March 20, 2008
Pats' linebacker Mike Vrabel was voted to the NFL Players' Association executive committee yesterday, on the same day that Titans center Kevin Mawae was selected as president.
Mawae succeeds former Eagle Troy Vincent, whose term recently ended and who is no longer an active player; Vincent reportedly will become assistant executive director, and has designs on eventually becoming executive director when longtime head Gene Upshaw leaves the position.
Vrabel, the Broncos' Dominique Foxworth and New Orleans' Drew Brees were chosen as new members of the executive committee; the Eagles' Brian Dawkins, the Colts' Jeff Saturday, Houston's Mark Bruner, Tony Richardson of the Jets, Tampa Bay's Kevin Carter and free agents Donovin Darius and Keenan McCardell were all re-elected to the committee.
On the Players' Association website, Mawae, who spent six years on the executive committee, said the collective bargaining agreement and the potential owners' lockout are the biggest issues facing the players; he also wants to educate younger players on why their salaries are what they are now.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young 
at 8:06 AM | Permalink
December 23, 2007
With that sack, Mike Vrabel now has 10.5 sacks for the season, and the newly minted Pro Bowler becomes the first Patriots player with 10 or more sacks in a season since Willie McGinest's 11 in 1995.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 5:05 PM | Permalink
December 13, 2007
For the Patriots:
Did Not Participate
G Billy Yates - foot
Limited Participation
G Stephen Neal - shoulder
S James Sanders - knee
LB Mike Vrabel - thigh
TE Benjamin Watson - ankle
Full Participation
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder
*This is Sanders' first appearance on the report this season; Neal did not play last week against Pittsburgh, and Yates is one of the players (with Russ Hochstein) responsible for filling in for him.
For the Jets:
Limited Participation
TE Chris Baker - back
WR Laveranues Coles - ankle
WR Jerricho Cotchery - finger
TE James Dearth - foot
WR Justin McCareins - thigh
DL Dewayne Robertson - knee
Full Participation
QB Kellen Clemens - thigh
TE Joe Kowalewski - shoulder
WR Brad Smith - back
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 4:10 PM | Permalink
December 9, 2007
Hey all --
Welcome to Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots will play the first of three straight home games, and their first non-prime time game in over a month -- their last such game was Nov. 4 in Indianapolis, which was also a 4 p.m. start.
Beloved Bruins' National Anthem singer Rene Rancourt will perform the song here today, and the color guard will also have a bit of a local flavor, as the Swansea Fire Department will present the colors.
We got here a bit later than usual, so the Pats players who usually do early warm-up have already retreated to the locker room; we did see Mike Vrabel out there. There are several Steelers still on the field currently.
We'll be back shortly with the inactives.
shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 2:17 PM | Permalink
December 5, 2007
What’s Ohio State doing in the title game?
Hopefully not getting blown out. They’ve got some scores to settle with that SEC.
Do you guys have the Steelers number; you’ve certainly beaten them enough times?
No, I don’t really understand that or get that. I think we’ve always played them it’s certainly been big games. It’s been in a championship game or was the opener up here. When we opened our new stadium that was certainly a big game, it was I think a Thursday night game. Just the thing that I think about with them is that it has always been an important game or it’s been a big game and we’ve made the plays in those games to win.
A lot of us saw what the Jets did to the Steelers, Mangini used to coach with you guys, and people think that you can do the same thing with better players. Is that accurate?
Well, I think the thing that you have to understand about this league, which you guys know, is that it is a copy-cat league. The film is available to everybody and you look at the film and I’m certain that’s one of the games we’ll look at. Just as we’ll look at the Bengals game and the Dolphins game and right on down the line. You have to be careful with some of those games, that’s not quite reflective of their offense. Because it is an explosive offense and sometimes playing in those kinds of conditions you don’t really truly get to see what they are capable of. But, we’ll certainly look at all the film we can.
Any advantage in being in close games the last two weeks for you guys, Mike?
I think that not that you want to have them, but there are going to be close games in the league and you have to win games in the fourth quarter. Not that it’s good or bad but there used to be a day where that’s how we played. We played games, tight games, close games and we won them in the fourth quarter. That’s how this league is. There are tight games every week. There’s teams that have a chance to win with the ball and that’s how it comes down to.
You guys made it look so easy for most of the season. Does it help you winning those close games?
Yeah, I think helps anytime you are in a position to make plays and I said this earlier in the year that there are going to be opportunities where we are going to have to make the right plays and we are going to have to perform under pressure and make the plays down the stretch to win games. We’re not just going to be up by three or four touch downs. If you make a mistake it doesn’t cost you the ballgame. We did that, we stopped them and we were able to stop them when it counted and get the ball back and the offense was able to complete the drive.
What are some of the differences with this year’s Steelers offense compared to the Steelers you’ve played in the past?
I think the running game is obviously always prevalent. The thing I think that impresses me a lot, which they have done in the past, is that Ben’s been able to get out of the pocket. He makes a lot of plays out of the pocket. He’s very consistent. I know those plays aren’t designed but as soon as he is out of the pocket, those receivers know they have a chance to make a big play, or the tight end, if they get open or uncover from their guy, he’s able to find them.
Speaking of tight ends, do you enjoy that position as much as any?
Well, it's part of what I do. Its not a big focal point, but it’s situational football that we have to do, whether its goal line, red zone, two minute, things like that. It’s just situational football and it may be comes up a couple times a game, maybe it doesn’t come up, but I have to be prepared for it.
Is this the best New England team you’ve been on?
Well, it’s the most talented. I think that nobody can say that they have the best team they’ve ever had until the season is over, until the run through the playoffs and the Super Bowl. I would look back to San Diego last year and I’m sure they thought they had a really really good team but I think if you asked them after the season they would say that it wasn’t because you have to win a championship to be considered that good of a team.
How important is it to you guys to go undefeated?
It’s not what motivates us or not what challenges us. We’re trying just like everybody else is to get ourselves in a position for the playoffs. That’s what everybody does. And obviously by winning games, the more games you win, the better opportunity you have to get home field advantage, to get a bye. So those are the things we’re trying. We won our division and we have to just keep trying to check off goals.
What was your reaction to some of Baltimore’s claims about how the referees wanted you to win?
That would be a first for me that if I ever left the game thinking that the refs wanted us to win. I don’t really pay much attention to it. We’ve been in those positions before. We need to concentrate on the Steelers.
Why was Baltimore able to have such success running the ball, and how much of a concern is that going into Steelers this week?
Well, I think it is a big concern. If we don’t get those problems fixed, I would say that Pittsburgh runs the ball on average a little better than Baltimore does. So if we don’t fix the problems that we had, I’m sure it’s going to show up again on Sunday.
Does it all affect a legacy when the league ruled you guys were cheating?
No. We’ve moved past that and I don’t think it affects our guys on this team and how we prepare or how we try to go out and play.
In some way have you used that as a motivation at all?
Well, no, I think we are past that and we are moving on to other motivating factors, playing the Steelers and the way they are playing right now and the guys that they have on their team, that’s motivation enough.
Posted by Art Martone at 4:52 PM | Permalink
November 29, 2007
For the Patriots:
Did Not Participate
RB Kevin Faulk - thigh
Limited Participation
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder
WR Wes Welker - team decision
S Eugene Wilson - groin
**Stephen Neal (shoulder), Randall Gay (back) and Mike Vrabel (team decision) were removed from the list. Welker and Wilson are additions.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 3:39 PM | Permalink
November 28, 2007
The first participation/injury report of the week has been released, and there are a couple of new names for New England.
Did Not Participate
RB Kevin Faulk - thigh
Limited Participation
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder
CB Randall Gay - back
G Stephen Neal - shoulder
LB Mike Vrabel - team decision
The Ravens did not practice today, so there is no report for them.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 4:25 PM | Permalink
November 25, 2007
Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Philadelphia quarterback A.J. Feeley is pressured by Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour.
Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:47 PM | Permalink
FOXBORO -- Asante Samuel became the 20th -- that's right, 20th -- New England player to score a touchdown this season when he returned an interception 40 yards for a score in the opening minutes against the Eagles.
He joins Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Benjamin Watson, Sammy Morris, Donte Stallworth, Kyle Brady, Tom Brady, Kyle Eckel, Ellis Hobbs, Mike Vrabel, Willie Andrews, Matt Cassel, Rosevelt Colvin, Heath Evans, Kevin Faulk, Jabar Gaffney, Randall Gay, Laurence Maroney, and Adalius Thomas in getting into the end zone for the Patriots.
The NFL record for most players scoring in a season is 21, shared by the 2000 Denver Broncos and the 1987 Los Angeles Rams.
-- JIM DONALDSON
Posted by Jim Donaldson at 10:06 PM | Permalink
November 18, 2007
These are provided by the Patriots' PR department:
BRADY SETS FRANCHISE CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASS MARK
Tom Brady has passed Steve Grogan to become the Patriots’ career touchdown pass leader. With a 6-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss in the second quarter – Brady’s third of the night and the 183rd of his career – Brady passed Grogan’s old career record of 182 touchdown passes. With four touchdown passes tonight (as of halftime) Brady has 184 touchdown passes in 106 career games (104 starts), while Grogan totaled his 182 scoring passes in 149 career games (131 starts). Brady’s 37 touchdowns in 2007 (as of halftime) are a Patriots single-season record (Babe Parilli, 31, 1964).
MOSS SETS FRANCHISE SINGLE-SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION RECORD
Randy Moss set a new Patriots single-season record with his 13th touchdown reception of the season and his first touchdown of the night, a 43-yard scoring catch in the first quarter to give the Patriots a 14-0 lead. With three more touchdowns in the second quarter, Moss raised his season total to 16 touchdowns (as of halftime). Moss eclipsed the previous team record of 12 touchdown receptions, achieved by Stanley Morgan in 1979. Moss’s 16 touchdown catches (as of halftime) are the third highest single-season total of his career, trailing only his career-high 17 scoring receptions in 1998 and 2003.
MOSS SETS FRANCHISE SINGLE-GAME TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION RECORD
With four touchdown receptions (as of halftime), Randy Moss has set the franchise’s single-game touchdown reception record, recording the first four-touchdown catch game in team history. Moss’s four scoring catches set a new single-game career high, topping his previous mark of three, achieved three previous times, most recently while playing for the Minnesota Vikings against San Francisco on Sept. 28, 2003. Moss is the first Patriot to catch at least three touchdown passes in a game since Ben Coates had three scoring grabs on Nov. 26, 1995. Coates’s performance also came in a game against the Bills in Buffalo.
MOSS BREAKS 1,000-YARD MARK FOR THE SEASON
With a 5-yard reception with 2:27 remaining in the second quarter, Randy Moss eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the year, becoming the first Patriots player to record 1,000 or more receiving yards since Troy Brown had 1,199 receiving yards in 2001. Moss’s 1,000-yard season is the 10th 1,000-yard receiving season in Patriots history and he joins Troy Brown (1), Terry Glenn (2), Ben Coates (1), Stanley Morgan (3), Irving Fryar (1) and Harold Jackson (1) as the only players in team history to achieve the feat. Morgan holds the team’s single-season record with 1,491 receiving yards in 1986. For Moss, the 1,000-yard season is the eighth of his 10-year career and his first since 2005, when he had 1,005 yards for the Oakland Raiders.
MARONEY REACHES END ZONE
Laurence Maroney scored his first touchdown of the season on a 6-yard run in the first quarter to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead. The touchdown was Maroney’s first since Dec. 31, 2006, when he scored on a 1-yard run at Tennessee in the 2006 regular-season finale. His touchdown against the Bills was the eighth touchdown of Maroney’s career (7 rush, 1 rec.).
MARONEY BECOMES 19th PATRIOT TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN IN 2007
Laurence Maroney became the 19th player to score a touchdown for the Patriots this season, scoring on a 6-yard run in the first quarter to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead. The NFL record for most players scoring a touchdown in a single season is 21, achieved by the 2000 Denver Broncos and the 1987 Los Angeles Rams.
QUICK HITS
Ø Tonight’s kickoff temperature was 36 degrees, making this the Patriots’ coldest game since Nov. 5, 2006, when the temperature was 31 degrees for a Sunday night game against Indianapolis at Gillette Stadium.
Ø Jabar Gaffney caught a 31-yard pass from Tom Brady in the catch was Gaffney’s second longest since joining the Patriots in 2006, trailing only his 33-yard catch against the New York Jets on Nov. 12, 2006.
100-YARD GAME FOR MOSS
With 112 receiving yards on eight catches (as of halftime), Randy Moss has recorded his seventh 100-yard receiving game of the season and the 53rd 100-yard receiving game of his career. Moss’s 53 career 100-yard receiving games rank third all-time, trailing only Jerry Rice (76) and Marvin Harrison (59). Stanley Morgan holds the Patriots single-season record with nine 100-yard receiving games in 1986.
RANDALL GAY RECORDS THIRD INTERCEPTION OF THE SEASON
Randall Gay recorded his third interception of the season when he picked off a J.P. Losman pass on the Bills’ fourth offensive play of the game and returned it 21 yards to Buffalo’s 13-yard line. The interception set up a two-play touchdown drive that ended in a 6-yard scoring run by Laurence Maroney and a 7-0 Patriots lead. Gay’s three interceptions tie Junior Seau for the second highest total on the team, trailing only Asante Samuel’s team-high four interceptions. Gay’s three interceptions establish a new career high, topping his two interceptions as a rookie in 2004. Gay’s interception against Buffalo raised his career total to five interceptions.
VRABEL RAISES SEASON TOTAL TO 9.5 SACKS
Mike Vrabel was credited with a zero-yard sack of J.P. Losman in the first quarter. The sack raised Vrabel’s team-high season total to 9.5 sacks, tying his single-season career high, also achieved in 2003. Vrabel’s 9.5 sacks tie the highest total by a Patriots player since Willie McGinest had 11.0 sacks in 1995. Since then, a Patriot has totaled 9.5 sacks four times: Vrabel (2003, 2007), McGinest (1996, 2004).
THOMAS SETS SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGH WITH 2.5 SACKS
Adalius Thomas recorded 2.5 sacks in the first half against the Bills, setting a new single-game career high and recording his fourth career game with at least two sacks. Thomas sacked J.P. Losman for a 9-yard loss in the first quarter and later dropped Losman for a 6-yard loss in the second quarter. He then teamed with Tedy Bruschi to drop Losman for a 7-yard loss in the second quarter. The sacks raised Thomas’s season total to 3.0 sacks and his career total to 41.5 sacks. Thomas is the fifth player to record 2.0 or more sacks in a game for the Patriots this season, joining Mike Vrabel (twice), Rosevelt Colvin, Tedy Bruschi and Jarvis Green.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 10:15 PM | Permalink
November 17, 2007
The Patriots have removed WR Wes Welker (questionable, team decision) from their injury list.
LB Mike Vrabel remains questionable, but the reason is now his shoulder, not team decision as had originally been listed.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 8:37 PM | Permalink
November 16, 2007
Today's injury/participation report has been released, and it's not looking good for Buffalo's Marshawn Lynch:
New England
Questionable
LB Eric Alexander -- knee (did not practice)
CB Eddie Jackson -- knee (limited participation)
G Stephen Neal -- shoulder (limited participation)
LB Mike Vrabel -- team decision (limited participation)
WR Wes Welker -- team decision (limited participation)
S Eugene Wilson -- ankle (did not practice)
Probable
QB Tom Brady -- right shoulder (limited participation)
**Benjamin Watson (ankle) and Mel Mitchell (groin) are no longer on the report.
Buffalo
Doubtful
RB Marshawn Lynch -- ankle (did not practice)
Probable
DE Aaron Schobel -- illness (full participation)
TE Robert Royal -- head (limited participation)
**CB Kiwaukee Thomas (groin) and TE Matt Murphy (calf) were placed on injured reserve earlier this week, so they will be out.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 5:44 PM | Permalink
November 15, 2007
There are no changes to New England's participation/injury report for today.
That means that Mike Vrabel and Wes Welker had limited participation due to a team decision.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 3:53 PM | Permalink
November 14, 2007
New England and Buffalo have released the first participation/injury report of the week:
Did Not Participate
LB Eric Alexander - knee
S Mel Mitchell - groin
S Eugene Wilson - ankle
Limited Participation
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder
CB Eddie Jackson - knee
G Stephen Neal - shoulder
LB Mike Vrabel - team decision
WR Wes Welker - team decision
* Neal missed three games earlier this season with a shoulder injury; Vrabel has been on the report in past weeks with a shoulder problem. This is Welker's first appearance on the list this season. But the team has listed both Randy Moss and Kyle Brady has having limited participation on Wednesdays and Thursdays this season, and both were just getting rest.
For Buffalo:
Out
TE Matt Murphy - calf
CB Kiwaukee Thomas - groin
Did Not Participate
RB Marshawn Lynch - ankle
TE Robert Royal - head
DE Aaron Schobel - illness
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 4:02 PM | Permalink
November 4, 2007
These are courtesy of the New England media-relations department:
BRADY SETS SINGLE-SEASON FRANCHISE TOUCHDOWN PASS MARK
With three touchdown passes against the Colts today, Tom Brady raised his season total to 33 touchdown passes, setting a new franchise record and passing Vito “Babe” Parilli’s previous record of 31 touchdown passes in 1964. Brady tied the record with a 4-yard scoring strike to Randy Moss in the second quarter and set a new record with his 32nd scoring pass of the season, a 3-yard strike to Wes Welker in the fourth quarter. He added his 33rd touchdown pass of the season on a 13-yard score to Kevin Faulk in the fourth quarter. Parilli threw his 31 touchdown passes for the Boston Patriots during the 14-game American Football League season. Brady reached 33 passes in the ninth game of the season.
BRADY SETS NFL RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 3+ TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes today, setting an NFL record with his ninth straight game with three or more touchdown passes. He broke the old record of eight consecutive games, set by Peyton Manning in 2004. Through nine games this season, Brady has totaled 32 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.
BRADY LEADS 25th CAREER COMEBACK
Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 24-20 victory following a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit, marking the 25th time in his career that he has led the Patriots to a win following a fourth-quarter deficit or tie. He accomplished the feat for the 19th time in the regular season and has also done it six times in the playoffs (including three times in the Super Bowl. Against Indianapolis, the Patriots trailed 20-10 following an Indianapolis touchdown with 9:42 left in the game. Brady then led the team on a seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive to make the score 20-17 on a 3-yard touchdown catch by Wes Welker with 7:59 left and on the Patriots' next drive led a three-play, 51-yard drive that ended in a 13-yard touchdown catch by Kevin Faulk that gave the Patriots a 24-20 lead with 3:15 remaining in the game. The comeback against the Colts marked the Patriots’ fourth fourth-quarter comeback from a deficit of 10 or more points with Brady at the helm and the first one that was won in regulation time. The last time Brady led a comeback of 10 or more points was on Dec. 29, 2002, when the Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-24 in overtime after trailing 24-13 with 4:59 remaining in regulation. Brady’s other comebacks of 10 or more points in the fourth quarter came on Nov. 10, 2002 at Chicago (a 33-30 win following a 30-19 deficit with 5:16 remaining in regulation) and in the 2001 divisional playoffs against Oakland on Jan. 19, 2002 (a 16-13 overtime win following a 13-3 deficit entering the fourth quarter).
MOSS TIES SINGLE-SEASON FRANCHISE RECEIVING TD RECORD
Randy Moss hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead. The touchdown was Moss’s 12th receiving touchdown of the season, tying the Patriots’ single-season franchise record also achieved by Stanley Morgan in 1979. Moss’s 12 touchdown catches are the fifth highest total of his 10-year career, trailing his career-best 17 scoring grabs in 1998 and 2003, his 15 touchdown catches in 2000 and his 13 scoring receptions in 2004. On the same touchdown pass where Moss tied the franchise touchdown reception record, Tom Brady tied Babe Parilli’s 1964 mark with his 31st touchdown toss of the year.
100-YARD GAME FOR MOSS
Randy Moss had 145 receiving yards on nine receptions, marking his sixth game this season with at least 100 receiving yards. The 100-yard receiving game was the 52nd of his career, a total that ranks third all-time behind Jerry Rice (76) and Marvin Harrison (59). Stanley Morgan holds the Patriots single-season record with nine 100-yard receiving games in 1986.
GREEN MACHINE
Jarvis Green strip-sacked Peyton Manning with 2:30 remaining in the game on third-and-nine at the Colts’ 49-yard line with New England holding a 24-20 lead. Rosevelt Colvin recovered the fumble, giving the Patriots possession at the Indianapolis 46-yard line and ending Indianapolis’ bid for a potential go-ahead score. The sack was Green’s fourth of the season and raised his career total to 22.5 sacks. It was his first forced fumble of the season and was the seventh forced fumble of his career. Last season, Green tied Mike Vrabel for the team lead with three strip sacks.
FAULK SCORES FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON
Kevin Faulk scored his first touchdown of the season on a 13-yard reception from Tom Brady that gave the Patriots a 24-20 lead with 3:15 remaining in the game. The touchdown was the 24th of Faulk’s career and was his 11th career touchdown reception. He has also scored 11 rushing touchdowns and two touchdowns on kickoff returns.
WELKER CATCHES SEVENTH TOUCHDOWN PASS OF THE SEASON
Wes Welker caught his seventh touchdown pass of the season, a 3-yard scoring grab from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter to cut the Indianapolis lead to 20-17. Welker, who had just one touchdown reception entering the 2007 season, has now caught six touchdown passes in his last four games. Welker entered the game tied for second in the NFL with a team-high 56 receptions this season.
SEYMOUR TIPS FIELD GOAL TRY
Richard Seymour tipped Adam Vinatieri’s 50-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, getting his fingertips on the ball and forcing Vinatieri’s first career miss in the RCA Dome. In his seven-year career, Seymour has blocked five career field goals in the regular season and one in the playoffs. Heading into today’s game, Vinatieri was 55-for-57 on indoor field goal attempts in the regular season, with his only two misses coming at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2003 while playing for the Patriots against the Houston Texans.
MOSS CATCHES 55-YARD PASS
Randy Moss hauled in a 55-yard pass in the fourth quarter that gave the Patriots a first-and-goal at the Colts’ 3-yard line. The catch was Moss’s longest of the season and his longest since Oct. 2, 2005, when he grabbed a 79-yard pass while playing for the Oakland Raiders against the Dallas Cowboys. Moss’s 55-yard grab was the second longest by a Patriots player this season, trailing only Donte Stallworth’s 69-yard touchdown reception at Dallas on Oct. 14.
VRABEL RAISES SEASON TOTAL TO 8.5 SACKS
Mike Vrabel sacked Peyton Manning for a 4-yard loss in the third quarter. The sack raised Vrabel’s season total to 8.5 sacks, a mark that leads the team. Entering this week’s games, Vrabel’s 7.5 sacks led all NFL linebackers and ranked second overall in the AFC and fifth overall in the NFL. Last season, Rosevelt Colvin led the Patriots with 8.5 sacks. Vrabel’s single-season career high is 9.5 sacks, achieved in 2003 with the Patriots. Following his sack of Manning, Vrabel had 47.0 career sacks, a mark that ranks sixth among all active NFL linebackers.
HARRISON HAS FIRST INTERCEPTION OF THE SEASON
Rodney Harrison intercepted a Peyton Manning pass in the third quarter, giving the Patriots possession at the Indianapolis 30-yard line. The interception was Harrison’s first of the season and was the 33rd of his career. Harrison’s last interception came on Oct. 30, 2006 at Minnesota. Harrison, who also has 30.5 career sacks, is the only player in NFL history with at least 30 career sacks and at least 30 career interceptions.
DEFENSE BEARS DOWN
The Patriots defense clamped down and held the Colts to a field goal on two occasions in the first half after long pass interference penalties gave the Colts a first-and-goal from inside the 10-yard line. In the first quarter, a 37-yard penalty gave Indianapolis a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line, but Asante Samuel’s pass deflection in the end zone on third down kept Indianapolis out of the end zone and forced a 21-yard field goal by the Colts. In the second quarter, a 40-yard penalty gave the Colts a first-and-goal from the six-yard line, but Randall Gay stuffed Dallas Clark on third down for a 2-yard loss on a pass play that once again kept the Colts out of the end zone and forced a 25-yard field goal.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 10:45 PM | Permalink
November 2, 2007
New England has released its Friday injury/participation report:
Questionable
LB Eric Alexander - knee
S Mel Mitchell - groin
LB Mike Vrabel - shoulder
TE Benjamin Watson - ankle
S Eugene Wilson - ankle
Probable
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 4:31 PM | Permalink
November 1, 2007
Voters at nfl.com selected New England linebacker Mike Vrabel as the GMC defensive player of the week for his performance against Washington.
Vrabel, in case you didn't know -- and we're suspecting a good deal of you do and had a hand in his winning -- had 13 tackles, including 11 solo takedowns, and three strip-sacks against the Redskins, with all of the fumbles being recovered by Pats players and leading to 17 points for the undefeated team. The sometime tight end also added a first-half touchdown.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 7:55 PM | Permalink
New England has released its second participation report of the week:
Did Not Participate
S Mel Mitchell - groin
RB Sammy Morris - chest
S Eugene Wilson - ankle
LB Eric Alexander - knee
Limited Participation
TE Kyle Brady - team decision
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder
LB Mike Vrabel - shoulder
TE Benjamin Watson - ankle
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 3:56 PM | Permalink
October 31, 2007
Mike Vrabel won his first-ever AFC player of the week award today, garnering the honor after his 13-tackle, three strip-sack performance against the Redskins on Sunday. His three forced fumbles were all recovered by Patriots' teammates, leading to 17 New England points.
The Colts' Joseph Addai was named AFC offensive player of the week and San Diego punter Mike Scifres the special teams' player of the week.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 5:14 PM | Permalink
New England has published its first participation/injury report of the week:
Did Not Participate
LB Eric Alexander - knee
S Mel Mitchell - groin
RB Sammy Morris - chest
CB Asante Samuel - team decision
S Eugene Wilson - ankle
Limited Participation
TE Kyle Brady - team decision
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder
WR Randy Moss - team decision
LB Adalius Thomas - ankle
LB Mike Vrabel - shoulder
TE Benjamin Watson - ankle
Indianapolis has not yet submitted its report.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 4:06 PM | Permalink
October 30, 2007
Hey all --
Another week, another potential award for Tom Brady. At least one of his teammates
has a chance to get some shine this week too...
Mike Vrabel is one of five nominees for the GMC defensive player of the week for his 13 tackle (11 solo), three strip-sack, one offensive touchdown performance against Washington.
Also nominated are Philadelphia's Trent Cole (8 tackles, 2 sacks vs Minnesota), San Diego's Antonio Cromartie (2 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns vs Houston), Jacksonville's Aaron Glenn (4 tackles, interception returned for touchdown vs Tampa Bay) and the Titans' Travis LaBoy (three tackles, two sacks, forced fumble vs Oakland) .
Brady has been nominated for the FedEx Air player of the week honor, and is going against the Saints' Drew Brees (31-for-39, 336 yards, 4 touchdowns in win over San Francisco) and the Packers' Brett Favre (21-for-27, 331 yards, 2 touchdowns, including game-winner seconds into overtime) for the honor.
Against the Redskins, Brady was 29-for-38 for 306 yards and three passing touchdowns (plus two rushing).
Fans can vote at nfl.com.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 2:34 PM | Permalink
October 28, 2007
EIGHT STRAIGHT GAMES WITH 34+ POINTS
The Patriots have become just the second team in NFL history to score at least 34 points in each of its first eight games of a season, joining the 2000 St. Louis Rams. The Patriots have scored 38, 38, 38, 34, 34, 48, 49 and 52 points in their eight games this season, for a total of 331 points. The 2000 Rams scored 41, 37, 41, 41, 57, 45, 34 and 34 points in their first eight games, for a total of 330 points. In their ninth game of the 2000 season, the Rams scored 24 points in a 27-24 loss to Carolina (Nov. 5, 2000).
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT IN CONTEXT
The Patriots scored 52 points today against Washington, tying the third highest single-game point total in team history. The 52 points was New England’s highest total since Sept. 9, 1979, when they scored a franchise-record 56 points in a 56-3 win over the New York Jets. New England scored 55 points in a 55-21 win over the Jets on Oct. 29, 1978, and also scored 52 points in a 52-21 win over Buffalo on Oct. 22, 1961. The Patriots’ 45-point margin of victory over the Redskins is the second largest victory margin in team history, trailing only a 53-point victory over the Jets on Sept. 9, 1979 (56-3).
BRADY TIES NFL MARK FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 3+ TD PASSES
With three touchdown passes against the Redskins, Tom Brady has thrown for at least three touchdowns in all eight games this season, tying the NFL record for consecutive games with three or more touchdown passes. Peyton Manning also threw for three or more touchdown passes in eight consecutive games in 2004.
BRADY SETS NEW CAREER HIGH WITH 30 TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN 2007
Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes against Washington and ran for two more touchdowns. His three touchdown passes raised his season total to 30, a number that represents a new career high and is the second highest single-season total in team history, trailing only Vito “Babe” Parilli’s franchise-record total of 31 touchdowns in 1964. Brady has thrown 30 touchdowns and just two interceptions through eight games this season. Brady set a new single-season career high when he threw his second touchdown of the day and his 29th touchdown pass of the season – a 6-yard strike to Randy Moss – topping his 28 scoring passes in 2002 and 2004.
VRABEL SCORES EIGHTH CAREER REGULAR-SEASON TOUCHDOWN
Linebacker Mike Vrabel caught his eighth regular-season touchdown pass and his 10th overall touchdown pass (including two in the playoffs) on a 2-yard scoring catch from Tom Brady in the second quarter that gave the Patriots a 14-0 lead. Vrabel also caught a touchdown pass on Oct. 1 at Cincinnati, and has tied his single-season career high with two touchdown catches this season. He also had a pair of scoring grabs in 2005. Each of Vrabel’s 10 career receptions have been for touchdowns – including one in Super Bowl XXXVIII and one in Super Bowl XXXIX. Including his one career interception return for a touchdown, Vrabel now has totaled nine career regular-season touchdowns – the fifth-highest total in a New England uniform by a current Patriot (trailing only Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk, Randy Moss and Benjamin Watson).
VRABEL: THREE STRIP-SACKS
Mike Vrabel recorded three strip-sacks against the Redskins, all of which created fumbles that were recovered by the Patriots. His third strip-sack of the day caused a fumble that was picked up by Rosevelt Colvin and returned 10 yards for a touchdown. Vrabel also had two strip-sacks in the second quarter, with both fumbles being recovered by Ty Warren to give the Patriots possession. Vrabel’s three sacks tie his single-game career-high, also achieved on Oct. 26, 2003 against Cleveland. He is the first Patriot to record three or more sacks in a game since Jarvis Green had three on Oct. 1, 2006 at Cincinnati. Vrabel’s three strip-sacks against Washington give him four strip-sacks for the season, with his other strip-sack coming in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets on Sept. 9. Since joining the Patriots prior to the 2001 season, Vrabel has recorded 12 regular-season strip-sacks (four in 2003, one in 2005, three in 2006 and four in 2007) and three playoff strip-sacks (one in 2003, one in 2004 and one in 2006). Vrabel tied for the team lead with three strip-sacks in the 2006 regular-season and added one more in the 2006 divisional playoffs against San Diego. With his three strip-sacks against the Redskins, Vrabel raised his season total to 7.5 sacks, a tally that leads the team and stands as the second highest total of his career, trailing only his team-high 9.5 sacks in 2003. Vrabel’s three strip-sacks against Washington set up 17 points off turnovers, with his first strip-sack setting up a field goal drive that gave the Patriots a 17-0 lead, his second setting up a touchdown drive that gave the Patriots a 24-0 lead.
BRADY SCORES TWO RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Tom Brady scored two rushing touchdowns against Washington, setting a new single-game and single-season career high. Brady had three career regular-season rushing touchdowns heading into today’s game – one in each of the 2002, 2003 and 2005 seasons. Brady is the first Patriot to rush for two or more touchdowns in a game since Corey Dillon did it in the 2006 regular-season finale on Dec. 31, 2006. Against Washington, Brady gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead with a 3-yard scoring run in the first quarter and gave New England a 31-0 lead with a 2-yard scoring plunge in the third quarter. Prior to today, the last time Brady had scored a rushing touchdown was on Dec. 11, 2005 at Buffalo. The last Patriots quarterback to run for two or more touchdowns in a game was Tony Eason, who did it on Oct. 14, 1984 against Cincinnati. Brady’s performance is the fifth two-plus touchdown game for a Patriots quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger – in addition to Eason’s game in 1984, Steve Grogan ran for two touchdowns three times in 1976 and Jim Plunkett did it once in 1973.
BRADY: THREE-PLUS TOUCHDOWNS, 100.0-PLUS PASSER RATING AND 300-YARD GAME
Tom Brady achieved a passer rating of 125.5, and has totaled a rating of at least 100.0 in all eight games this season. He has had a rating of at least 115.0 in seven of the eight games and has totaled a rating of 123.0 or higher in six of the eight games. Brady also threw for 306 yards against Washington, marking his third straight game exceeding the 300-yard passing mark and becoming his fourth game of 300 or more yards this season. Brady has thrown for at least three touchdowns, totaled at least 300 yards and had a passer rating of at least 100.0 for three straight games.
COLVIN: FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN
Rosevelt Colvin scooped up a Jason Campbell fumble forced by Mike Vrabel in the third quarter and rumbled 11 yards to the end zone for his first career touchdown. The fumble recovery was the eighth of Colvin’s career. The fumble return for a touchdown was the third by the Patriots this season – Randall Gay returned a fumble 15 yards for a score against Cleveland on Oct. 7. Colvin’s touchdown marked the Patriots’ third defensive touchdown of the season, with Adalius Thomas returning an interception 65 yards for a score in addition to Gay’s fumble return. Colvin’s touchdown was the Patriots fifth touchdown on a return this season, with their three defensive scores joining a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns.
CASSEL: RUSHING TOUCHDOWN
Quarterback Matt Cassel gave the Patriots a 52-0 lead on a 15-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. The rushing score was the first of Cassel’s career and was the third by a Patriots quarterback on the afternoon – the highest total of rushing scores by Patriots quarterbacks in any game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
MOSS: 11th TOUCHDOWN CATCH OF THE SEASON
Randy Moss caught his 11th touchdown pass of the season, a 6-yard grab in the second quarter that gave the Patriots a 24-0 lead. Moss’s 11 touchdown receptions stand as the second highest single-season total in Patriots history, trailing only Stanley Morgan’s franchise-record 12 touchdown receptions in 1986. Moss’s 11 touchdown catches tie the fourth highest total of his 10-year career, trailing only his 17 touchdown catches in with Minnesota 1998 and 2003 and his 13 touchdown receptions for the Vikings in 2004. He also had 11 touchdown receptions for the Vikings in 1999.
FAULK MOVES INTO SIXTH ON PATRIOTS’ ALL-TIME RECEPTIONS LIST
With a seven-yard reception in the first quarter – the 293rd catch of his career and his second of the game – Kevin Faulk passed Gino Cappelletti (292 catches) to move into sixth place on the Patriots’ all-time career receptions list. Faulk is the Patriots’ all-time leader in receptions by a running back. Cappelletti was once the Patriots’ all-time leading receiver, holding the record until Stanley Morgan passed him with his 293rd career catch on Nov. 11, 1984. Troy Brown is the Patriots’ all-time leading receiver with 557 career receptions.
SOLID DEFENSIVE EFFORT
The Patriots allowed just seven points, tying their best defensive effort of the season. They also allowed just seven points in a 38-7 win over Buffalo on Sept. 23. New England has allowed seven or fewer points five times in its last 18 games.
SINGLE-GAME TEAM RECORD: MOST FIRST DOWNS
The Patriots gained 34 first downs today, setting a new franchise record for most first downs in a single game. The previous single-game team record was 32 first downs, achieved on Dec. 11, 2005 in a 35-7 win at Buffalo. In their 52-7 win over Washington, the Patriots gained 13 first downs rushing and 21 first downs passing.
BRADY-TO-WELKER
Wes Welker caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter, giving the Patriots a 45-0 lead. The touchdown reception was Welker’s sixth of the season and was the seventh scoring catch of his career. With two-touchdown performances last week against Miami and two weeks ago against Dallas, Welker has caught five touchdown passes in his last three games after catching two scoring passes in the first 52 games of his career.
SAMUEL RECORDS 20th CAREER INTERCEPTION
Asante Samuel intercepted a Jason Campbell pass in the second quarter, recording his team-high fourth interception of the season and the 20th pick of his regular season career. He also has four career interceptions in the playoffs. Samuel’s 20 career interceptions rank 11th on the Patriots’ all-time list and lead all active Patriots. Samuel has recorded 13 interceptions in his last 17 regular-season and playoff games. Last season, he led the NFL with 10 regular-season interceptions.
STARTING STRONG
The Patriots scored first, taking a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Tom Brady in the first quarter. New England has scored on its opening drive in each game this season, totaling five touchdowns and three field goals. New England has scored first in each of its eight games this season and has achieved the feat in 11 straight regular season and playoff games dating back to Jan. 7, 2007.
GOSTKOWSKI’S SUCCESS STREAK
Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 17-0 lead. He has hit nine of his 10 field goal attempts this season (90.0 percent) and has nailed 30 of his last 33 attempts (90.9 percent) dating back to Nov. 5, 2006, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance in last season’s playoffs.
RECORD PERFORMANCE
With the Patriots’ victory this afternoon, Tom Brady has now defeated each of the 31 other teams (besides New England) as a starting quarterback. Entering today’s game, the Redskins were the only team against which the Patriots had not won with Brady as a starting quarterback. Additionally, Brady raised his career records (including playoffs) to… 90-26 overall, 47-10 at home, 30-2 on artificial turf, 25-4 against NFC teams
HOME SELLOUT STREAK REACHES 143
Today’s game was the 143rd consecutive home sellout for the Patriots, a streak that includes every preseason, regular-season and playoff game since the 1994 regular-season opener.
INTERCEPTION-FREE STREAK
With his 38 interception-free passes today, Tom Brady has now thrown 164 consecutive passes without an interception, tying the longest such streak of his career (11/30/03 to 9/9/04). The Patriots record is 179 consecutive passes without an interception, achieved by Drew Bledsoe from Oct. 23 to Nov. 26, 2005. So far in 2007, Brady has thrown 30 touchdowns and two interceptions.
HIGH OCTANE MATCHUP
The Patriots-Colts matchup on Nov. 4 will pit the 8-0 Patriots against the 7-0 Colts, marking the first time in the 88-year history of the NFL that two undefeated teams with seven or more wins have faced each other, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. There are only five previous instances in which undefeated teams with five or more wins have faced each other, and the Patriots have been involved in the last two such matchups, including a 48-27 win by the 5-0 Patriots over the 5-0 Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 14, 2007 and a 13-7 win by the 5-0 Patriots over the 5-0 New York Jets on Oct. 24, 2004.
Posted by Art Martone at 9:55 PM | Permalink
October 24, 2007
In Sunday's game against the Dolphins, New England had three sacks of Cleo Lemon -- one by Rodney Harrison, one by Junior Seau, and one which was credited as a team sack.
Upon further review, it has been decided that the team sack is awarded to Mike Vrabel. Vrabel now has 4.5 sacks for the season.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 2:39 PM | Permalink
October 10, 2007
Hey all --
While inside the Patriots locker room Sunday's game with Dallas is looked at as a big game mostly because it's the next game on the schedule, the national media don't feel the same way.
ESPN had four personalities here today -- Kenny Mayne doing his thing (he asked Bill Belichick was his inspiration was for the cutoff gray hoodie was), Wendi Nix, Rachel Nichols, and all-around good guy (and former Boston Globie) Michael Smith, as well as the cameramen and sound guys to go with them.
The Dallas Morning News and Ft. Worth Star-Telegram have reporters here to get things for Cowboys' fans, and the New York Times and nbcsports.com's Tom Curran were also on hand.
Bill Belichick always touts the strengths of Pats' opponents, but today he was particularly effusive when discussing the Cowboys in his opening comments:
"They’re a very, very impressive football team. I think they really do everything well. They’re very physical on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Statistically just about any stat that you want, they have. They can run it. They can throw it. They make big plays. They turn the ball over. They sack the quarterback. They have the most interceptions in the league. You could just go right down the line. They have a lot of great players," he said.
"They’re a complete team. They’re solid all the way around. They’re well coached. Wade [Phillips] has a very fundamentally sound defensive football team, but they don’t give you much. You have to earn it and they haven’t given up much. It will be a big challenge ahead of us this week."
In the locker room, Tom Brady talked more about the challenge Dallas poses, as did Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin and Wes Welker.
Vrabel addressed the charge from Browns' guard Eric Steinbach that he's "classless," which Steinbach claimed on Monday for a last-second play in which Vrabel fell onto Cleveland left tackle Joe Thomas and Thomas fell into quarterback Derek Anderson. Steinbach felt Vrabel was intentionally going for Thomas' knees.
"I'm going to say this one time: I'm sorry they feel that way. I don't play that way," Vrabel said.
Harrison quipped that the only thing dirty on Vrabel is his underwear.
shalise
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 2:11 PM | Permalink
October 2, 2007
BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer
CINCINNATI -- Turnabout, Patriots tight end Ben Watson believes, is fair play.
Since linebacker Mike Vrabel gets to come in near the goal line and catch touchdown passes, Watson wants a chance to rush the passer.
''I want to come in on third-and-long,'' he said, smiling broadly. ''I want to come in when it's third-and-20, when everybody's knows the quarterback is going to pass, and get a sack.''
Watson, still smiling, added that the tight ends get ''a little jealous'' when Vrabel gets the ball thrown to him in the end zone.
''Whenever we see Mike coming in,'' said Watson, ''we roll our eyes and say: 'Oh, man!' ''
The tight ends try not to let Vrabel slip into their meetings during the week.
''He tries to sneak in,'' Watson said.
But they can't keep him out of the huddle when coach Bill Belichick sends him in.
And, it appears, opposing defenses can't keep the versatile Vrabel from catching the ball in the end zone.
He has caught nine passes since coming to the Patriots from Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent in 2001, and all of them have been for touchdowns.
Two of them were in Super Bowls -- one against Carolina, one against the Eagles -- and his latest TD catch came last night in Cincinnati, when he hauled in a 1-yard toss from Tom Brady in the final minute of the first quarter that put the Patriots on top, 10-0.
''Mike's a great threat down there,'' Brady said. ''He's very elusive and has good hands.''
''His eyes light up,'' Belichick said, ''when he sees the ball coming.''
Posted by Jim Donaldson at 12:35 AM | Permalink
October 1, 2007
Mike Vrabel's one-yard touchdown catch was his ninth score of his career and put New England up 10-0.
Vrabel has nine catches, and every one has been a score.
Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 9:19 PM | Permalink
