Sunday night over Philadelphia. Jaworski showed four plays in which he said Moss didn't do everything he superhumanly could do.

Personally, I thought Jaworski's argument was weak. Moss's rep has been that he doesn't go all out on plays not designed to go his way. Three of the plays Jaworski showed were passes that went to Moss. Even if those plays weren't designed to go to Moss (the touchdown pass almost certainly was), Moss has been around long enough and has probably seen and heard enough before he joined New England to know that any receiver can get the ball on any play.

It seems unlikely that Moss slacked off on those plays, and the video didn't really seem to support it. On two of them, he was bumped -- more than once -- at the line of scrimmage. On the other (the touchdown) he was double covered, and it looked like Tom Brady threw the ball away. Really, there's no there there.

I think Jaworski is looking for a story, something controversial, especially since it just so coincidentally happens that Moss and the Patriots are playing on Monday Night Football this week -- oh, and, hey: Jaworski is one of the "personalities" on Monday Night Football.

There no doubt that if any of the Patriots players or coaches thought Moss was slacking, it's been brought up in the locker and meeting rooms. No doubt all 53 Patriot players realize what's on the line in the next five to eight games. No doubt Moss will show Monday whether he's really one of those 53.

Ravens vs. Patriots: Matchups to watch

2007-12-01T21:57:00.000-08:00

Wes Welker, Patriots WR vs. Corey Ivy, Ravens CB

It's remarkable how Welker and quarterback Tom Brady have clicked in their first season together. Welker has great hands, acceleration and speed. Working out of the slot, he is a mismatch for most No. 3 cornerbacks or safeties. He has become a top weapon, especially when opponents double-team receiver Randy Moss on the outside. Ivy has had problems at cornerback, and it won't get any easier for him against Welker. Ivy is tough, but he's slow in recognition. If starting cornerback Chris McAlister doesn't play, then Derrick Martin will draw Welker out of the slot. That's not good for the Ravens, either. EDGE: WELKER

Jarret Johnson, Ravens LB vs. Nick Kaczur, Patriots OT

If you want to slow the Patriots, you have to bring pressure off the edge, and Kaczur has been the Patriots' weak link. Kaczur seems to lose focus at times and has trouble with speed guys. The spin move works well against him. Johnson isn't known for his speed, but he is a high-motor guy. He is solid as a pass rusher and could put some pressure on Brady. The Ravens also might move over to challenge Kaczur, and it wouldn't be surprising if Scott rushed more off the edge than usual. EDGE: JOHNSON

Pass-happy New England Patriots face run-stuffing Baltimore Ravens

2007-12-01T21:38:00.000-08:00

With Tom Brady's throwing skills, running the ball can seem like an afterthought for the Patriots.

It appeared they forgot all about it last Sunday night for much of their 11th win in an unbeaten season.

So even though Baltimore has the third stingiest run defence in the NFL, New England is bound to rely on the ground game Monday night more than it did in its 31-28 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Patriots called just one running play in the first half and finished with 16 runs and 54 passes.

"We had the ball three times in the first half," coach Bill Belichick said. "We took it down the field and scored three touchdowns every time. One of them got called back. We were in a proactive mode, we were moving the ball, (so we) stayed with it."

The first run was a 12-yard gain by Brady, who dropped back to pass but had to scramble up the middle.

The Patriots finally called a running play on first-and-goal at the one-yard line with 1:38 left in the first quarter. Heath Evans powered across for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

It may have been the first time Evans was on a team that ran 28 of 29 plays in the first half out of a shotgun formation.

"Being a running back, I would never want to be on one," he said, "but now that I'm here, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Laurence Maroney, the Patriots' leading rusher, didn't play at all in the first half. He finally ran with the ball nearly four minutes into the third quarter - and lost a yard.

He said he didn't know why he waited so long to play.

"I'd like to do a lot of things more," Maroney said, "but they don't need it from me right now. Like I say all the time, my time is coming."

As a rookie first-round draft choice out of Minnesota, Maroney shared time with Corey Dillon and rushed 175 times for 745 yards last season. Dillon led the team with 199 carries and 812 yards.

This season, Maroney and Sammy Morris shared the job until Morris sustained a season-ending chest injury in the sixth game. Kevin Faulk, who has played a lot in a receiving role, wasn't on the injury report Friday after missing practice the previous two days with a thigh problem.

The 16 runs against the Eagles were the Patriots' fewest in 23 games, including last season's playoffs. And those plays gained just 48 yards.

But they still have the eighth most running plays in the league this year since they've been able to run the ball more in nine blowout victories.

The Patriots have rushed for more than 100 yards eight times this season, but the Ravens have allowed an average of 77.9 on the ground.

"I think they have the ability to be as balanced as they want to be. They're going in and doing whatever they think they have to do to move the ball," Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. "They're capable, if that fit the game plan, to come out and run the ball 50 times, too."

The Patriots know that their best chance of picking up yards is by Brady throwing to Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth and other receivers.

The Ravens (4-7) have lost their last five games and allowed at least 32 points in three of them. But it can be tough to move the ball against safety Ed Reed, linebacker Ray Lewis and other defenders.

"They challenge you in a lot of ways," Brady said. "They have very athletic pass-rushers. They have a bunch of different packages that they run with different types of (defensive) lineman that have different abilities. Some rush the passer. Some play the run really well."

The Patriots do what they think works best, even if it violates the traditional belief that a successful offence is a balanced one.

This season, they've thrown 400 passes and run 332 times. That discrepancy is greater than they had in their entire regular season last year - 527 passes and 499 yards.

Would Belichick like to see more balance?

"Would I like to see us score touchdowns when we have the ball?" he answered. "Yeah. That's what I'd like to see. That's what the offence is out there for, is to score touchdowns."

New England Patriots News

The Patriots give up the services of cornerback Butler

Rough Night for the Belichick Defense

Top Five Patriots Games to Look Forward To in 2011

Do the Patriots really need more receivers?

New England Patriots continue to add veterans

Will the Patriots Be Switching to a 4-3 Defensive Alignment?

Tom Brady is to a have a rating of 99

Who Will Step Up For the 2011 New England Patriots?

After 14 NFL seasons, Mike Vrabel retired on Monday !

Parties still have ground to cover for labor deal on NFL Lockout!

After holding another full day of labor negotiations, the NFL and its players will continue productive talks, but philosophical differences about some core issues remain, numerous sources with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.

Fish Food

Fish Food

Post-Brady Depression?

Post-Brady Depression?

Patriots Week One: Three Up, Three Down

Patriots Week One: Three Up, Three Down

Matt Gutierrez Signed by Patriots

Matt Gutierrez Signed by Patriots

NFL Draft Stock Report

NFL Draft Stock Report

NFL Jump to Conclusions Week

NFL Jump to Conclusions Week

Patriots Opening Day: Pregame

Patriots Opening Day: Pregame

Go Bruins!

NFL Fooball WK 1 Picks UPDATES

Thurs 9-4

@

±

TIME (EST)

NET

Sun 9-07

Mon 9-8

Super Bowl XLII: New England Patriots

Patriots will have to wait until start of free agency to re-sign Moss

Patriots Look To Sweep Schedule

Steelers Sit Polamalu Against Patriots

No. 13 easier than 11 and 12 for Patriots

Rodney Harrison Fined For Taunting

Polamalu unlikely to play against Pats

Patriots Game Rated Highest Television Audience

Moss Wins Offensive Player of the Month (November)

Patriots Visit Pine Street Inn

Series Breakdown For Patriots and Steelers Game

Ravens Say Late Game Calls Favor Patriots

Heated Battle - Pats and Ravens

Forgotten man for the Patriots

It's on to the Dome for Patriots

Was Moss Slacking Against Philly?

Ravens vs. Patriots: Matchups to watch

Pass-happy New England Patriots face run-stuffing Baltimore Ravens