November 15, 2007
Hey all --
With a little more than a month until the AFC and NFC Pro Bowls are named, the NFL has announced early voting results. Seven New England players are the leading vote-getters at their respective position -- but record-setting quarterback Tom Brady is not among them.
The leading vote-getter for AFC quarterback is Peyton Manning (441,852); Brady is behind him at 440,354. Green Bay's miracle man Brett Favre (458,837) is the leading vote-getter overall.
Unhappy with the standings? You can vote here. Or if you have a Sprint cell phone, text "PRO" to 7777 to vote.
Here's the list of AFC leaders at each position and how many votes they've received:
QB - Peyton Manning, Colts - 441,852
RB - Joseph Addai, Colts - 297,504
FB - Lorenzo Neal, Chargers - 194,880
WR - Randy Moss, Patriots - 342,250
TE - Antonio Gates, Chargers - 199,593
T - Matt Light, Patriots - 179,054
G - Eric Steinbach, Browns - 188,052
C - Jeff Saturday, Colts - 168,502
DE - Dwight Freeney, Colts - 209,272
IL - Vince Wilfork, Patriots - 100,032
OLB - Shawne Merriman, Chargers - 148,287
ILB - Tedy Bruschi, Patriots - 121,099
CB - Champ Bailey, Broncos - 183,109
SS - Troy Polamalu, Steelers - 134,868
FS - Ed Reed, Ravens - 110, 412
P - Chris Hanson, Patriots - 52,131
K - Adam Vinatieri, Colts - 82,922
ST - Larry Izzo, Patriots - 105,147
KR - Wes Welker, Patriots - 69,590
Posted by Shalise Manza Young 
at 1:53 PM | Permalink
October 31, 2007
Hey all --
We are just in from the week's first practice, held in full pads. Team owner Robert Kraft was taking in the session, yet another sign of how big Sunday's game is.
As for who was there and who wasn't, Benjamin Watson made his return after missing two weeks with an ankle injury. However, Sammy Morris (chest), Eugene Wilson (ankle), Mel Mitchell (groin), and Eric Alexander (knee) remain on the list of absentees.
Joining them on that list is corner Asante Samuel, who was not spotted during media access.
And Troy Brown was not out there either, which is meaningful because this is the last week that the Patriots have the option of opening the window for Brown. As he is on the PUP list, teams can choose at any time between weeks six and nine to start practicing and open a 21-day window for them, by the end of which time they must either activate them to the 53-man roster or put them on season-ending injured reserve.
After Sunday's win over Washington, Bill Belichick said it had been his team's best week of practice to that point, and it showed in the high number of practice player of the week jerseys -- we counted 10, with rookies Brandon Meriweather and Kareem Brown, Larry Izzo, Ray Ventrone, Pierre Woods, Antwain Spann, Le Kevin Smith, Rashad Baker and Tim Mixon all sporting the black jerseys. Interesting that none of the award winners were from the offensive side of the ball.
We'll be back with more shortly.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 1:25 PM | Permalink
