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December 31, 2006
Raining in NashvilleThe tarp was on the field earlier today and now there's a slow mist as the players continue to warm up. Today's inactives: New England _ WR Bam Childress, QB Vinny Testaverde, CB Chad Scott, RB Kevin Faulk, G Gene Mruczkowski, T Wesley Britt, DL Vince Wilfork, TE Benjamin Watson.
Posted by Joe McDonald December 30, 2006
Watson, Wilfork, Scott among players OUTHey all -- The Patriots have just announced that five players are downgraded to out: Bam Childress All five players had been listed as questionable on Friday's injury report.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Injury report updateLive from Nashville with the Predators beating the Bruins, 1-0, mid-way through the first period, the New England Patriots just updated their injury report. The following Patriots players have been downgraded to out for tomorrow's game at Tennessee: Bam Childress
Posted by Joe McDonald December 29, 2006
Practice peekHey all -- Just in from a sunny but cold practice field, where there was perfect attendance. Tom Brady was back on the field for the first time this week, which means we can guarantee that he will start Sunday's game with the Titans. Not that we ever doubted he'd let his streak of consecutive starts die out anyways. The players were once again in shells and shorts/sweatpants/sweatshirts/knit hats. We noticed in the locker room today that practice squad defensive lineman Santonio Thomas was also wearing a black practice jersey this week, meaning he and Jabar Gaffney were the practice players of the week last week. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Friday morningHey all -- It's a different Friday than usual here at Gillette, in that we've already talked to Coach Belichick and been in the locker room -- usually, we're in the locker room after practice. Truth be told, we're liking the schedule because it gives us a chance to take advantage of some post-Christmas sales. So anyway, Belichick was asked this morning about monitoring players for signs of fatigue, and if he pays closer attention to the rookies. Coach said he "monitors everyone" and stays in communication with the trainers and strength & conditioning coaches to stay on top of things. He added that many times, the fatigue is more mental than physical. He also talked about Vinny Testaverde and Kelvin Kight. Testaverde's skill and longevity impress Belichick, while Kight figured out that "the better you are on special teams, the more reps you'll get on offense and defense." Speaking of Vinny, we're profiling him for Sunday, and Rodney Harrison is this week's Who I Am. We'll try to post the injury report (we're going shopping, remember) and any other changes the team makes before Sunday's game. Joey will have you from Nashville. Happy New Year!
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 28, 2006
Playoff tickets on sale tomorrow morningPer the Pats' PR department: A very limited number of tickets for next weekend's playoff game at Gillette Stadium will be sold through Ticketmaster on Friday, Dec. 29 at 10:00 a.m. Fans should be reminded to use a Visa to purchase Patriots tickets. Orders can be placed online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 617.931.2222. Historically, these tickets sell out within minutes.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday injury report -- no changesThere were no changes to the personnel on the injury report for either team. The only difference is that today, Tennessee's Travis Henry (ankle) and Bo Scaife (ankle) did not miss any portion of practice today; yesterday it was reported that they did.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekHey all -- For the second straight day, Tom Brady was the only player not present for the media-access portion of practice. That means that Benjamin Watson and Vince Wilfork were there again. Print media were only present for stretching. Practice was held outdoors, behind the stadium, and players were in shells and shorts/sweatpants. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday morningHey all -- Bill Belichick talked some more about Vince Young this morning, saying that if the Titans' rookie quarterback is most like any former player, it's Randall Cunningham, not Michael Vick. Belichick also said that Matt Cassel has made "a big improvement" from last year at this time until now, and the second-year backup quarterback drew a big camera crowd in the locker room as a result. Well, that and he's seemingly become the holder for field goals and extra points, which even he has said isn't rocket science. In the locker room, punter Todd Sauerbrun addressed the media for the first time since being signed last week, and it was apparently quite entertaining. Sauerbrun has no love for the Carolina Panthers, who once fined him for being three pounds overweight, and he also address the issue of his suspension earlier this year. Cassel, Sauerbrun, Daniel Graham and Mike Vrabel all drew crowds to their lockers. We'll be back after practice, which starts shortly and is outside, which scares us. We really don't like the cold and haven't bought new gloves yet. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Jack Del Rio -- dope of the weekHey all -- We don't have a dope of the week award here at the PB (that's Pats Blog, but on another note, we really need a catchier name), but if we did, Jack Del Rio would get the first one. During a press conference with the Jacksonville media yesterday, not only did Del Rio stand linebacker Clint Ingram and his helmet-first dive into Tom Brady's shoulder/back during the fourth quarter, he said his team should have gone after Brady earlier in the game, as well, during another of Brady's runs. “They should’ve speared him then,” Del Rio said of a Brady head-first dive early in Sunday’s game, when Jaguars defenders backed off Brady because they thought he was going to slide feet-first. “You go face-first and you’re a runner,” Del Rio added. Uh, coach? Spearing. Is. Illegal. NFL rules stipulate a 15-yard penalty for "A tackler using his helmet to butt, spear, or ram an opponent." And you just advocated that your players should have speared another player. Not just any other player, a quarterback. Ingram could be fined by the NFL for the move, though the player said yesterday he had not yet heard from the league. Have fun with the award, coach. Speaking of fun, the Jaguars' web site is pretty fun. That's where we found this ridiculous quote, and also where we came across some quotes we had in Monday's paper from players and Del Rio whining, oops, griping about the play calling in the game. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 27, 2006
Wednesday injury report -- UPDATEDHey all -- Here's the first injury report of the week: New England PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), S Rodney Harrison (shoulder), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), DL Richard Seymour (elbow) **All but Harrison, Hobbs and Seymour were reported to have missed at least a portion of practice today. Tennessee QUESTIONABLE: DT Tony Brown (knee), TE Casey Cramer (neck), RB Travis Henry (ankle), DE Travis LaBoy (knee), TE Bo Scaife (ankle), DT Robaire Smith (toe), WR Bobby Wade (ankle) **All of the players were reported to have missed at least a portion of practice.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peek -- #12 not spottedTo elaborate on our previous post, Tom Brady was not at practice during the media-access portion, which today was an abbreviated stretching session. While that's not great news, there was some good news in that Benjamin Watson (knee) and Vince Wilfork (ankle) were on the field, for the first time since getting hurt in the Miami game. Jabar Gaffney was wearing the black jersey, given to the practice player of the week for the Jaguars game. The players were in shells and shorts/sweatpants; practice was held inside the fieldhouse, but we spotted the kicking crew headed outside as we left to do work on the natural grass field. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young No BradyShalise just called in from the media access portion of practice, saying Tom Brady is not on the field. Ben Watson and Vince Wilfork are both practicing.
Posted by Joe McDonald Wednesday at the RazorHey all -- You know, I had this elaborate entry written a little while ago, and then my internet crashed and it's gone. That's not cool. Suffice it to say, it was mostly about Bill Belichick's press conference this morning, when he was asked about Tennessee uber-rookie Vince Young, whom Belichick called "a winner." Belichick also talked about Young's former teammate, David Thomas: "I don't think (Thomas' success) has been sudden to anyone that's been around here," he said. "He had some opportunities, and he certainly capitalized. He's done a solid job; he's been pretty solid and consistent." The coach also talked about Titans' offensive coordinator/quarterback coach extraordinaire Norm Chow, who has helped the careers of Young, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel (at USC), Philip Rivers (at NC State) and even Steve Young at BYU years ago. During his conference call, Young called Thomas "one of the best players I've ever played with, both on and off the field." Tom Brady made a brief appearance, and said he's "feeling a lot better than he did a couple of days ago" after the hit he took from Clint Ingram. We'll be back later with practice notes. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 24, 2006
One of life's great mysteries solvedBorrowed that line from colleague Rich Garven of the Worcester Telegram. Anyway, Matt Cassel held on that 48-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Sauerbrun's first punt not impressiveNewly-signed punter Todd Sauerbrun's first punt went just 22 yards. Not a great start...
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Rodney is startingThey just announced the starters, and not only is Rodney Harrison playing today, he's starting.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Jags' inactivesWR Charles Sharon
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Game inactivesHere are the inactives for the Patriots: That's as clear a sign as any that we'll be seeing Rodney Harrison, Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Maroney warming upAnother good sign... Laurence Maroney is out on the field in game pants (with shorts over them) warming up.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Good morning from JacksonvilleHey all -- This place is almost exactly as I remember it. The last time I were here was for Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, and that night, we were in the "auxiliary press box" which was really part of the stands. And it was cold that night. Well, colder than I expected it to be. Anyway, it's pretty nice here for Christmas Eve, though they tell me there's a good chance it's going to rain today. The early warmups have begun, and we're pleased to say that Kevin Faulk is out there practicing some cuts and with nothing on his right knee, as best we can tell. Bill Belichick is walking the field, nattily attired in a grey suit and accompanied by his sons, Stephen and Brian. Scott Pioli is chatting with Tom Brady on the sideline and Matt Cassel is throwing some passes with an assitant coach. We'll be back again with the game inactives. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 23, 2006
Pats update -- Bam in, Wilfork & Watson out for tomorrowHey all -- Greetings from Jacksonville and Happy Holidays... The Patriots have downgraded Vince Wilfork, Benjamin Watson and Ryan O'Callaghan to out for tomorrow's game against the Jaguars. And they signed Bam Childress to the open spot on the 53-man roster off the practice squad. We'll be talking to you again in the morning. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 22, 2006
Practice peekWe're starting to feel as if we're trapped in a version of "Groundhog Day" Foxboro-style... Just in from practice, where the only players not present for the media-access portion were Benjamin Watson and Vince Wilfok. The players were in shells and shorts/sweatpants and practice was held in the practice fields behind the stadium. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young More on SauerbrunHey all -- Indeed, the Pats have a punter in the form of 12-year veteran Todd Sauerbrun. New England coach Bill Belichick said Sauerbrun was just brought in this morning for a tryout and was signed afterwards. Sauerbrun, who turns 34 on Jan. 4, was most recently with the Broncos, and made headlines earlier this year when he tested positive for the banned supplement ephedra and was suspended for the first four games of the season by the NFL. On the day he was supposed to come back from the suspension, in October, Denver cut him. A three-time Pro Bowler who has averaged 44 yards per punt for the over 800 kicks he's had in his career, Sauerbrun may also be remembered around these parts for the tackle and forced fumble he had on Ellis Hobbs in the playoffs last season. Denver recovered the ball and ended up scoring a touchdown. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Pats sign SauerbrunThe Patriots just announced that they signed punter Todd Sauerbrun.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 21, 2006
Practice peekHey all -- Just in from pracitce, where once again Benjamin Watson and Vince Wilfork were the only players not present for the media-access portion, which today was just stretching. Rodney Harrison, upgraded again this week from doubtful to questionable, was out there once again. Today the players were in full pads and practice was held on the practice fields behind Gillette. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Troy Brown hosts movie screening in North Attleboro tonightWide receiver Troy Brown will be in North Attleboro tonight to host an advance screening of We Are Marshall, a movie based on the events that followed the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 Marshall University football players and coaches. The movie stars Matthew McConaughey as the coach who takes on the job of rebuilding the program. Brown is a Marshall graduate who still lives in Huntington, W.V., the town where the events depicted in the movie take place. His guests will include Patriots teammates and members of the Foxboro and North Attleboro high school football teams.
Posted by Mike McDermott Thursday morningHey all -- We just wrapped up with Bill Belichick, who didn't have an opening statement this morning and just opened things up to questions. The first one he got was about a quote -- "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare" -- and his thoughts on it. Not surprisingly, Belichick said he believes there is a lot of truth to that statement, and brought up a similar quotation of his own from ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu: "Every battle is won before it is fought." Belichick said there aren't a lot of motivational signs around the Patriots' meeting rooms and other spaces, but that quote is one of the few that is. The coach also talked about newly-signed rookie punter Tom Malone, signed yesterday to the practice squad. Belichick said Malone was brought in for a tryout earlier this season. He said Malone's arrival is not supposed to create a competition between Malone and Danny Baugher. We're off to the locker room and will be back with more shortly. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 20, 2006
Brady: fifth-hottest male athlete?Not that his resume needed any more polishing to attract potential mates in the wake of his recent breakup with Bridget Moynahan, but Tom Brady was selected the fifth-hottest male athlete by a panel of Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. With an average model rating of 8.2 out of 10, Brady is the highest-rated "mainstream" American athlete. Number four on the list is French soccer star Zinedine Zidane; third is Swedish-born soccer player Fredrik Ljungberg; second is David Beckham, the soccer player with the ever-changing hair and Spice Girl wife; and tops is surfer Kelly Slater. The swimsuit models were also kind enough to rank the top 20 hottest female athletes, with tennis champion Maria Sharapova topping the list. Don't shoot the messenger people; we're just passing along the information. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Wednesday injury report - Harrison upgradedFor New England: QUESTIONABLE: LB Eric Alexander (shoulder), S Rashad Baker (thigh), RB Kevin Faulk (knee), S Rodney Harrison (shoulder), RB Laurence Maroney (back), T Ryan O'Callaghan (neck), TE Benjamin Watson (knee), NT Vince Wilfork (ankle), DL Mike Wright (shoulder) PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), DL Richard Seymour (elbow), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist) *After being upgraded from up to doubtful last week, Harrison gets bumped up again, and now has a 50-50 chance of playing. Word is, he is determined to be back on the field Sunday against the Jaguars; it will be up to the coaching and medical staffs, however, to determine if he's ready. After being listed as questionable since Week Four, Hobbs was upgraded as well. The probable players did not miss any portion of practice. For the Jaguars: PROBABLE: CB Ahmad Carroll (groin), LB Jorge Cordova (hamstring), P Chris Hanson (left hamstring), RB Maurice Jones-Drew (knee), G Vincent Manuwai (calf), RB Montell Owens (head), DT Marcus Stroud (ankle), RB Derrick Wimbush (ankle) *McDaniel, Taylor and Stroud were reported to have missed at least a portion of practice.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekJust in from a nippy practice, where there was good news and bad news. We'll do the bad first so you have something to look forward to. Vince Wilfork and Benjamin Watson were the only two players not spotted at practice. On the good news front, that means that Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney and Rodney Harrison were at practice. We saw Faulk, who injured his right leg during Sunday's game in the locker room, and when we asked how he was doing, he answered, "Much better." The players were in shells and shorts/sweatpants, and the practice player of the week was Bam Childress. Print media were only present for stretching and some early drills. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice squad additionsThe Patriots just announced two practice squad signings: defensive back James Patrick and punter Tom Malone. Patrick, a first-year player, begins his second stint on the practice squad, having spent Nov. 1 to Dec. 12 with the Pats. Malone, 22, is an undrafted rookie from USC, and spent little more than a month with San Francisco this summer.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Locker room lookHey all -- There wasn't a whole lot going on in the locker room today, as players were coming in and out for meetings and as they were getting ready for practice, which starts soon. Larry Izzo, passed over for the Pro Bowl, talked about not making it, saying it's a "great honor anytime you can go, but we don't control that." Rosevelt Colvin, one of a few players drawing large media crowds, said if he could vote for his teammates, he'd vote for every one that he lines up with. Asante Samuel and Artrell Hawkins also drew sizable interest. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Charlie Casserly -- not on the Christmas card listHey all -- Bill Belichick had his boxing gloves on this morning, and took another jab at former Texans general manager Charlie Casserly, who claimed on the CBS pregame show last Sunday that the Patriots had been warned by the NFL about having a staff member "dressed in coaching attire with a video camera who was presumably videotaping the other team's signals. You can't do that. They were warned." Casserly's claim came as the CBS crew was discussing Miami's claim after its win over New England that it got game tape with audio to try and figure out Tom Brady's protection calls. On Monday, Belichick said he hadn't heard anything from the league, and when asked is teams are allowed to have cameras on the sideline, he said, "Why don't you go talk to Charley Casserly? He seems to have all the answers on everything, so why don’t you go ask him?" Today, the shot was disguised. Asked for his thoughts on the current debate about whether quarterbacks are getting too much protection from the league, Belichick initially said his background is in defense, so we can guess what his answer would be, but added that no one cares what he thinks anyway. When (comically) pressed for more, Belichick eventually dropped this one: "the Charlie Casserlys of the world who have all the answers, ask them." Since he's no longer a team official, Casserly is not a member of any NFL committees, but he likely was when he was with Houston. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 19, 2006
Maroney named 12th playerRookie Laurence Maroney received the 2006 Patriots' 12th Player Award today; the award is presented to the New England player who "personifies the Patriots' team spirit, performs beyond expectations and is recognized for his contributions to the organization, both on the field and in the community." For the past 12 years, Pats fans have selected the winner, voting at Shaw's Supermarkets and at www.shaws.com. Recent winners of the 12th Player Award include linebacker Willie McGinest in 2005, wide receiver/defensive back Troy Brown in 2004, defensive tackle/fullback Dan Klecko in 2003, kicker Adam Vinatieri in 2002, quarterback Tom Brady in 2001 and linebacker Tedy Bruschi in 2000.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Seymour voted to fifth straigh Pro BowlPatriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour was voted to his fifth straight Pro Bowl, chosen as one of two interior linemen (San Diego's Jamal Williams is the other). The game will be played Feb. 10 in Honolulu. Amazingly, Seymour is the only Patriot player chosen for the game, meaning that his linemates, Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork, were snubbed despite a dominant year by both, especially Warren. Tom Brady was also left out of the party, passed over for Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers and Carson Palmer, as was his center, Dan Koppen and corner Asante Samuel, who is the NFL co-leader in interceptions. Special-teamer Larry Izzo, who was leading the fan voting for that position, also was left off the list. The AFC-leading Chargers had nine players chosen while NFC leader Chiacgo had seven. Seymour, 27, becomes the first New England defensive player since Hall of Fame hopeful Andre Tippett was named to five consecutive games from 1984 to '88. He is the fifth Patriots player to earn at least five straight nods, joining Tippett, John Hannah (eight, 1978-85), Mike Haynes (five, 1976-80) and Ben Coates (five, 1994-98). The complete list of players for the AFC (*-starter): Tackles: Willie Anderson, Bengals*; Johnathan Ogden, Ravens*; Tarik Glenn, Colts (injured) Tight ends: Antonio Gates, Chargers*; Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs Fullback: Lorenzo Neal, Chargers Defensive ends: Jason Taylor, Dolphins*; Aaron Schobel, Bills*; Derrick Burgess, Raiders Interior linemen: Richard Seymour, Patriots*; Jamal Williams, Chargers*; Casey Hampton, Steelers Outside linebackers: Adalius Thomas, Ravens*; Shawne Merriman, Chargers*; Terrell Suggs, Ravens Cornerbacks: Champ Bailey, Broncos*; Rashean Mathis, Jaguars*; Chris McAlister, Ravens Strong safety: Troy Polamalu, Steelers Free safety: Ed Reed, Ravens*; John Lynch, Broncos Placekicker: Nate Kaeding, Chargers Kick returner: Justin Miller, Jets Special teamer: Kassim Osgood, Chargers
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 17, 2006
Ellis takes it to the houseAfter his 51-yard kickoff return last week, perhaps we should have expected this. Anyway, Ellis Hobbs' 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the first kickoff the Patriots have taken for a touchdown since Dec. 5, 2004, when Bethel Johnson also had a 93-yard TD return against Cleveland. It was Hobbs' first career touchdown.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Guss Scott elevatedThe Patriots signed safety Guss Scott off the practice squad, bringing him onto the 53-man roster just days after bringing him back to the team. Scott, 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, is now the fifth member -- and only non-receiver -- of the active roster who played at Florida, joining Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Chad Jackson and Kelvin Kight.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Sporting the silver threadsHey all -- New England has broken out its third jersey for the today's game, the only time this season the team is in its silver shirts (with navy pants). The Pats are 3-1 in the alternate duds, the only loss coming last year against San Diego.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Game inactivesNot many surprises here ... S Rashad Baker Vinny Testaverde is the third quarterback We say no surprises because none of these players -- all of them injured -- were expected to play today. Wilfork, with a sprained ankle, likely could have played this week but there's no real need to put him out there; it's similar with Maroney. Harrison was at practice on Friday for the first time since suffering a broken scapula in the game against the Colts and is targeting next week's game as his return. For the Texans: Quinton Porter is the third quarterback
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Good morning from GilletteHey all -- As we're being serenaded by a male quartet practicing the "Star Spangled Banner," we notice a man in a hat and plaid jacket and jeans walk onto the field, grab a ball and mock-punt. It's Josh Miller, who has since taken a seat on the otherwise-empty Pats' bench. Must be difficult for him to be forced to the sidelines. On the field, Mike Vrabel, always the first on the field, is again today, wearing a sleeveless shirt and his game pants but a knit hat as well. There's not much else going on just yet; we'll be back in a bit. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 15, 2006
Big surprise -- Santiago axedTight end O.J. Santiago, who was signed on Wednesday and apparently suffered a foot injury during his first practice on Thursday, was today cut by the Patriots. Additionally, the team placed Rod Trafford on the practice squad IR and signed yet another tight end (where do they all come from?), Matt Kranchick, to Trafford's spot on practice squad. Kranchick, a sixth-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2004, has played in eight career games with Pittsburgh and the Giants. A huge 6-foot-7, 260 pounder, he was cut by the Giants in June and spent the preseason this year with Tampa Bay before being cut in the final preseason roster cutdown. We'll let you know if there are changes to the injury report, and if nothing else happens between then and Sunday morning, we'll be back with you then. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Locker room lookHey all -- Not a lot to report on from the locker room today -- there were a lot of guys milling around, packing up to go home after a week of preparation for Sunday's game with Houston. For us, Fridays are a good time because with so many players around and available, there usually aren't any huge crowds to fight through, where 25 people are trying to talk to one player. If you're interested, the man with the silky voice, Artrell Hawkins will be the subject of this week's Who I Am, and we'll tell you it's one of the best ones yet. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Friday with Coach BelichickHey all -- Likely because the rest of the Boston media is getting over its Matsuzaka-san hangover today, there were fewer reporters here at Gillette to get the lowdown from coach this morning than there usually are on a Friday. Anyway, Belichick lauded the Texans' goal-line offense, which has converted 15-of-17 chances this season, a percentage that's second in the NFL to San Diego but 17 opportunities isn't a lot when you consider they've played 13 games. New England has faced 30 goal-to-go situations. He also talked about Eric Moulds, who always had big games against the Patriots when he was with Buffalo (this is his first season in Houston), and Texans rookie linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who leads the NFL with 127 total tackles (104 solo). We'll be back with more after locker room access. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young More on practiceAs for the rest of practice, Vince Wilfork, Benjamin Watson, and unbelieveably, O.J. Santiago were not present for the media-access portion, which today was just stretching. Practice is being held inside Gillette Stadium, and the players were in shells and sweatpants. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Harrison at practiceHey all -- Just in from practice, and Rodney Harrison was out there for the first time since suffering a broken scapula in the game against Indianapolis on Nov. 5.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 14, 2006
Brady & Bridget... no longerGood news, ladies. Word is Tom Brady is once again single. According to an gossip magazine US Weekly, the quarterback and his actress girlfriend of three years, Bridget Moynahan, have spilt. Moynahan's rep comfirmed to the magazine that the pair split "amicably" three weeks ago. Moynahan is on the ABC series "Six Degrees," but personally, we'll always remember her as "the idiot stick figure with no soul" -- aka Natasha on "Sex & the City." shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Texans Thursday injury updateThere were no changes in the personnel on Houston's injury list, but there were differences in who didn't (and did) practice today -- reportedly, only C Drew Hodgdon (probable, foot) did not miss at least a portion of pracitce. DE Mario Williams (probable, foot) and DE Anthony Weaver (probable, knee) were reported to have missed at least a portion of practice today but did not yesterday. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young That didn't take long -- Thursday injury reportWell, no sooner did O.J. Santiago get here did he land himself on the injury report. Signed yesterday, the veteran tight end suffered a foot injury in practice today and is now listed as questionable for Sunday's game. His addition is the only change to today's injury report for New England. Houston's report is coming soon.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekWhat we saw today at practice was much the same as what we saw yesterday at practice -- no Vince Wilfork, no Benjamin Watson, no Rodney Harrison -- and the players were once again in shells and shorts/sweatpants. The only difference was today's practice is being held inside Gillette Stadium, and not in the fieldhouse as it was yesterday. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Locker room lookHey again -- Tedy Bruschi, who usually graces us in the media on Thursdays, did oblige yesterday, and as his session wound down, he talked about his relationship with Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Bruschi said his relationship with Francona has its roots in the fact that both are Arizona alums, and grew as Francona offered support to Bruschi when he was coming back from his stroke last year. He also gave a status report on the book he's writing with former Boston Globe writer and WEEI host Michael Holley about his comeback last year. Bruschi said he did the book to talk a little bit of football but also to inspire people. Expected to come out next fall, Bruschi said a portion of the proceeds from the book will benefit Tedy's Team, his fundraising group for the American Stroke Association. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday morningHey all -- Bill Belichick was asked this morning about Tom Brady's comments yesterday, when he called out his teammates for not listening to the coaches enough and trying to do things on their own, and Belichick stood by his man. "I have all the respect in the world for Tom, so whatever he said, I would stand by," Belichick said. The coach also talked about Lamar Hunt, who died Wednesday night after a long battle with cancer. The Kansas City Chiefs owner was a founding father of the AFL, was a big part of the AFL/NFL merger, and also coined the phrase "Super Bowl." On Wednesday, Belichick said Hunt was always for the AFC, and when he saw Hunt during Super Bowl week in recent years, he'd tell Belichick to "win one for the AFC." "When he spoke at meetings, you felt he truly spoke from the heart and what was best for the game," Belichick said yesterday. Hunt had a love for all sports, and was inducted into the halls of fame of three sports: football, soccer and tennis. He was one of the founders of the North American Soccer League and the U.S. Soccer's U.S. Open Cup trophy is named after Hunt, and was a founder of World Championship Tennis in 1967, which eventually became the current ATP Tour. The coach said the signing of O.J. Santiago was done for depth, saying that the tight end, fullback and running back positions are all related; yesterday, New England lost a fullback when Patrick Pass was placed on injured reserve. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 13, 2006
Gabriel back with RadiersDoug Gabriel may not have been wanted by the Patriots, but clearly Oakland wanted him back, wasting no time claiming their former receiver off waivers. That's a pretty good deal for the Raiders -- they received a no-strings-attached fifth-round draft pick from New England for Gabriel when the trade went down on Sept. 2, and now they have both the pick and the player. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Voting for Pro Bowl closes FridayThere are less than 48 hours to stuff the NFL's virtual ballot box for the Pro Bowl, as the deadline to vote is Friday evening. New England currently has eight players ranked among the top six vote-getters in the AFC at their position: Larry Izzo is first among special teams players; Tom Brady is second among quarterbacks; Richard Seymour is third and Ty Warren sixth among defensive linemen; Asante Samuel is fourth among cornerbacks; Rodney Harrison is fourth among safeties; Tedy Bruschi is fifth among linebackers, and Benjamin Watson is sixth among tight ends.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young More personnel movesWith Doug Gabriel cut yesterday and Patrick Pass placed on injured reserve today, New England had two openings on the 53-man roster, and both were filled today. Guard/center Gene Mruczkowski was re-re-signed, and tight end O.J. Santiago was brought into the fold also. The team also officially announced the signing of tight end Rod Trafford to the practice squad. The 32-year old Santiago is in his 7th NFL season and has played in 78 games for the Falcons, Cowboys, Browns and Raiders. He has not played regularly since 2003 with the Raiders, though he was back with Oakland during training camp this season.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Wednesday injury report -- Pass to IR, Harrison upgradedHey all -- The surprises don't stop... late this afternoon, the Patriots placed running back Patrick Pass on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, making him the 12th player to have his season ended by injury this season. Pass was on the PUP list until being activated on Nov. 25 and had played in the last three games. Onto the injury list: Rodney Harrison has been upgraded to doubtful for Sunday's home finals against Houston. Doubtful still means there's a 75 percent chance the safety won't play in the game, but word is Harrison is determined to play in the Christmas Eve game against Jacksonville. QUESTIONABLE: LB Eric Alexander (shoulder), S Rashad Baker (thigh), TE Daniel Graham (ankle), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), WR Chad Jackson (groin), RB Laurence Maroney (back), T Ryan O'Callaghan, TE Benjamin Watson (knee), NT Vince Wilfork (ankle), DL Mike Wright (shoulder) PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), LB Corey Mays (hamstring), DL Richard Seymour (elbow) *As always, the probables -- Brady, Mays and Seymour -- were the only players not to miss at least a portion of practice. Watson, Wilfork and Wright are all newcomers to the list this week. For Houston: DOUBTFUL: FS C.C. Brown (foot) PROBABLE: C Drew Hodgdon (foot), WR Jerome Mathis (groin), DE Anthony Weaver (knee), DE Mario Williams (foot) *Cook, Brown and Mathis missed at least a portion of practice. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Rasby & Hall in for a lookIn addition to bringing Rod Trafford into the fold, the Patriots also reportedly brought in tight ends Water Rasby and Lamont Hall for a closer look on Tuesday. Rasby, an 11-year veteran who was with the Pats in training camp this year, was on the Steelers' roster last year. Hall, a 32-year old with seven years' experience, was with the Saints last year.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekJust in from practice, which was held inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse. The players not spotted: Vince Wilfork, Benjamin Watson and Rodney Harrison. The players who were on the field -- we were only present for stretcing and about a minute of positional drills -- were in shells and sweatpants. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Locker room lookHey all -- There were a bunch of new faces -- and old faces with a new look -- in the locker room today. First of all, the offensive linemen, who had been growing bushy beards as a sign of solidarity, shaved them off, apparently at Matt Light's word. The seat in front of Doug Gabriel's locker didn't even get cold before there was another number 85 there, tight end Rod Trafford. Trafford landed and came straight to Foxboro -- his suitcase was in front of his locker -- and was getting to know his new/old teammates. Trafford's first team coming out of South Carolina in 2003 was the Patriots, who signed the 6-foot-3, 250 pounder as an undrafted rookie free agent, and he was sent to NFL Europe by the Pats. Since then, he's been bouncing around the league. Defensive back Justin Phinisee, signed to the practice squad yesterday, was dressing between Mike Wright and Jarvis Green and Guss Scott peeked his head into the room but that was about it. Daniel Graham, Ty Warren, Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin all drew large crowds to their locker. Graham said his brother, who recently underwent a kidney transplant (their mother was the donor), is doing well and out of the hospital. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Wednesday "briefing"Hey all -- This morning's press conference with Bill Belichick was quite brief, and focused primarily on two things: the release of Doug Gabriel yesterday and Miami's claim that they knew Tom Brady's signals and coverage calls at the line of scrimmage, leading to their success Sunday. Belichick's opening statement included a thought on Gabriel: "I appreciate how hard he worked, but unfortunately it just didn't work out." He later elaborated that Gabriel "did some things for us, but in the long run, this was the best decision for the team" and agreed that the idea New England's offensive system was not a great fit for Gabriel was "related" to the decision to cut the 6-foot-2, 215 pound wideout. As for the Dolphins' contention that they stole Brady's calls off the network/audio tape of previous Patriots' games, Belichick didn't believe the claim, saying that he and his own offensive players line up opposite Brady and the offense all the time and they have a hard time figuring out the signals and calls. The coach said Chad Jackson is "getting better." The rookie missed Sunday's game with a groin injury suffered in practice last week. Belichick said Rodney Harrison, expected to be back for New England's Christmas Eve game in Jacksonville is "coming along." shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 12, 2006
The "secret" reason Miami did so well?So maybe there's an answer as to why the Dolphins did so well against the Patriots on Sunday night.... According to an article in yesterday's Palm Beach Post, the Dolphins purchsed game films with audio -- instead of the usual soundless coaches' films -- in order to hear the protections calls Tom Brady gives his linemen just before the snap. The information allowed the Miami defense to simply listen to Brady's calls at the line of scrimmage and basically know exactly what was going to happen, rather than use their best guess. Apparently the move was a bit of payback, as the Dolphins were convinced that the Pats stole their defensive signals in the teams' first game of the 2005 season, and were able to know when Miami was blitzing and make proper adjustments as they went on their game-winning drive. Safety Yeremiah Bell told the Post, "What we wanted to do was kind of play with him a little bit. We know he waits until the play clock gets late before he does anything. So what we did was when he was playing around with us, we were just playing around with him." Linebacker Zach Thomas also was apparently still (inexplicable) bitter about the drop kick New England and Doug Flutie converted in Miami's season-finale win in Foxboro last year. Considering Miami coach Nick Saban and Bill Belichick are supposed to be friends, this just proves that whole "all's fair..." adage to be quite true. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Gabriel released & practice squad movesHey all -- The Patriots announced today that they released wide receiver Doug Gabriel, ending weeks of speculation that the fourth-year pro was in the team's doghouse after fumbling in the loss to the Jets last month. Acquired the week before the regular-season opener via trade with Oakland, Gabriel had 25 catches for 344 yards and three touchdowns, though all but one of those grabs came before Nov. 12, the date of the Jets game. Also yesterday, New England signed defensive backs Justin Phinisee and Guss Scott to the practice squad and released James Patrick from the practice squad. The 23-year old Phinisee was taken by Tampa Bay in the seventh round of this year's draft out of Oregon. The 5-foot-11, 200 pound cornerback was with the Buccaneers through training camp and released on Aug. 29; he was on Kansas City's practice squad from Oct. 4 to Nov. 7. Scott is a familiar face as a former third-round draft pick of the Pats (95th overall) in 2004. He missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, but played in five games for New England last season before once again going on injured reserve in October. This season, Scott was released on Sept. 2 and signed with the Texans the next day. He played in five games with Houston but was cut again on Nov. 21; two days later, Scott was signed by the Jets but was released the same week, before playing in a game. Patrick spent the 2005 season on the Tampa Bay practice squad but was cut on the eve of this season. New England signed the 24-year old to its practice team on Nov. 1. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 10, 2006
Game inactivesHere are the inactive players for today's game: For the Patriots: For the Dolphins:
Posted by Shalise Manza Young More from MiamiWell, we got here a little later than usual this morning, but we're ready to go now. It's 75 degrees with fluffy white clouds overhead... but it's also quite windy, which will likely have an impact on the passing and kicking games today. On the field currently, new Patriots Ray Mickens is doing his warmups, and Mike Wright, Stephen Neal, Ken Walter and Matt Cassel are pow-wowing near midfield. Mike Vrabel, Doug Gabriel and James Sanders were out there but are now back in the locker room. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Greetings from Miami -- Maroney OUT & other movesHey all -- First off, good morning. If you haven't heard yet, Laurence Maroney (back) is among five players the Patriots downgraded to out for today's game. So clearly, Maroney's declaration in the locker room on Friday that he didn't get the wind knocked out of his, didn't have a concussion and didn't have a back injury, as the injury report states, really were the macho posturings of a young player. Wide receiver Chad Jackson (groin), tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (neck), safety Rashad Baker (thigh) and linebacker Eric Alexander are all also out for the game. The team also made a couple of other roster moves yesterday: veteran linebacker Don Davis (knee) was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. He is the 11th Pats player to go on IR this season. Offensive lineman Gene Mruczkowski was released again, and New England filled the two roster openings by signing safety Antwain Spann and receiver Kelvin Kight off the practice squad. Spann has played in five games with the Patriots this season, with five special-teams tackles. Kight has played in one career NFL game, in 2004 with the Packers. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 8, 2006
Locker room lookHey all -- It was a -- dare I say? -- fun day in the locker room today, with many of the players laughing and joking as they packed their bags for the trip to Miami. Laurence Maroney, currently listed as questionable on the injury report with a back injury, was approached by one reporter who apparently asked about his concussion and how long it took to get his wind back. Maroney said later he didn't have a concussion and didn't have the wind knocked out of him, nor does he have a back injury. But it may have been some macho posturing on the part of the rookie. Asante Samuel was hearing it from Artrell Hawkins, and Hawkins in turn was getting guff from his other teammates. Troy Brown feigned anger when he was approached by a reporter, though Matt Light was serious when he said he didn't want to talk to the media. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Pracitce peekHey all -- Practice today was much the same as it was yesterday: in the fieldhouse, and only Rodney Harrison wasn't there. The difference was that the players were back in shorts & sweatpants (they were in full pads yesterday). shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Friday will BelichickHey all -- We just finished up with Bill Belichick, who talked a bit about the differences between New England's Saturday/Sunday routine on the road as opposed to at home. But the coach said there really aren't any, save for if the game is on Sunday night or Monday or if there is a time change, then there might be slight adjustments. Other than that, he said, the only difference is that the team rides together on buses to road games and travels separately to Gillette for home contests. Behind the news that Daniel Graham was appointed captain for the rest of the season late last week -- he is only the second player to become a captain in-season under Belichick, joining Rodney Harrison -- colleague Joe McDonald asked Belichick about the role the captains play for the Patriots. It is mostly to facilitate communications between the players and the coaches, as it is impossible for Belichick to meet with all of his players individually on a daily, or even weekly, basis. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 7, 2006
Brady suing Yahoo!Web site The Smoking Gun is reporting that Tom Brady is suing Yahoo! for using his image without permission in ads for its online fantasy football game. In a federal complaint, Brady, via TEB Capital Management LLC "the owner of the publicity and endorsement rights to the likeness, image and identity of Tom Brady" alleges that Yahoo! used Brady's photo without his autorization in a Sept. 2006 ad in Sports Illustrated and in banner ads on its website. Brady alleges that use of his image implies his endorsement of the online game; Yahoo! has 4.4 million fantasy players, making it the largest fantasy football league on the internet. He is seeking unspecified damages. The entire lawsuit is on The Smoking Gun website. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday injury report -- no changesThere were no changes to today's injury report and once again, all of New England's questionable players were reported to have missed at least a portion of practice, while its probable did not. That was the same for Miami: its players listed as out missed portions, while the probable players did not.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekPractice was once again held in the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse today, and the lone player not present was Rodney Harrison, though Harrison was again briefly in the locker room this morning. Players were in full pads today. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Thursday at GilletteHey all -- Bill Belichick met with the media this morning, or Third Down Day as Thursdays are known around here. Belichick talked about the retooled Miami secondary, which looks quite different than it did a few years ago, when corners Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain hounded receivers. The Dolphins play man-to-man in the secondary more than most teams, Belichick said; most clubs revert to man only on third down. The coach talked at length -- and in relatively glowing terms -- about nose tackle Vince Wilfork , whom Belichick called "smart. If you give it to him once, that's it. He's a very smart defensive lineman; he picks up a lot of things that a lot of defensive linemen don't." Belichick also talked about the team's fourth-down success this season -- the Patriots lead the NFL in both fourth-down conversion percentage and chances. The coach gave credit to the players, saying those fourth-down plays have been among the best-executed the offense has had. In the locker room, the usual suspects drew a crowd -- Rosevelt Colvin and Mike Vrabel -- and some of the Southern-bred players were talking about how cold it is now, something they're not used to at all. We'll be back after practice. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 6, 2006
Wednesday injury reportHey all -- The injury report is out for this week, and there are a few new names on it for the Patriots: OUT -- S Rodney Harrison (shoulder), DB Eugene Wilson (groin/hamstring - placed on IR) QUESTIONABLE -- LB Eric Alexander (shoulder), LB Don Davis (knee), TE Daniel Graham (ankle), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), WR Chad Jackson (groin), RB Laurence Maroney (back), RT Ryan O'Callaghan (neck) PROBABLE -- QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), DL Richard Seymour (elbow), LB Corey Mays (hamstring) Alexander, Davis and Maroney are new additions from last week's game. Mays has been upgraded from questionable last week, and Chad Scott has been removed altogether. The three probable players (Brady, Mays, Seymour) did not miss any practice. FOR MIAMI: OUT: RB Ronnie Brown (hand), QB Daunte Culpepper (knee), G Jeno James (knee) PROBABLE: CB Will Allen (groin), RB Sammy Morris (ankle), DE Jason Taylor (forearm), DT Keith Traylor (knee), WR Wes Welker (shoulder) Brown, Culpepper and James reportedly missed at least a portion of practice. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Joey Harrington, Red Sox fanHey all -- One quick note that's pretty funny. We just finished our conference call with Dolphins quarterback Joey Harrington, and as the call was wrapping up, Harrington wanted to ask a question. His query? What's up with trading Manny? Come to find out, Harrington has family in Charlestown, Mass. and is friends with Kevin Millar. Millar had invited Harrington to take batting practice at Fenway when he was still with the Red Sox, and Harrington had to turn down the chance, which he said he regrets now. Asked if he thinks Ramirez should be traded, Harrington said at the very least Manny provides protection in the lineup for David Ortiz. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Practice peekHey all -- Practice is being held inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse today, and the only person not spotted during media access (stretching and agility drills) was Rodney Harrison, though Harrison was seen in the locker room earlier, headed into the weight room. That means that Ryan O'Callaghan, Laurence Maroney and Mike Vrabel all were back out there. The players were in shorts/sweatpants and shoulder pads. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 5, 2006
Ty Warren gives backHey all -- Tonight, Ty Warren, his wife Kesha and their "1st and Goal" foundation provided some Christmas cheer a little early for 25 children and teens from the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club in Roxbury, busing them out to the Bob's Store in Framingham, Mass. The majority of the kids chosen are in foster care or being raised by grandparents. Each child got $300 to spend however they wanted in the store, with one requirement: they had to buy a winter coat. They also got to "shop with a jock," as Warren's teammates, including Rosevelt Colvin, Ellis Hobbs, Mike Wright, Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison. It was pretty funny to see 6-foot-8 offensive lineman Wesley Britt helping a young girl pick out some pink Nikes. Ty and Kesha met at the Boys & Girls Club in their Texas hometown when they were 8 years old. Tonight was the first official event they've hosted through their foundation; they got an assist from the Patriots Charitable Foundation. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young WBCN to stream Pats-Fins as tribute to servicemen/womenHey all -- WBCN, the radio home of the Patriots, announced today that it will stream Sunday's game between New England and Miami online, live and commerical-free. Registering at is all that will be necessary to access the stream. As a tribute to the U.S. troops overseas, WBCN is inviting area families that have loved ones in the military the chance to call into a special phone service to record their personal messages which will be played throughout the online broadcast. The number to call is 617-746-1437, anytime this week.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 4, 2006
Wilson placed on IRThe Boston Globe is reporting that Patriots safety Eugene Wilson has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. The team also signed veteran cornerback Ray Mickens. Wilson, a second-round draft pick in 2003, started the first three games this season, suffering a hamstring injury in week 3 against Denver. He missed the next two games, but then got hurt again in his first game back, against Buffalo on Oct. 22. He has not played since, though last week Wilson was back on the practice field last Friday for the first time that week. He was inactive for the game against the Lions. As for Mickens, the 33-year old nickleback was waived by the Jets for the final 53-man roster cutdown. He spent the 2005 season as a member of Romeo Crennel's Cleveland Browns, playing in all 16 games and recording 33 tackles (26 solo). The first nine years of his career were with the Jets, and Mickens played under Bill Belichick when he was the secondary coach there in 1997-99.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Monday at GilletteHey all -- There isn't a whole lot to write about from today's abbreviated media session at Gillette Stadium. The locker room was deserted save for Ty Warren and Larry Izzo, and Izzo didn't talk to the media. Coach Bill Belichick said Mike Vrabel and Laurence Maroney are both "doing good. When you win, everyone's doing better. We'll take a look (at them) and give an injury report Wednesday." Vrabel took a knee to the back of his head in the closing minutes of the game yesterday, while Maroney was reported by the team to have had the wind knocked out of him in the first quarter, though he left the field shortly after and has not been seen since. Belichick talked a bit about Otis Smith, who has been a defensive assistant this season after doing a coaching internship with the team over the summer. "He's added a lot for us," Belichick said of Smith. "He has a lot of experience in our system. It's similar to when Pepper (Johnson) got here -- myself, Dean (Pees, defensive coordinator) -- we know the system, but we never played in it, so it's another point of view they can add." shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 3, 2006
Still no sign of MaroneyThe team is back on the field from halftime, and still there is no sign of Laurence Maroney, who left the game in the first quarter after we were told he got the wind knocked out of him.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Gabriel makes a catch!Doug Gabriel just had the ball thrown to him for the first time since his first-half fumble against the Jets and made a catch. Even better, Brady went back to him on the very next play, looking for him in the end zone. Guess he's out of the doghouse.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Maroney missingThe Patriots announced that Laurence Maroney had gotten the wind knocked out of him, but he has not be seen since and in fact can't be seen on the bench either.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Coin-flip observationJust noticed that when the Pats went out for the pre-game coin toss (which they won), Daniel Graham was on the field with the rest of the team captains. We've never noticed that before and will try to get an answer, if not today, then tomorrow... shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Game inactivesHey all -- Few surprises for today's inactives on the New England side: Vinny Testaverde is the third quarterback *A bit of a surprise that Wilson isn't playing; he was on the practice field all week, which seemed to be a positive sign. For the Lions: Dan Orlovsky is the third quarterback
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Punt, pass & kickA few minutes ago, a group of kids and their families walked onto the Gillette turf, just a few feet from Mike Vrabel and Eric Alexander getting ready for the day. Turns out, its the kids taking part in the Punt, Pass & Kick contest, which will be held at halftime today. While the boys and girls are practicing for the contest, their parents are taking pictures and soaking up the moment. When the list of participants' names comes out, we'll let you know who the local kids are. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Good morning from GilletteHey all -- We have settled into our seat at Gillette on a chilly but sunny morning. Just as I was walking into the stadium, two yellow and brown Yankee buses pulled in carrying the Lions players. On the field, Lonie Paxton (in a sleeveless shirt), Dan Koppen, newly re-signed Gene Mruczkowski and Ben Watson are doing some early warm-ups, with assistant strength and conditioning coach Harold Nash catching Paxton's long snaps. Other than that, there's just a small army of neon-jacket clad security folk and ushers going through their pre-game paces. We're going to get some early work started and be back with more later. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 2, 2006
Pats re-sign MruczkowskiHey all -- The Patriots announced today that they have re-signed offensive lineman Gene Mruczkowski for the second time this season. The move may be an indication of the severity of rookie Ryan O'Callaghan's neck injury, which he suffered Sunday night against Chicago. O'Callaghan did not practice this week and is listed as questionable on the injury report. Mruczkowski, 26, can play guard or center; he was signed for four days last month but was cut before getting the chance to suit up when defensive back Antwain Spann was elevated off the pratice squad before the Green Bay game. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young December 1, 2006
Locker room lookHey all -- Just realized that we hadn't posted after Bill Belichick's morning press conference, but we'll get into a bit of the locker room stuff now. It wasn't as busy as it normally is in there on a Friday, but some interesting things here and there. Patrick Pass, who got six tattoos in about two weeks while he was on the PUP list, added a seventh this week. It spans his shoulder blades and says "Expect the unexpected." Pass was playing some mid-1990s R&B in his stall, with All-4-One's "I swear" coming out of the speakers. Haven't heard that one since high school... Andre Tippett made a pass through the locker room and did a brief interview for WBZ. Tippett was recently named a finalist for induction into the Hall of Fame. Rookie linebackers Pierre Woods and Corey Mays drew some media attention, as they stand to see some snaps on defense this weekend. Reche Caldwell and Vinny Testaverde entertained small media crowds. As for Belichick, he seemed to be in good spirits this morning, joking that Lions quarterback Jon Kitna is "getting his arm rubbed down now" for the long balls he'll be throwing all over Gillette. Frequently, when describing one of his players or a potential free agent signees or draft picks, Belichick will say "football is important to him." The coach was asked today how he quantifies such a thing, and Belichick said there are a lot of factors that go into it: how hard the player works, what he's done at previous stops, the opinion of others who have worked with him, and sometimes "it's just a feeling." "The more time you spend with a guy, the easier it is to realize. Fifteen minutes is one thing, but an hour, two hours, three hours" you can get a much better idea for it, he said. In his weekly Wednesday press conference, Tom Brady said Belichick was being tougher than usual on the team. The coach wouldn't say whether that was true or not, instead commening, "I'll let Brady evaluate that." Then he joked, "Everyone knows I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky, laid easy going coach." We'll get back to you if there are any changes to the day's injury report, and then after that we'll be talking to you Sunday morning before the game. For those interested, Rosevelt Colvin will be this week's Who I Am subject. If there is anyone we haven't profiled yet that you'd like to know a little bit more about off the field, email me at smanza@projo.com. shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young Friday pracitce peekHey all -- There were just two players missing from practice today, which is being held inside Gillette Stadium -- RT Ryan O'Callaghan and S Rodney Harrison. DB Eugene Wilson, who was not spotted on the field for the media-access portion of practice on Wednesday or Thursday, was out there today. The players were in shells and sweatpants/long shorts. There was a slight drizzle as they stretched. shalise
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