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October 31, 2006
Pats release Iwuoma & BarthelmesNew England waived special teamer/corner Chidi Iwuoma and rookie offensive lineman Brian Barthelmes today. Iwuoma, cut by the Steelers early in the season and signed by the Pats on Oct. 4, played in three games and made two special teams tackles. Barthelmes, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent and then cut during training camp, was re-signed to New England's practice squad last Wednesday. The move puts the Patriots at 52 players on the 53-man roster, and one under the scout team limit of eight. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Tully is a daddyTully Banta-Cain Jr. was born sometime Monday, while his dad was nearly 1,400 miles away in Minneapolis. The Patriots linebacker was seen leaving the Metrodome after the game last night with team owner Robert Kraft and president Jonathan Kraft, presumably to fly back to New England with them and be with his new son and girlfriend Bridget Hernandez as quickly as possible. Hernandez, a Rhode Island native, had a due date of late last week. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 30, 2006
Belichick's son arrestedNFL.com reported tonight that Bill Belichick's older son, Stephen, had been arrested and charged with marijuana possession. Stephen Belichick, who is a prep student at Northfield-Mt. Hermon and is committed to play lacrosse at Rutgers next year, was given six months probation, after which time the charges will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Seymour not among inactivesWe received the inactives list and Richard Seymour is not on it, meaning he will more than likely play. Surprisingly, neither third-year Marquise Hill nor rookie LeKevin Smith was activeated as a just-in-case measure. The rest of the inactives: NEW ENGLAND With both Neal and his usual backup, Hochstein, out, Billy Yates got his first career start, at right guard. Artrell Hawkins started in Wilson's place, and Dave Thomas started in place of Graham. MINNESOTA shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young More warmupsHey again -- When we arrived here we learned that the Vikings are honoring Warren Moon tonight, inducting the Pro Hall of Famer into their own Hall of Fame. Moon was enshrined in Canton earlier this year. On the field, the usual warmups are taking place. As mentioned, Richard Seymour is warming up. Tom Brady is throwing some passes, offensive linemen Ryan O'Callaghan, Matt Light and Logan Mankins are chatting in the middle of the field, Lonie Paxton, Josh Miller and Stephen Gostkowski are doing some practice kicks (and Miller just punted a ball through the uprights), Mike Vrabel, Doug Gabriel, Chad Jackson and Laurence Maroney are catching passes in the corner of the end zone. Ben Watson is chatting with former teammate Bethel Johnson, who is now with the Vikes. The ESPN Monday Night Football crew has its set in one corner of the field; they must be getting ready for something because Tom "Belichick's players hate him" Jackson, Michael "I might be the worst athlete-turned-"reporter" ever" Irvin, Steve Young and Chris Berman are all on set. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Welcome to the Metrodome... Seymour warming upHey all -- Injured defensive lineman Richard Seymour is on the field warming up for New England, his black brace on is left elbow outside of his long-sleeved shirt. It may all be a ruse, a clever charade to mislead the Vikings, but time will tell. It was indicated to me by someone within the team last week that Seymour would play. Coming into the Metrodome through the revolving door into the stadium brought me back to my days at Syracuse and going through the revolving doors into the Carrier Dome for football and basketball games. Back then, with Donovan McNabb and Marvin Harrison and Donovin Darius, we were actually pretty good. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 29, 2006
Four out for MondayHey all -- Reporting from beautiful Bloomington, Minn., a stone's throw from the Mall of America. The Pats' crack PR guy, Stacey James, called me -- actually, my voicemail -- while I was in the air here to inform that four players were left home in advance of tomorrow's game: TE Daniel Graham (ankle) We'll be back as game time approaches. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Faulk upgradedKevin Faulk (ankle) has been upgraded to probable for Monday's game with the Vikings.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 26, 2006
Chilly practice peekHey all -- Richard Seymour was at pracitce once again for the media access portion (stretching); though he was wearing long sleeves, you could see bumpiness and bulkiness under his left sleeve, so he was still wearing his elbow brace. The only players not spotted were CB Antwain Spann and G/C Russ Hochstein. Bill Belichick, who is normally on the field for stretching, walked onto the field just as the team broke into individual groups. As media were walking off the field, loud music began playing to simulate the atmosphere in the Metrodome. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Seymour speaksRichard Seymour spoke to the media, and said he hopes to play Sunday. He said he didn't like to look at the play that led to his injured left elbow on video because it was "gruesome." After undergoing x-rays at the stadium in Buffalo on Sunday, Seymour had an MRI on Monday but was not specfic about what exactly was wrong with his elbow. Echoing his coach, he said he's taking it day by day. "I haven't gone full-speed yet to test it yet," he said. "I'm still feeling my way through it."
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday at the RazorHey all -- Bill Belichick's morning press conference began with the coach saying his team was working on third down, two-minute, situational and second-and-long situations today. He said again that he was glad to have an extra day to prepare for the Vikings, and "if we weren't playing them, they'd be fun to watch." He spoke about the two-minute drill, which the Patriots haven't had to use too often this season, and Belichick hopes they don't have to revert to at the end of the Minnesota game. Belichick also touched on the challenges of facing head coaches in the first year with their team, the size of the Minnesota offensive line, and the significance of Troy Brown passing Stanley Morgan ("We're not big into individual records, but that being said, it's still pretty impressive. It's a pretty substantial accomplishment."). He also said Patrick Pass is "getting closer" to being back on the field, but that the decision of whether to take the back off the PUP list will take into consideration what's best for Pass and the team. Richard Seymour's reaction to practice yesterday with a sleeve on his left elbow was "good. He's day to day." Eugene Wilson and his sore hamstring were also termed the same -- day to day. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young The sod comes inHey all -- When we arrived at Gillette Stadium this morning, there were four big flat-bed trucks in front of the stadium and a sizeable mound of soil. The sod has arrived. Which should make Bill Polian happy. New England is replacing the "grass" between the hash marks before its Sunday night showdown with Indianapolis. Polian, the Colts' general manager, reportedly complained to the league about the state of the field in Foxboro, and the Pats shot back by requesting that the NFL protect its personnel during the game, referencing Polian's shove of a Jets team official a few weeks ago. In his morning press conference, Bill Belichick said he was "all for it" when asked about the new grass. "I hope it improves the field... whatever they think will help," he said. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 25, 2006
Barthelmes signed to practice squadThe Patriots filled the practice squad spot left open by Billy Yates' elevation to the 53-man roster, signing undrafted rookie center Brian Barthelmes. The 23-year old Bathelmes was signed by New England as an undrafted free agent last May; he was cut on August 29 after playing in the first three preseason games. He is 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds and played collegiately at Virginia, which is coached by former Bill Belichick assistant Al Groh. The practice squad is now back to its limit of eight players.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Week 8 Injury ReportThe injury report was just released. The following players are listed as questionable: Don Davis (lower leg), Kevin Faulk (ankle), Daniel Graham (ankle), Ellis Hobbs (wrist), Russ Hochstein (knee), Nick Kaczur (shoulder), Richard Seymour (elbow), Stephen Neal (shoulder), Ty Warren (shoulder) and Eugene Wilson (hamstring).
Posted by Joe McDonald Seymour updateRichard Seymour participated in practice today. He injured his left elbow late in the first half against the Bills and missed the remainder of the game on Sunday. After the game he said he was hoping to be ready for Minnesota on Monday. “He’s day-to-day, just like everybody else,” said Bill Belichick this morning. “Just like Brady, he’s day-to-day. Just like me, I’m day-to-day.”
Posted by Joe McDonald October 24, 2006
Maroney Special Teams Player of the WeekPatriots rookie Laurence Maroney was named AFC Special Teams player of the week for week 7. Maroney's dazzling 74-yard kickoff return in the first quarter against Buffalo was the longest kickoff return in the week in the AFC and the longest non-touchdown scoring return in the NFL this season. Maroney leads all rookie kickoff returners, with an average of 27.9 yards; that mark is third in the league. This is the second time this season the former Minnesota standout has been honored -- after the Cincinnati game, when he gained 125 yards rushing and had two TDs, Maroney was named Diet Pepsi rookie of the week.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 23, 2006
Monday at GilletteHey all -- Just in from the locker room, where you would have thought the Pats lost yesterday. There were hardly any players in there, though we found out that most of them were in a "life skills" seminar. Tedy Bruschi spoke on a lot of topics, from New England's red zone defense -- an interesting subject given that teams have only ventured there seven times in six games -- to the difficulties in preparing for a team like Minnesota that the Pats are so unfamiliar with, to the play of defensive back Chad Scott. Jarvis Green touched on his growth as a player, and how comfortable he feels now. If Richard Seymour can't play next Monday, Green would be the one to get the start. But while Green came into the league as a defensive end, he said he prefers playing at tackle now, and it's a measure of pride for him that his sacks this season have come while playing inside rather than on the outside of the line. Tebucky Jones spoke for a couple of minutes; he was in Foxboro for one of his rehab sessions, but is commuting from his home in Connecticut. Jones was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Sept. 2 with an injury to his right leg. During Bill Belichick's press conference, he said again that yesterday was a good win on the road for the Patriots. Looking forward to next Monday's game in Minnesota, he noted that the team will need a great deal of preparation -- not only are the Vikings a good team, they are also an unfamiliar team for New England. Belichick said there are some similarities -- "they're in the same family, cousins, maybe" -- between the defensive schemes New England saw against Buffalo yesterday and those they'll see in their upcoming games with the Vikings and Colts. He spoke of the improvement of Junior Seau, saying the veteran has gotten better every week. As for Richard Seymour's left elbow, which he injured yesterday, Belichick wasn't talking, and wouldn't even confirm whether the Pro Bowler had further tests done on it today, as Seymour himself had indicated yesterday after the game. Belichick was asked about a situation at the end of the Eagles/Falcons game yesterday, and he related a story about a game over 20 years ago when the Giants played the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Lawrence Taylor had gotten an interception and started racing downfield. Though there was no Detroit player around him for at least 50 yards, Taylor looked over his shoulder and saw a shadow and believed it belonged to a Lions player. But "he was running from his own shadow," Belichick said with a smile. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 22, 2006
Today's inactivesFor New England: Antwain Spann, Garrett Mills, Pierre Woods, Russ Hochstein, Nick Kaczur, Daniel Graham, Le Kevin Smith and Marquise Hill. Heath Evans will start at fullback in place of Graham. The Pats have also added Billy Yates to their active roster. For Buffalo: Ashton Youboty, Shaud Williams, Matt Bowen, Brad Butler, Tutan Reyes, Eric Powell, Jason Jefferson and Craig Nall. Aaron Merz will start at left guard in place of Reyes.
Posted by Joe McDonald October 20, 2006
Very loose locker roomThe Patriots are packing their bags and on their way to Buffalo. The locker room was a very energetic place today with many of the players goofing around. Not having a game in 12 days will make a room a little jittery. Turns out rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski is a big hockey fan and he attended the Bruins game on Thursday night. Ironically, with the Pats playing the Bills on Sunday, he said the Sabres have always been his favorite hockey team. He said he had a good time at the B's game and sat only a few rows off the ice.
Posted by Joe McDonald Practice peekHey all -- Just in from the fieldhouse; due to the light rain practice was held indoors today. There were no changes from yesterday's practice -- G/C Russ Hochstein was the only player not spotted. Media were present for stretching and some kickoff return work; the players were in shells and pants/shorts. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young FridaySunday's game can't come fast enough. Like I said, can't wait for Sunday's game.
Posted by Joe McDonald October 19, 2006
The MovieHey all -- It looks like the Boston Rebels will face the N.Y. Dukes in "the Championship." Filming inside the stadium today for "The Game Plan" is centered around "the Championship," the 33rd of whatever league it will be called, and is supposed to be in Arizona, though today in Foxboro the weather is nothing like typical Arizona weather -- it's very overcast, breezy and cool. We saw crowd extras filing into the stadium, half of them in Rebels' red and half in Dukes blue. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekPractice today was much the same as it was yesterday -- G/C Russ Hochstein was the only player not present for the media portion. DL Ty Warren did not have on the red no-contact jersey as he did on Wednesday. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday thingsHey all -- We are just in from the locker room, which was preceded by Bill Belichick's daily discussion. The discussion today was brief, but this time it was because there weren't a whole lot of questions to be asked -- there was no game last week to talk about and nearly every angle with Buffalo has been exhausted -- sparing Pats PR guy Stacey James the need to make his "last question" call. Belichick talked about Buffalo's third-down package, which often involves four wide receivers, and he also talked about Lee Evans, who has emerged as the Bills' top wideout. Evans was held to just two catches for 25 yards in the season opener against New England, when Ellis Hobbs shadowed him for much of the day. But Evans has averaged 8 catches for 93.7 yards over Buffalo's last four games. In the locker room, Junior Seau drew a large media crowd, and Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney talked about veteran Troy Brown's influence on them since arriving in Foxboro. We're off to practice. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 18, 2006
Wednesday injury reportHey all -- The first injury report of the week is out. PATRIOTS Questionable: TE Daniel Graham (ankle), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), T Nick Kaczur (shoulder), S Eugene Wilson (hamstring), G Russ Hochstein (knee) Probable: CB Willie Andrews (thigh), QB Tom Brady, CB Antwain Spann (shoulder) All together now: All but Brady were reported to have missed at least a portion of practice. There are several changes to this list from the last time New England played: for the first time this year, Chad Jackson is not on the list. Artrell Hawkins and Ryan O'Callaghan were also removed. Hochstein injured his knee in practice last Tuesday and has not been spotted on the field since. BUFFALO Questionable: S Matt Bowen (shin), C Melvin Fowler (thigh), WR Roscoe Parrish (hamstring), G Tutan Reyes (shoulder). All but Bowen reportedly missed at least a portion of practice. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Wedesday doingsHey all -- Wednesdays are always busy here at Gillette, with Bill Belichick's press conference, Tom Brady's weekly press conference, the conference calls with Buffalo coach Dick Jauron and receiver Lee Evans, as well as open locker room. Belichick reiterated that Buffalo is a dangerous team despite its 2-4 record and that New England clearly had its troubles with the Bills in the season opener. He said the team's open roster spot probably wouldn't be filled today and that the team has a couple of options it is looking into before it makes that move. The coach was asked if anyone in the organization had discussions with Oakland yesterday about trading for either Randy Moss or Jerry Porter; Belichick said he doesn't know what everyone else was doing because he was watching film to prepare for the Bills. He was asked further if he'd have input on a decision like that, and Belichick said, "well, I didn't say that." And he wouldn't comment on whether he even wanted Moss or Porter because it would constitute tampering. With two offensive coordinators getting the pink slip yesterday -- Baltimore's Jim Fassel and Arizona's Keith Rowen -- Belichick was asked what it would take for him to fire a coordinator in mid-season and if a head coach can lose a locker room if he fires a respected coordinator. Belichick said he didn't know what it would take for him to make such a decision mid-season, and "I hope to never be in that situation." He added that head coaches makes decisions every day and not every one is the right one. As for Brady, he talked about the first Buffalo game, particularly the first play of the game, when he was strip-sacked by Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher-Baker scooped up the ball and scored a touchdown. "I waked off the field saying that's a hell of a way to start the sweason," Brady said. "I've watched that play 30 times over last six weeks, and even again today. It was a poor decision on my part and have to be more away of our protection." Brady laughed when he was told that in a recent Sports Illustrated poll of NFL players, he received one vote as the "diritest player in the league." He was the only quarterback to garner a vote. "I don't know who I (ticked) off. Dirty? I don't even get to touch anyone out there. I don't know what they're talking about. It must be a Jet or a Dolphin or something like that that hates me," he said. For the record, Rodney Harrison won by a landslide, getting 23 percent of the votes. Pittsburgh's Joey Porter and Philly's Jon Runyan were second, with 6 percent. The poll of 361 players was taken in the preseason. In the locker room, Harrison, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Rosevelt Colvin and Ellis Hobbs all drew substantial media crowds, as they all generally do; Dan Koppen and Matt Light also were popular with the microphone-and-camera types. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekHey all -- Practice today was a well-attended affair... tackle Nick Kaczur was back on the field for the first time in a couple of weeks, with guard/center Russ Hochstein was the lone absentee. Defensive lineman Ty Warren was in a red no-contact jersey, and practice squad O-lineman Billy Yates was in the black jersey, signifying that he was the practice player of the week for the week leading up to the Miami game. The players were in full pads, and media was on the field for stretching and a couple of drills. Stretching was entertaining because there was music on the field for the first time in some weeks. The soundtrack included some older R&B and Corey Dillon, Rosevelt Colvin and a couple other players were all spotted dancing. We'll be back with more in a minute. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 16, 2006
Koppen speaksThe Patriots' Dan Koppen, 27, who signed a five-year contract extension last Thursday spoke moments ago about the deal. "It's was a pretty good bye week," he said with a huge smile. "I went down to Charlotte and had a pretty good time with a buddy, nothing other than that happened so I don't know why you guys are here." On a serious note: Most of his teammates congratulated him on his deal reportedly worth between $19 and $20 million. Koppen would have been a free agent at the end of this season. "When talks started happening again, it's in the back of your mind," he said. "It doesn't effect you on the field, but when you get home you start thinking about it. I'm glad it's over, and I'm glad everything worked out. We can move on from here and worry about the season." He was instructed by his fellow offensive linemen that he owes them dinner.
Posted by Joe McDonald Practice lookHey all -- Just in from practice, and despite the players having a few days off to rest and recuperate, there were two men missing -- offensive linemen Russ Hochstein and Nick Kaczur. Kaczur has struggled all season with a shoulder injury, but Hochstein is a recent addition. He missed practice last Wednesday for the first time this season. On a different note, it looks like the Boston Rebels will play *all* of their games at Gillette. The Rebels are the fictional team depicted in the movie "The Game Plan" which has been filming at the stadium for the past week. Coming into the stadium today, we noticed that the ring of pads at field level have been painted blue and yellow with some red remaining and the team name in the end zone is being changed as well, though we can't tell what it is yet. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young New turf field at Gillette?According to NESN, the Patriots will install a new synthetic field at Gillette Stadium. The natural-grass surface here as taken a beaten over the last seven weeks with football, soccer and concert events. Coach Bill Belichick was asked about the sub-par condition of the field last week and here's what he had to say: Q: Your opponents expressed some displeasure over the condition of the field, even some of your own players. BB: It’s terrible. Yes, it's terrible. Q: Is there anything that can be done about that between now and your next home game? BB: I don't know. The field is in terrible condition. I don't think anybody in this organization is happy about it or thinks it’s in good condition. We’ll see what we can do about it. I can’t tell you exactly what that is. That’s the best I can do. Q: Would playing on FieldTurf ever be a consideration? BB: I don't know. We'll see what the options are and see what we can do. I don’t know. It’s October. It’s not like it’s peak growing season here in New England. There’s no question about it. All that being said, Jon Bengston, who does our field, I think does a tremendous job. He works hard. Our practice fields, we go out there and practice on those fields twice a day in training camp. He’s done a tremendous job with them and they’ve held up great. We’ll see what we can do. After yesterday's practice, New England punter Josh Miller was asked what he thought if the natural grass was replaced by the fake stuff. "If they do," he said, "kickers have no excuses." What do most guys prefer?
Posted by Joe McDonald Monday morningToday is interesting without a game to discuss. The NFL trade deadline is upon us and Belichick wasn't forthcoming when asked about any possible transactions (Why would he be?). He did say anytime a deadline approaches, teams are always in communication. His standard line, and he said it again this morning, is "anytime we have a chance to improve our team, we'll look at it." He was asked if he anticipates any moves today and said "I have no idea." So, don't be surprised if the Pats pull something off. After narrowly beating the Bills in the season-opener, 19-17, New England feels it has made improvements in every area and Belichick said today the squad is more focused. Late last week the Pats signed wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, and heading into a bye week was the perfect time for his arrival on campus. Belichick called it good timing, especially with the weekend off, allowing the newcomer to get acclimated with the team's systems. Starting today Gaffney, along with the rest of the team, will be able to prepare for the Bills like it normally would.
Posted by Joe McDonald October 11, 2006
Like the last day of schoolHey all -- That's what it was like in the locker room today. The guys that were getting ready to board planes, mostly the younger ones, couldn't get out of Gillette fast enough. For the older and injured players, they stick around because this is where their home is now, the kids go to school, and for injured guys, where they have to get treatment. Rodney Harrison, Heath Evans, Richard Seymour and Jabar Gaffney all drew big media crowds, though lots of other players were doing interviews as well. Evans has become the flavor of the week with the media in general because of his first career touchdown against Miami, but he's really just a great guy to talk to. Actually, Evans is this week's Who I Am feature, which will be running on Sunday. We'll have a feature on what it's like to be in a goal-line situation from both offensive and defensive players for tomorrow's ProJo and then we -- like the Pats -- are taking a couple of days off. As always, we'll keep you posted if there's news to share. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Why they signed the new punterJust had it brought to my attention that I said Belichick explained why they signed the new punter and then didn't elaborate on what he said. Belichick was asked if the signing -- former Arizona punter Danny Baugher -- was to take some of the pracitce workload off Josh Miller's leg since Miller is now 36 years old. But Belichick said it's not like Miller has a heavy workload during the regular season since the team practices 2 1/2 times a week. "I don't think the practice load is that demanding, but you always want to look at players at different positions and we went into training camp with only one punter, and a little bit of our thinking in training camp was after we saw some of these young kids during the exhibition season and see how they did then I think we'll take a look at one on practice squad and we looked at a number of them and felt like this was a good time, guys come in see how they punt this time of year. Just kind of keeping the depth we can for our team look at players we think might have an opportunity at some point to give us depth." shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice lookHey all -- Just in from the practice field. Things were understandably upbeat, with now just hours until the players get their first time off of consequence since training camp began. Nick Kaczur and Russ Hochstein were not spotted on the field during media access, which today lasted more than 20 minutes. Hochstein, best as I can recall, has not missed any practice since the season began; Kaczur has struggled to come back from a shoulder injury. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Interesting dayHey all -- It's an interesting day here at Gillette. Filming for "The Game Plan" has begun on the field, and one of the "visiting" players in a white and blue uniform just wandered into the media workroom to use the bathroom. Bill Belichick was back in his grey hoodie when he came to the podium, though he once again he addressed his admiration for Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. With a few days until we see him again, Belichick didn't have an opening statement and just opened the floor to whatever questions there might be. They ranged from the evolution of the fullback to Heath Evans, who is himself a bit of a hybrid, to what it's like for Troy Brown in the meeting rooms and practice field on a week-to-week basis, to why New England signed a punter to the practice squad. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 10, 2006
Bethel a VikingFormer Pats wideout Bethel Johnson today signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson was cut by New Orleans before the start of the regular season after being traded to the Saints in the deal that brought freshly-waived defensive lineman Johnathan Sullivan to New England. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Locker room lookHey all -- With just one more day until they get their long weekend, the locker room atmosphere was pretty upbeat today. New receiver Jabar Gaffney was welcomed by the media. He said his wife was more excited than he was about being signed by New England because Tom Brady is her favorite quarterback. Wait until she finds out that Gaffney's locker is right next to Brady's... Gaffney said the Patriots were the first team that he worked out for since getting cut by the Eagles five weeks ago. Asked to classify what type of receiver he is, he said he's just a "hard worker, willing to do whatever to win." Richard Seymour, who was not on the field for the media access portion of practice, walked through the locker room with his pads and cleats on. Tedy Bruschi, Rosevelt Colvin and Rodney Harrison all drew large crowds. Colvin talked about the work he'll be doing around his house during the time off, which includes converting his home office to a walk-in closet for wife Tiffany. Rookie Chad Jackson also spoke and said that his hamstring feels pretty good. What would be Jackson's advice to a new receiver coming to New England? "Don't get hurt." shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice look/a new guyHey all -- Just in from practice. Have to say once again, I am very much enjoying this weather we're having right now. It's Oct. 10 and I am wearing a short-sleeve shirt. Wonderful. Out on the field, we noticed two new players: receiver Jabar Gaffney, signed to the 53-man roster yesterday, who chatted with former Florida teammate Reche Caldwell during stretching, and a mystery man wearing number 5. Come to find out, that was punter Danny Baugher, signed as the eighth and (for now) final member of the practice squad. Baugher played his college ball at Arizona. Not on the field were Richard Seymour and Nick Kaczur. Ellis Hobbs was back out there after not being spied during media access all last week. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Belichick the model
Hey all -- Bill Belichick proudly modeled his number 10 St. Louis Cardinals jersey this morning, the jersey of manager Tony LaRussa. Belichick said he is a LaRussa fan, and spent two days with the manager during spring training this year. That Florida trip was a productive one -- not only did Belichick see LaRussa, he also saw Bill Parcells and former Packers GM Ron Wolf. He also visited the University of Florida, scouting Gators players, talking with coach Urban Meyer and also basketball coach (and former PC player) Billy Donovan, saw friend and Miami Heat coach Pat Riley, and watched his sons, Stephen and Brian, play in a lacrosse tournament. Belichick began his press conference by saying this is one of his favorite days of the year because he can "be thorough, explain things and really improve your team. We've identified a few things in all facets of the game we'd like to work on." He mentioned the run game on both sides of the ball and coverages among the things he'd like to fine tune. Since New England won't play another home game until Nov. 8, filming for the movie "The Game Plan" with former WWE wrestler The Rock, will beging in Gillette soon. With the red-and-white striping painted around the stadium at field level last week, they are now painting large block letters spelling out "BOSTON" in the white areas. Because the NFL would not give permission for the team to be named after the Patriots, it is the Boston Rebels. Belichick was asked if he'd be making a cameo in the film -- he made an appearance in the FX series "Rescue Me" earlier this year -- but deadpanned, "There's no chance of that. I'll just stick to comedy." The irony, of course, is that "Rescue Me" is a fairly dark drama, while "The Game Plan" is about a bachelor quarterback who discovers he has a 7-year old daughter from a previous relationship and eventually dons ballet tights for her. We'll check in after practice and then again after locker room access. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 9, 2006
Belichick's presserBelichick ended his 30-minute press conference this afternoon at Gillette, saying it was an interesting week. Not only did his squad improve to 4-1 with its 20-10 victory over Miami yesterday, there were many off-field incidents that made Week Five "interesting" for New England. Now that the locker-room pranks between quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Cassel appear to be over, the Pats enter the bye week with their focus on the Buffalo Bills (Oct. 22 at Buffalo). Belichick had some quick observations after watching the game film: The coach said it was a tough game, a typical Miami-New England contest. . . After the bye week, he's hoping his team can be better in October than it was in September. . . As posted earlier in the day, the Patriots made a couple of roster moves, adding wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and releasing Johnathan Sullivan and Hank Poteat. "We'll take a look at him," said the coach. "We have a week to make it work. . . (Sullivan and Poteat) didn't work out. We need people who can contribute for us." Belichick added he's looking for depth and a healthy competition at each position. NFL teams bring in available players to work out if needed, and Belichick called it his "street list" or "emergency list." As far as giving his players an extra day off, he explained that he met with the team captains and together felt it was the right thing to do. On field conditions: "It's terrible," said Belichick. "No one in this organization is happy about the condition."
Posted by Joe McDonald Patriots press release on GaffneyThe New England Patriots signed fifth-year wide receiver Jabar Gaffney today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Gaffney will wear number 10 for the Patriots. Additionally, the team announced the release of two players - defensive lineman Johnathan Sullivan and defensive back Hank Poteat. Gaffney, 25, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Houston Texans (2002-05) and has played in 64 career games with 50 starts. The 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound wide receiver has recorded 171 career receptions for 2,009 yards and seven touchdowns, and was a regular starter for Houston in each of his four seasons with the club. Last season with the Texans, he finished second on the team with a career-high 55 receptions for 492 yards and two touchdowns while playing in all 16 games with 13 starts. In 2004, he finished second on the team with a career-high 632 receiving yards on 41 catches, totaling two touchdowns while starting 12 of 16 games. His single-game career highs are 10 receptions (at Seattle on Oct. 16, 2005) and 109 receiving yards (at Chicago on Dec. 19, 2004). The University of Florida product was selected by the Texans in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an unrestricted free agent on March 16, 2006 and was released in the final preseason roster cutdown on Sept. 2, 2006. Sullivan, 25, was placed on the gameday inactive list for each of New England’s five games this season after being acquired via trade from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for wide receiver Bethel Johnson on June 6, 2006. The defensive lineman was originally selected by the New Orleans Saints with the sixth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft and has played in 36 career games with 17 starts. The University of Georgia product has recorded 102 career tackles, including 1.5 sacks, four passes defensed and a forced fumble. Poteat, 28, was initially acquired by the club as a free agent signing on the eve of the 2004 playoffs and was re-signed as a free agent on Sept. 27, 2006. Poteat has played in two games with one start for the Patriots this season. The 5-foot-10-inch, 192-pound cornerback is in his sixth NFL season and has played in 54 career regular-season games and seven playoff games for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2000-02), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003) and Patriots (2004-06). The University of Pittsburgh product was originally drafted by the Steelers in the third round (77th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was released by the Patriots on Aug. 29, 2006 before being re-signed late last month.
Posted by Joe McDonald Hobbs updateWith the extra day off due to the upcoming bye week, some players are leaving town. Not Ellis Hobbs. He said today that he'll remain at Gillette to continue his rehab from a broken wrist suffered in the Denver game. He played yesterday and said he has no ill effects. There's "nothing wrong with the wrist. The wrist is fine."
Posted by Joe McDonald No keepsakes hereHeath Evans didn't hold onto his first touchdown ball for too long. After yesterday's game, where he connected with Tom Brady on an 1-yard TD pass, Evans' daughter, Ava, asked him "Daddy, where's my prize? Where's my ball?" Evans said he's not one for keepsakes and thought it best to hand the pigskin over to the Boss.
Posted by Joe McDonald TransactionsThe Patriots are about to announce that they have released Johnathan Sullivan and Hank Poteat, and have signed wide out Jabar Gaffney. More to come...
Posted by Joe McDonald MondayThe Patriots locker room was very quiet today, and for the players who were visible, it seems like most guys are banged up a little. That means the upcoming bye week is very important for a number of reasons. Special teams captain Larry Izzo said sometimes the bye week can be too early, or too late. This one comes at the right time for the 4-1 squad. Coach Belichick has given the players an extra day off.
Posted by Joe McDonald October 8, 2006
Slight change in plansJim Donaldson will be writing about Tom Brady, who described his practical-joke battle with Matt Cassel in great detail in his postgame press conference.
Posted by Coming soonThe complete Patriots-Dolphins report will be posted on projo.com in the next few hours. What you can expect to see: -- Game story by Shalise Manza Young, focusing on how the Pats' defense was the key factor in the game. In addition, we'll have an extensive collection of postgame quotes, and a full gallery of photos by Journal photographers Bob Breidenbach and Mary Murphy. Check back soon; the site will soon be full of live postgame material.
Posted by Final statsFinal game statistics: FIRST DOWNS: TOTAL NET YARDS NET YARDS RUSHING NET YARDS PASSING PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETED-HAD INTERCEPTED PUNTS: NUMBER AND AVERAGE PENALTIES: NUMBER AND YARDS
Posted by Third-quarter stats
Statistics through three quarters: FIRST DOWNS: TOTAL NET YARDS NET YARDS RUSHING NET YARDS PASSING PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETED-HAD INTERCEPTED PUNTS: NUMBER AND AVERAGE PENALTIES: NUMBER AND YARDS
Posted by Halftime notes-- The Patriots scored 10 points off forced turnovers in the first half.
Posted by First quarter notesFirst-quarter highlights: -- Joey Harrington, making his first start for Miami, completed seven of eight passes for 50 yards.
Posted by Hobbs inEllis Hobbs came onto the field for Miami's second drive & made a tackle in his first opportunity, on Wes Welker.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Starting lineupChad Jackson got his first career start today at wide receiver along with Doug Gabriel. David Thomas started at tight end instead of Heath Evans starting in the backfield. Troy Brown caught his 525th pass on New England's first drive, putting him just nine behind franchise leader Stanley Morgan.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young It's alive!!!With about 35 minutes left until kickoff, things are cranking around here. The Pats were stretching and have now moved on to positional warmups, and the Dolphins are going through some drills as well. The Pats' helmet in the north end zone is inflated and ready to go. There are cooling fans behind the benches for probably the last time this season at the Razor -- after next week's bye, New England plays two games on the road and won't be back at home until Nov. 8 against the Colts. Bill Belichick is standing near midfield, watching the Dolphins go through their paces. Scott Pioli and Bob Kraft are chatting on the Pats' sideline, and Jonathan Kraft is doing a sideline interview. Ellis Hobbs is pacing the sideline with a large black sleeve/cast on his lower left arm. It doesn't appear to be at all bulky. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Game inactivesFor New England: DB Willie Andrews Artrell Hawkins will start for Wilson; Heath Evans will start in place of Graham Notice that Ellis Hobbs is not on that list, meaning he will likely play 10 days after having surgery on his left wrist. For Miami: QB Daunte Culpepper (3QB) As previously reported, Joey Harrington will start; Cleo Lemon will serve as the backup.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Harrington to start???ESPN is reporting that Joey Harrington is starting today against New England and that Daunte Culpepper will be Miami's third QB. s
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Sunday morning warmupGood morning all -- It is a beautiful early October morning here at Gillette Stadium as things come alive for the Pats-Dolphins game. Mike Vrabel wins the award as the first New England player on the field, followed a few minutes later by Mike Wright, Chad Jackson, Doug Gabriel and David Thomas. We'll be back soon when there's more going on down on the field. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 6, 2006
Friday injury report/Culpepper may or may not startHey all -- There is one change to the Friday injury report.. For Miami, Derrick Pope did miss at least a portion and was downgraded to questionable. There were no changes for the Pats; only Tom Brady was reported to have missed a portion of practice. Dolphins coach Nick Saban said earlier today that "the decision has not been made yet" whether QB Daunte Culpepper and his bruised right shoulder will start the game. If Culpepper does not go, Joey Harrington will make the start. If there's news between now and Sunday, we'll post it. Otherwise, we'll be back around 10 a.m. gameday. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Pins for a good causeBefore I forget, if you're at the game this weekend, the Patriots and Fidelity have joined up to help local Pop Warner programs and will be selling pins at the stadium on Sunday with all of the proceeds going to support Pop Warner teams across New England. The pins, a one-inch or so circle with the Pats' logo in the center, are pewter and can be picked up at locations around the stadium during the game for a suggested donation of $5. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Locker room lookHey all -- Just in from the locker room. I kind of like the Friday schedule of having locker room access after practice, since for selfish reasons it means more of the players are wandering in and out, as they change out of their practice clothes and get ready to head home. Today is Richard Seymour's 27th birthday, and Ty Warren was telling colleague Paul Kenyon that he was trying to figure out how to help his fellow big man celebrate. Some of the offensive linemen, as usual, were at the game table, and rookie Ryan O'Callaghan got permission to talk to the media on the record. O'Callaghan assured us that he was fine after taking a head knock in the Denver game, though he did not say if he'd be back on the field Sunday. For those of you interested, Tully Banta-Cain is the subject of this week's Who I Am. Paul will have more on the amigos of the defensive line for tomorrow, and for Sunday we're probably looking at the offensive line, namely guys who go from practice squad obscurity to the limelight like Wesley Britt did last week. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekHey all -- Practice today looked much the same as it has the past two days -- only corner Ellis Hobbs and tackle Nick Kaczur weren't spotted. Not only was Antwain Spann, added to the injury list yesterday, at practice, he wasn't wearing the red no-contact jersey he was sporting yesterday. Media were only present for the stretching portion of practice. We'll have more after the locker room. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Friday morningHey all -- Just wrapped up with coach Belichick, who was back to wearing his signature grey hoodie after experimenting with a red hoodie on Wednesday and a navy windbreaker yesterday. The coach said that he had the team practice inside Gillette Stadium yesterday to "get used to it. It's a little bit different than after the Denver game." How so? "Less sand." More grass? "Well, I didn't say that." It may have been a way to help out rookie Stephen Gostkowski without singling him out. Gostkowski admitted after the Broncos game that his foot slipped on his blocked field goal because he didn't adjust to the surface of the field, which was bad when the game began due to the Rolling Stones concert earlier that week, but was even worse by the time he lined up for his 37-yard try midway through the second quarter. There was a lot of discussion about offensive lineman Wesley Britt and the offensive line in general. Belichick was asked for a progress report on the special teams -- Miami features one of the best kick and punt returners in the league, Wes Welker -- and he said that all areas of the game have improved for the Pats, but what's more important is how those areas are compared to New England's opposition. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 5, 2006
Changes to Thursday injury reportsFor the Patriots, CB Antwain Spann has been added to the injury list as probable (shoulder). He and all of the other members of the list for New England except for Tom Brady missed a portion of practice. For Miami, QB Daunte Culpepper (right shoulder) is also now probable and missed a portion of practice.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekHey all -- Just in from practice. The team practiced inside the stadium today. Far as we could tell, Nick Kaczur and Ellis Hobbs were the only players not on the field for the media access period, which was for stretching only. Defensive back Antwain Spann was wearing a red no-contact jersey and backup QB Matt Cassel was in a black jersey, meaning he was the team's practice player of the week last week. Makes sense; as Carson Palmer's backup, he probably did well mimicking Palmer for the defense. The players were in shorts/pants and shells. The padded wall that rings the inside of the stadium at field level has been painted red and white; it was done for the Rock's movie "The Game Plan," which is filming inside Gillette. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Locker room lookThe locker room was fairly lively today... Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison all drew crowds, and newly-signed special teams ace Chidi Iwuoma made his first appearance in the locker room. Sean Bubin has been around as well. Corey Dillon made a McDonald's run and delivered a sandwich to Patrick Pass, who today was wearing a winter cap with the number 88 on it; just after the Deion Branch trade, the PUPped back was spotted wearing a hat bearing the number 83. Ellis Hobbs walked through the room and tossed a black wrist brace into his locker, and rookie Ryan O'Callaghan passed time playing Yahtzee on his phone while some of his fellow offensive linemen played backgammon and Eugene Wilson and Asante Samuel were throwing bones (playing dominoes). We'll post after we head out to practice, which should be in a few minutes. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday thingsHey all -- Bill Belichick said today is the day for third-down preparation and installing the plays New England will use in those situations both offensively and defensively against Miami, as well as short-yardage situations. Belichick also talked about the common coaches that he and Nick Saban have, as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and receivers coach Brian Daboll were both graduate assistants under Saban at Michigan State, and defensive coordinator Dean Pees was Saban's DC at MSU. Pees also coached with Belichick's father Steve at Navy. Saban recommended both Daboll and McDaniels to Belichick and "as usual, how good he said they would be was right on the money." Belichick added that the transition when both men came into the New England fold was seamless, in large part because he and Saban have similar schemes and philosophies. Not surprisingly, Belichick said he doesn't pay much attention to the league statistics and trends during the season, though he admitted he may take a look at them next week during the team's bye. Is there any one stat he does like to check? "The standings. I check those out," he quipped. There are members of the staff who study the statistics and bring certain ones to his attention, especially when they involve the team New England is facing the week. As an example, Miami's third-down offense efficiency versus the Pats' third-down defense. Here is my mea culpa for today: it was Jonathan Smith that was cut, not Johnathan Sullivan as I had in the Pats' notebook today. Neither one of them has done anything with the Pats, so you can see where the confusion came in. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 4, 2006
Wednesday injury reportHey all -- Here's the first injury report of the week, with a couple of surprises on it: PATRIOTS Questionable: TE Daniel Graham (ankle), S Artrell Hawkins (thigh), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), WR Chad Jackson (hamstring), T Nick Kaczur (shoulder), S Eugene Wilson (hamstring) Probable: CB Willie Andrews (thigh), QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), T Ryan O'Callaghan (head) Not surprisingly, all but Brady reportedly missed a portion of practice. MIAMI Probable: CB Eddie Jackson (toe), LB Derrick Pope (hamstring). Only James was reported to miss at least a portion of practice. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Green AFC player of the weekJarvis Green has been named the AFC's defensive player of the week after his four tackle, three sack, one fumble recovery performance against Cincinnati. It is his first such honor, and the first for any Patriots player this season. Rookie running back Laurence Maroney was nominated as offensive POW and Kevin Faulk was considered for special teams POW. Green joins offensive POW Andre Johnson of Houston and special teams POW Joshua Cribbs of Cleveland as the week 4 honorees.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice lookHey all -- I can't really call it "practice peek" today because we got a little bit longer than usual out there today. First off, Ellis Hobbs and Nick Kaczur were not spotted on the field while we were out there. Hobbs broke the scaphoid bone in his left wrist against Denver and underwent surgery last Wednesday; in the locker room today he said he was hoping to practice, but that does not appear to be the case. Kaczur has been listed as questionable all season with a shoulder injury but played Sunday against the Bengals. The new guys, Chidi Iwuoma and Sean Bubin, were on the field, and when the team broke into groups, Iwuoma was immediately witht the special teamers (he was a special teams captain with the Steelers). Team owner Robert Kraft was out at practice today and chatted with Bill Belichick for a bit. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Bodies go out, bodies come inHey all -- There's a lot to get into, but I wanted to post the Pats' newest signing before anything else. The team has signed veteran cornerback Chidi Iwuoma, late of the Steelers, to the 53-man roster. He will wear number 29. Iwuoma, a California native, is listed at 5-foot-9, 184 pounds. He was cut by Pittsburgh a month ago to make room for quarterback Brian St. Pierre after Ben Roethlisberger's emergency appendectomy. A special teams captain with the Steelers, Iwuoma (pronounced eye-WO-ma) has spent the vast majority of his four-year career on special teams. In his rookie year, 2001 with Detroit, he began the season on the practice squad but was moved to the active roster due to injuries; he ended up playing in 13 games with one start. Also the team has signed offensive lineman Sean Bubin to its practice squad. A 6-foot-7, 307-pound tackle, Bubin was an All-Big Ten performer at Illinnois. He has yet to play in an NFL game in two-plus pro seasons. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 3, 2006
Assault charges against ex-Pat Johnson droppedWALTHAM, Mass. -- Assault charges were dropped today against former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson and his wife after the couple refused to testify against each other. Johnson, 33, and his wife, Jacqueline, 40, were arrested in July after a domestic dispute at their Weston home. Days later, Jacqueline Johnson sat beside her husband during a televised interview and said she was responsible for what she called an argument that escalated, adding, "At no time did Ted ever hit me, did he ever hurt me. He's the most gentle, loving, respectful man I know." The former linebacker was arguing with his wife about her trying to take his prescription drugs, according to the police report. Jacqueline Johnson said in the report that her husband twisted her arm behind her back and shoved her into a bookcase. She said she fought back by punching and scratching him. The police found her in the driveway of the couple's home. Waltham District Court Judge Tobin Harvey dismissed the case today, after prosecutors said they did not have evidence to go forward because the Johnsons asserted their marital privilege not to testify. Johnson retired before last season, citing the effects of several concussions. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Johnson was drafted by the Patriots in 1995 out of Colorado and helped the team win three Super Bowls. He finished with 865 tackles and 11 1/2 sacks in 125 regular-season games, including 106 starts. -- The Associated Press
Posted by Andrea Panciera October 2, 2006
Smith, O'Sullivan outHey all -- The Patriots announced this evening that they released wide receiver Jonathan Smith from the 53-man roster and released quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan from the practice squad. Smith, signed at the start of the regular season after being waived by Buffalo, came on as a sub Sunday against the Bengals but did not have a catch. O'Sullivan had been on four teams before coming to New England, with just one NFL appearance. The team did not announce who will now take the 53rd spot on the roster. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young The ever-entertaining Rodney HarrisonHey all -- Hope you had a good weekend and enjoyed watching New England's performance against the Bengals. I have to say, that wasn't exactly how I thought things would play out, especially after we discovered that Eugene Wilson and Ellis Hobbs didn't even make the trip to Ohio. Anyway, I'm listening to Rodney Harrison on WEEI right now, and two things he's said have struck me: First, he mentioned the team's practice on Friday. Joe and I both noted that the players seemed pretty upbeat Friday afternoon in the locker room, and Rodney said alluded to the fact that the team executed well during Friday's practice and they hadn't in the previous two Fridays. So clearly they knew they had the right plan and they knew how to do it. He also took a swipe at sportswriters, many of whom were predicting gloom for the Pats. After losing to Denver last week, Peter King put New England 15th on his Fine 15 list -- with the NY Jets 14th -- saying, "I trust (New York) a lot more than I trust the Patriots right now." New England used their underdog status to their advantage yesterday, and Harrison said writers sit on their "big, fat behinds" and get paid a lot of money to do so, but basically had no idea what they were talking about. Asked for his impressions of the Titans Albert Hayneworth's face-stomp of Dallas' Andre Gurode, Rodney said "It was pretty gross what happened." Gurode needed 30 stitches after the act. Haynesworth was ejected from the game; he has not yet been punished by the NFL. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young October 1, 2006
InactivesI hear it's raining pretty hard in Boston. In Cincy, it's a beautiful day. Here are today's inactives: BENGALS PATRIOTS
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