Projo Pats Blog

June 8, 2008 - June 14, 2008 Archives

Le Anne Schreiber's piece can be found here. It's interesting reading that takes some network personalities to task for their performances on the day that Matt Walsh met Roger Goodell.

New England has announced the release of 38-year old punter Scott Player, leaving Chris Hanson as the only punter on the team's roster.

The Patriots had gone though the offseason camps with Hanson, Player and then undrafted rookie Mike Dragosavich duking it out on the field.

For now, at least, it appears Hanson, who was the team's punter last season, will retain the job.

From the release:

The New England Patriots re-signed exclusive rights free agent linebacker Eric Alexander today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Additionally, the team released three players signed as rookie free agents this spring -- tight end Tyson DeVree, defensive lineman Henry Smith and defensive lineman Casey Tyler.
        Alexander, 26, has played in 30 games over four seasons with the Patriots from 2004-07. The 6-foot-2-inch, 240-pound linebacker has recorded eight tackles (7 solo) and 26 special teams tackles in his career.

AP photo / Gene Puskar

Rodney Harrison, the defender who was closest to the play when David Tyree made his unbelievable catch late in Super bowl XLII, has written the introduction to Tyree's book, "More Than Just a Catch," which is due out in September, according to The Boston Globe. In the book, Tyree details his struggles with alcohol and drugs before he turned his life around and became a born-again Christian, as well as the death of his mother late last year.

"Just from a spiritual standpoint, I heard what he went through with his mom, her passing, and everything he kind of endured this season," Harrison told the Globe. "You can see why he was blessed at that particular time. God has a way of showing you different things through different people, and I'm not a hater. You beat us, so I congratulate you and we move on."

Your Turn: Does this thing bother you?

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — Police say New York Giants Super Bowl rings were among the $2 million worth of items stolen from an Attleboro jewelry company sometime over the weekend.

Police say thieves disabled the alarm system at E.A. Dion’s building, cut a hole in the roof and made off with a safe that weighed at least 1,000 pounds and containied gold, gems and the rings.

The incident was discovered by an employee on Sunday when she was unable to access her work e-mail from home, apparently because phone lines had been cut.

Captain David Proia says police are investigating but there are no suspects.

Company President Edward Dion Jr. says the company is running as normal and customers know “we’ve run into a bit of a hiccup.”

-- The Associated Press

Pats' backup quarterback Matt Gutierrez is a native of the Oakland, Calif. area, as is Celtics forward Leon Powe, who had a breakout game last night against the Lakers. Though the two haven't really met, Gutierrez is glad to see him playing so well.

"That was amazing," Gutierrez said of Powe's 21 points-in-15 minutes performance. "The kids from back home always pull for the hometown guys. I had kids texting me, saying, 'Can you believe it?' He was dominant in high school; I was a victim."

Gutierrez starred at De La Salle High, while Powe played for Oakland Technical High.

The New England Patriots held their 11th annual Charitable Foundation golf tournament today at The International in Bolton, Mass., which is about 60 miles from downtown Providence.

All of the players and coaches attend, and one of the highlights is the long drive contest. Rodney Harrison reclaimed his title, beating out Chris Hanson and Stephen Gostkowki in the finals. Harrison's best drive in the finals was 287 yards. Hanson hit it 296 yards in the first round.

Defending champ Tom Brady didn't arrive at the course in time to challenge Harrison.

Before heading to their respective tees, Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson had their own contest, though Maroney struggled to make contact with the ball. At one point, Jackson bet his "big brother" that he couldn't hit the ball in three swings. Like it usually is between Jackson and Maroney, there was a lot of laughing involved.

At the driving range, owner Robert Kraft took a few minutes to catch up with Jerod Mayo and Shawn Crable, the team's top two draft picks in April; Randy Moss declined to take part in the long drive contest, but was working on his swing at a nearby tee.

Maroney, Harrison, Matt Gutierrez, Tedy Bruschi, Jason Webster, Richard Seymour, Adalius Thomas and Victor Hobson all took a few minutes to chat with the media before heading out to the course.

The Patriots moved up and shortened today's final mini-camp session, and the 45-minute practice was essentially a walkthrough: players were in shorts and jerseys, but without helmets. The defense stayed with the defense and offense with offense the entire time.

Wes Welker, who hadn't participated in the on-field work for the first two days of camp, was out there today, as was David Thomas. Thomas took part on Friday but not yesterday.

The rest of the missing players remained:

WR Kelley Washington
CB Ellis Hobbs
G Stephen Neal
T Oliver Ross
TE Benjamin Watson
LB Bo Ruud
DL Jarvis Green
DL Mike Wright