Seymour bows out of Pro Bowl
9:45 PM Fri, Jan 26, 2007 | Permalink |
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January 2007 ArchivesJanuary 26
Hey all -- Per jaguars.com (who knew they were a breaking news source?) Richard Seymour has backed out of the Pro Bowl, replaced by Jacksonville end John Henderson. He will join teammtate Rashean Mathis in Hawaii. Seymour was named to his fifth straight Pro Bowl a few weeks ago, and was the only New England player included on the AFC roster. shalise 
Hey all -- Rodney Harrison was just on WEEI and said that he will indeed return for the Patriots next season, despite suffering three significant injuries in the last 16 months. "No question," he said. "I don't know why it's even a question of me not wanting to be there. The Patriots have been good to me, I feel like it's been a great relationship. Bill Belichick is the best coach I've ever played for, (New England is) the best organization. It's just been a tremendous opportunity for me. "I definitely want to be here and I'll do whatever it takes for me to be here." Harrison, who suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament in New England's regular season finale in Tennessee, also said he's "100 percent positive" he would have been able to play in the Super Bowl had the Patriots advanced that far. The safety and his wife, Erika, recently welcomed their second son. shalise
Hey all -- The NFL has admitted that it was wrong when Patriots’ cornerback Ellis Hobbs was flagged for defensive pass interference on Reggie Wayne in New England’s AFC Championship loss to Indianapolis last Sunday. The bad call ultimately led to the tying score for the Colts, who advanced to the Super Bowl with a 38-34 victory. On the play -- second-and-7 from the Pats’ 19-yard line -- Hobbs was face-guarding Wayne in the back left corner of the end zone. The pass from Peyton Manning hit Hobbs on the back of his left arm, and after the game the second-year corner, who combined with Asante Samuel to give a great effort on Pro Bowlers Wayne and Marvin Harrison, said he never touched his man. But the flag was thrown, and pass interference is not one of the calls that coaches can challenge. Indy got first-and-goal from the one, and on the next play, Manning found wide-open former Patriot Dan Klecko for a touchdown. The Colts also converted a two-point play to tie the game, 21-21. On jaguars.com, the website of the Jacksonville Jaguars, league official Dean Blandino confirmed to reporter Vic Ketchman that it was a bad call. Blandino was in the replay booth at the RCA Dome and said Hobbs should not have been called for pass interference, citing that he did nothing to impede Wayne from catching the ball, and did not make contact with the receiver. Blandino said that face-guarding, which game referee Bill Carollo did not cite as the reason for the penalty, has not been illegal for several years. One Patriots player reached yesterday commented, "What can you do?," when told about the league’s admission. shalise
January 23
Hey all -- In case you hadn't heard, rookie corner Jonathan Joseph on Monday became the ninth (yes, ninth!!!) different Cincinnati Bengal arrest since the beginning of 2006. Joseph was stopped in Northern Kentucky and charged with marijuana possession. The high number of arrests -- receiver Chris Henry was arrested four times in the past year -- drew the notice of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and had Bengals coach Marvin Lewis finally saying he was going to crack down on player behavior this offseason. In light of Joseph's arrest, Bengals veterans Willie Anderson and Carson Palmer spoke about the problem. Anderson said younger players were warned at the end of the season not to become "No. 9 or No. 10" and that it had become a joke to wonder which Cincy player would be next. But Palmer had the harshest words: "“If it doesn’t stop, we’re not going to have any fans left and I don’t blame them. It’s ridiculous,'' he said on the team web site, bengals.com. "We can’t get through a month without getting a guy arrested. It happens on another team and they’re shocked and surprised to hear about it. With us, you hear about it and it doesn’t surprise you and you just shake your head and say, ‘Another one.’ ” We say, good for him. The Bengals have become a joke. Let's just hope Palmer's teammates listen and team management starts taking a hard stand on players for these incidents, which have included resisting arrest, burglary and grand theft, driving while intoxicated, boating under the influence and spousal abuse. shalise
Hey all -- CBS Sports announced today that Sunday's AFC Championship game between New England and Indianapolis was the most-watched non-Super Bowl program since the "Friends" finale on May 6, 2004. An average of 46.7 million viewers tuned in to the game, which saw the Colts move on to the Super Bowl with a 38-34 come-from-behind win. That makes it the most-watched AFC title game since the 1985 championship game between the Patriots and Dolphins, which had 47.5 million viewers. This year's number is a 20 percent increase over viewership of last year's AFC championship between Pittsburgh and Denver. The ratings in Boston were 50.9 with a 68 share. shalise
New England has announced that it has signed seven players off its 2006 practice squad: C Brian Barthelmes James Patrick, the eighth member of the squad at the end of the season, was not signed.
January 22
IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells retired from coaching today, leaving the Dallas Cowboys after four seasons and ending a stellar career that featured three Super Bowl appearances and two championships. The announcement came 15 days after the Cowboys' season ended with a heartbreaking playoff loss in Seattle. He'd been at his office nearly every day since, and there were other indications that the 65-year-old coach was returning for a fifth year in Dallas and 20th as an NFL head coach. "I am in good health and feel lucky to have been able to coach in the NFL for an extended period of time," he said in a statement. "I leave the game and the NFL with nothing but good feelings and gratitude to all the players, coaches and other people that have assisted me in that regard. " Parcells coached the Patriots for four seasons, from 1993 through the 1996. He resigned after leading the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers, a game the Patriots lost. -- The Associated Press
January 21
...BOO, they're saying moooo-vers." Or so says the line in Peyton Manning's Mastercard commercial. He might want to use it with his teammates in the locker room, as the Colts started hearing boos during that last drive. They got louder after the crowd felt Ellis Hobbs should have been called for pass interference on Reggie Wayne in the end zone (their feet simply got tangled up), and then again when the team settled for a chip shot field goal.
For the Patriots: WR Bam Childress Vinny Testaverde is the third quarterback. For the Colts: WR Ricky Proehl
Hey all -- The Dome crowd has gotten things going early, cheering Adam Vinatieri has he made field goals of 50 yards or more in warmups, and cheering even louder when Pats' rookie Stephen Gostkowski lined up from 53 yards out and missed wide right and then wide left.
Hey all -- We have squeezed into the very tight quarters here at the RCA Dome, with the NFC Championship game on the televisions over our right shoulder and several players warming up on the field below us. It's very quiet here in the Dome, which belies the madness just outside -- there is a massive dance and cheerleading competition here this weekend, and there are hundreds of overly made-up young girls in the convention center that's connected to the stadium. On the field, Adam Vinatieri is chatting with Todd Sauerbrun and Stephen Gostkowski in one of the end zones; Pats' receivers coach Brian Daboll is at centerfield, throwing to Chad Jackson; Troy Brown is going through his warmups solo; and offensive linemen Dan Koppen, Ryan O'Callaghan and Russ Hochstein are chatting and stretching. We'll post more when the inactives come out. shalise
Rodney Harrison (knee) has been downgraded to out for today's game with the Colts. He had been listed as doubtful on the team's injury report this week, and was at practice during the media-access session on Thursday and Friday.
January 19
There were no changes to the Patriots' final injury report of the week. Rodney Harrison remains doubtful, while Troy Brown, Ryan O'Callaghan and Mike Wright are all questionable with the flu. Tom Brady is, as always, probable, and was the only player not to miss at least a portion of practice today. The Colts added linebacker Rob Morris to their report; he is now questionable with a knee injury and was the only player reported to have missed at least a portion of practice today. shalise
Projo.com will have full coverage before, during and after Sunday's AFC Championship Game in Indianapolis. Shalise Manza Young will begin filing blog reports before kickoff, and we'll also have John Freidah's photo gallery of the pregame scene from the Circle City (that's what they call Indianapolis, if you didn't know). Once the game starts, we'll have reports on the blog and photos from the field. And in the hours following the game, we'll have a complete postgame report, including more photos and your chance to talk about the game. It will all be on our Patriots page Sunday evening.
Hey all -- This being championship, the NFL and the NFL Network moved in, and today we had five press conferences rather than an open locker room session. The funniest moment of the day came when Tom Brady, who was last at the podium, pulled his hand out of his right pocket and said, "I just found money in my pocket." Come to find out, there was $40 in the pants of his medium-grey suit, worn without a tie. Through all of the press conferences -- Bill Belichick, Ty Warren, Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel were the other participants -- the common thread was respect. How much respect the Patriots have for the Colts as a team, how much respect they have for Peyton Manning. Belichick was asked what type of defensive plan he would devise to stop Brady, and the coach -- in a black suit with a patterned green tie -- smirked and said, "You think I'm going to tell you that?" and then added, "I'm glad I don't have to play Tom Brady." Warren was asked about his two-day absence and allowed that it was an illness to his mother that kept him away. He said his faith kept him balanced during the last few days and prevented him from getting too overwhelmed by the circumstances. The team leaves tomorrow at 1 p.m. for Indianapolis. shalise
Hey all -- The Patriots have asked former linebacker Andre Tippett to serve as the team's honorary captain for Sunday's game against the Colts. Tippett was recently named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007. He was also a member of New England's first AFC Championship team, in 1985. shalise
Just in from the Dana Farber Fieldhouse, where the Patriots are going through their final practice of the week in preparation of Sunday's AFC Championship game. There was perfect attendance as we watched the players stretch, which means that Rodney Harrison was out there once again. He, like the rest of the players, was in a shell and shorts (he didn't have a shell yesterday). Ty Warren was also back with the team, having returned from his native Texas, where he was dealing with a personal issue. shalise
January 18
Hey all -- Just in from practice inside the Dana Farber Fieldhouse, and Rodney Harrison was at practice. He tried to hide from the cameras, stretching as far away from them as possible, but we spotted him. The only player not at practice today was Ty Warren, who we have already told you is on his way back to the team. shalise
Hey all -- Ty Warren's absence is not due to his wife, Kesha's pregnancy; it is because of another personal issue. He is on his way back from Texas and will be back with the team later today. shalise
Hey all -- It has been a hectic day here, with a mass of media folks milling around the locker room looking for players to talk to about this week's game. Invariably, the players get asked about Adam Vinatieri, and how it will feel/how it feels to see him on the opposite sideline in another uniform. To man, they all say they've moved on, they support Stephen Gostkowski, and the believe in him. We'd like to second the feeling that we're over it. Enough already. We know how important he was to this franchise when he was here, but Adam's not the first person to leave and he won't be the last. Yes it's sexy to think that this game could come down to a field goal from either the New England legend or the New England rookie, but if and when that happens, then we can write about it. Okay, that's the end of our rant for today. Must be grumpiness because we haven't eaten yet. Anyway, Bill Belichick spoke of his memories of the Baltimore Colts growing up in nearby Annapolis, and it was refreshing to hear. The coach rattled off a bunch of names from the teams back then, and said he can still remember watching the 1959 NFL championship game, which was a watershed game for the league. He also recalled a weekly television show, "Corralling the Colts" that was on local television. In the locker room, Heath Evans, Ellis Hobbs, Tully Banta-Cain, Rosevelt Colvin and Vinny Testaverde all drew large crowds. shalise
January 17
Hey all -- the first injury report of the week is out, and the flu bug has hit the Pats pretty hard. DOUBTFUL: S Rodney Harrison (knee) QUESTIONABLE: WR Troy Brown (flu), OT Ryan O'Callaghan (flu), DL Mike Wright (flu) PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder) *All but Brady missed at least a portion of practice today. Ty Warren also was not present at practice today, though we know his wife, Kesha, is very pregnant, so who knows, though he did participate in a national conference call earlier today. There are several players no longer on the list, including Bam Childress, Benjamin Watson, Richard Seymour and Ellis Hobbs. For the Colts: QUESTIONABLE: T Ryan Diem (shoulder), CB Nicholas Harper (ankle), LB Cato June (concussion), G Ryan Lilja (knee), WR Ricky Proehl (hamstring), S Bob Sanders (knee)
Hey all -- We've been told that members of the Patriots held a big team dinner last week at the newly opened Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Providence, and it must have been one heck of a meal because it allegedly was a $40,000 meal and $7,000 tip. Allegedly, rookie first-round pick Laurence Maroney had to pick up the tab. shalise
Hey all -- Wanted to update you on Heath Evans. The fullback, who was listed on the injury report last week as questionable with a shin injury, was actually hospitalized at one point during the week with a fairly serious illness, according to a source with knowledge of what happened. After the game on Sunday, Evans looked exhausted, and admitted as much. But he looked much better today in the locker room and didn't want to answer any questions about his health. shalise
Hey all -- There were several players not spotted during the media-access portion of practice, which was held inside the Dana Farber Fieldhouse. Rodney Harrison was not there, nor was Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Troy Brown or Ryan O'Callaghan. Rookie David Thomas was sporting the black jersey as practice player of the week for last week. Print media were only present for stretching. shalise
Hey all -- Sorry we've been MIA for a couple of days; we were catching up on a few things after our trip out West. Anyway, we're back now and hunkered down for championship week. Now that we're down to the semifinals of the NFL tournament, the NFL network gets involved, so while we were in the locker room trying to scare up some information, there was a steady stream of players at the podium in the media workroom; Tom Brady is wrapping up now and conference calls with Indy's Bob Sanders and Tony Dungy will follow. The noise factor inside the RCA Dome has been mentioned quite a bit today, and while it is no doubt difficult for the quarterback to communicate to the line and the rest of the offense at the line of scrimmage, but Brady is 10-0 in his career in domes, so it would seem that he has that aspect figured out. True to form, no one would really address the Chargers' claims about the Patriots' actions after the game on Sunday. Yesterday, we caught wind of a video out of San Diego (click on the watch video link on the right) about the post-game hubub, and Philips Rivers is seen screeching at Ellis Hobbs, calling him "the sorriest corner in the league." Asked about it, Hobbs said he'd heard about it and would only say, "We're on the AFC Championship." Of course, we're doubting Rivers said much about this video taken at the San Diego pre-game rally last week, when Shawne Merriman leads a chant of "Brady sucks." Bill Belichick's reaction to LaDainian Tomlinson's assertion that New England's "lack of class" stems from the head coach? "I have all the respect in the world for LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers. They're a tremendous football team. But we're moving on to Indianapolis." We'll be out at practice shortly... there was no Rodney Harrison sighting in the locker room, but we'll of course be on the lookout for him today inside the fieldhouse. shalise
January 15
What are the San Diego media saying about the New Englands Patriots' dramatic come-from-behind victory yesterday against the Charges? The San Diego Union-Tribune has a story about the Patriots' post-game celebration. Aside from the highly-publicized comments from MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, the paper features comments from rookie quarterback Philip Rivers: "Rivers said he saw some Patriots pointing to the scoreboard, doing Merriman's 'Lights Out' dance and stomping on the Chargers helmet logo at midfield. 'They won and they deserve a lot of credit,' Rivers said. 'Personally I was disappointed in the way they handled winning. I mean, for as much as everybody said they expected them to win, they didn't act like it.' " Chargers.com has a story with reaction from Marlon McCree, the Chargers' defensive back who intercepted a Tom Brady pass only to be stripped by Troy Brown on a key play in the fourth quarter. "Had McCree simply knocked the ball down instead of intercepting it, the Chargers would have taken possession at their own 41-yard line," reads the story. "Instead, New England had new life at the Bolts 32, but McCree was confident in his actions." Meanwhile, Journal sports columnist Jim Donaldson has already filed his post-game story for tomorrow's Journal, saying: "SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers woke up here this morning wondering how they had lost to the Patriots. If, that is, they slept at all during a tortured night of tossing and turning, going over and over in their anguished minds how they’d blown a game they certainly could have — and, arguably, should have — won." Read the full story now on projo.com. Browse more game and post-game coverage, and add your comments, at:
Read the rest, write another... January 14
San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, in his postgame news conference, accused the Patriots of disrespectful behavior at the end of today's game. Tomlinson was asked about an unsportsmanlike conduct call against the Patriots, which followed Nate Kaeding's missed field goal with seconds left. Apparently a Patriot player --reportedly feisty cornerback Ellis Hobbs -- did a dance mocking Shawne Merriman's "lights out" routine. Tomlinson said the Patriots had shown "no class." He said that maybe it was because of their head coach. Then he stepped down from the podium.
wrote, Thru the Eyes and Ears of a Pats Fan!!!!!! Does this paper have a Sports Editorial Section? This goes out to LT and the rest... Read the rest, write another...
LaDainian Tomlinson has set all sorts of records, but that 2-yard push was the first postseason touchdown he's ever had. He has 111 for his career.
We were up here wondering about Marty Schottenheimer's decision not to try a field goal on fourth-and-11 from the 30. Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding was making kicks from 60 yards with ease during warmups. But it gets worse -- colleague Karen Guerigian of the Boston Herald tells us that Kaeding hasn't missed a field goal here at Qualcomm in TWO YEARS. So instead, they go for it, and Rivers is strip-sacked by Mike Vrabel... Marty strikes again??
Due to the NFC game between Chicago and Seattle going into overtime, kickoff for this game has been pushed back to 1:45 PST (or 4:45 EST). The NFL made the decision before the players left the field during warmups here. shalise
Hey all -- They've set up a stage in the middle of the field and some group called P.O.D is singing a song they wrote about the Chargers. Now, I'm a child of the hip-hop generation, but A: the primary lyrics to the song are Saaaaaaaaan Deeee-ego Char-gers, and B: when they're not saying that, you can't understand a dang word they're saying. But hey, whatever gets you going, I guess. shalise
Hey all -- We're about 65 minutes from kickoff and the Patriots kicking team -- Stephen Gostkowski, Matt Cassel, Lonie Paxton and Todd Sauerbrun -- just came onto the field in full uniform, and were booed by the fans in the stadium. Gostkowski just hit a 50-yard practice kick. Backup long snapper Russ Hochstein is also on the field getting his snap on. shalise
For the Patriots: WR Bam Childress * Vinny Testaverde is the third quarterback For the Chargers: * Charlie Whitehurst is the third quarterback
Hey all -- There was a lot of attention given this week to the fact that the Chargers had restricted sales of tickets to today's game to purchasers with a Southern California ZIP code, but from our observation, there are no shortage of Pats fans here today. Our hotel lobby was packed with fans wearing New England jerseys, and as we walked into the stadium, we saw more, including a woman with a Dante Scarnecchia #1 jersey. We also heard that there were single tickets available as recently as yesterday at noon. So try as they might to keep them out, it seems there will be Patriots fans here for their team. shalise
Hey all -- Well, here it's 10:45 in the morning, but back home it's afternoon. We've settled into our seats in the open-air pressbox here at Qualcomm Stadium, which wouldn't be so bad except it's unseasonably cool here in San Diego. I know, I know, don't complain... Chargers fans are definitely hyped for the game today -- yesterday, a tattoo parlor was giving away free 'Bolt tats to anyone willing to permanently brand themselves for the sake of the team. Coming into the parking lots here, fans were out in full force, rocking their blue-and-yellow regalia. When we landed Friday night, one local radio pundit was predicting that Shawne Merriman -- by himself -- would have four sacks today. On the field here, Lonie Paxton is practicing his snaps with holder Matt Cassel and David Thomas is stretching. Vinny Testaverde, who was looking quite snazzy in his fedora Friday afternoon as the team boarded buses for the airportView image, is jogging around the field. We'll have more as we get closer to game time. shalise
January 11
According to San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Jim Trotter (whom we met this week and discovered is as good a guy as he is reporter), Rodney Harrison's right knee injury is not a sprained MCL, as previously reported, but a partially torn ACL. Citing a source close to the situation, Trotter wrote that Harrison would miss the rest of the postseason should the Patriots advance past this Sunday's game with the Chargers. shalise
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