Projo Pats Blog

AFC POWER PLAY: This year, the Patriots and the Chargers enter their matchup in San Diego as just two teams in a crowded AFC pack, one in which the teams that are not in the race (Texans, Bengals, Chiefs, Raiders) are easier to pick out than the ones that really are. (Boston Globe) The Chargers, despite their 2-3 record, still seem to get more attention as a potential Super Bowl candidate than the 3-1 Patriots, perhaps because of the fact that they recovered from a 1-3 start last year, and because the Pats won't be getting that Brady guy back. Many commentators, such as ESPN's Jeffri Chadiha, seem to assume that San Diego will be in the playoffs come January, just as they doubt the long-term juice of such strong-starting teams as the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans.

Coming into the season, Patriots-Chargers was one of those games that caused you to circle a date on your calendar. It still is a huge game, but not for the reasons we might have thought before the season started -- these are not the two best teams in the conference at this point. And, Christopher Gasper of the Globe reports, the teams are tuning down the vitriol that they have sometimes directed at each other through the media, and are even offering one another a grudging respect.

But respect is not a word that sums up the relationship between Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour and Chargers center Nick Hardwick. After last year's AFC Championship Game, Hardwick went on a lengthy rant about Seymour, calling him one of the dirtiest players in the league. Seymour yesterday said he had not spoken to Hardwick about his allegations, but he did insist they were not true. (Boston Herald)

LEAGUE ACCUSES DAVIS: The NFL has sent Raiders owner Al Davis a formal letter stating that he is subject to penalties for publicly accusing the Patriots of tampering with Randy Moss in 2007. ESPN is reporting that the Raiders could be subject to a heavy fine, the loss of draft picks, or both.

WHO'S HURTING: Running back LaMont Jordan, who left Sunday's game in San Francisco with a calf injury, did not participate in practice for the Patriots yesterday. The Chargers did not have LaDainian Tomlinson (toe) or Chris Chambers (ankle) on the practice field. (projo PatsBlog)

NOT A RIVALRY: That's what Tomlinson says about the Patriots and the Chargers, despite the widespread perception to the contrary. (San Diego Union Tribune)

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN: Although the Patriots substituted defensively more than they have in any other game up to this point, three players -- Deltha O'Neal, Adalius Thomas and Rodney Harrison -- played all 50 snaps on defense. (Boston Globe)

WISH GRANTED: O'Neal told our Shalise Manza Young that he has wanted to be a Patriot for a long time, and he has also wanted to play alongside Rodney Harrison. (projo.com)

COLLEGE REUNION, PART 1: Spending the week in California has given Tedy Bruschi a chance to reunite with his old head coach at the University of Arizona, Dick Tomey, who is now coaching at San Jose State. (projo.com)

COLLEGE REUNION, PART 2: One of Matt Light's real challenges this week will be blocking his old Purdue teammate, Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips. (projo PatsBlog)

TALK ABOUT THE PASSION: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has not always had nice things to say about members of the Patriots -- remember him berating Ellis Hobbs on the field after San Diego lost to New England in the 2006 AFC Divisional Playoff -- but Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork says he likes quarterbacks like Rivers, who lead with the heart.

HERE WE GO: Adam "Pacman" Jones was involved in an altercation with one of his security guards in a Dallas hotel, according to police. (Dallas Morning News) Jones, who joined the Cowboys after sitting out all of last year for violating the league's personal conduct policy, might find that his eligibility to play in the league is in danger as a result of this latest incident. The Dallas police said that Jones hit the bodyguard, Tommy Jones, who was with Pacman Jones as part of owner Jerry Jones' attempts to ensure Pacman's good behavior. That enough Joneses for you?

GROUND GREATNESS: The New York Giants are averaging 5.85 yards per rushing attempt, on pace to break a 45-year-old team record set by Jim Brown and the Cleveland Browns. That enough Browns for you?

BRING IN THE CAVALRY: As outside criticism gathers around wide receiver Plaxico Burress, quarterback Eli Manning and linebacker Antonio Pierce made clear yesterday that they will welcome Burress back for Monday's game against Cleveland. (New York Times)

A FINE MESS: What do Steelers teammates James Harrison and Hines Ward have in common? They've both been fined by the NFL. We learned yesterday that Harrison -- not surprisingly -- had been docked $20,000 for criticizing officials following Sunday's win in Jacksonville. Much more surprisingly, we learned today that Ward -- a solid NFL citizen who was not penalized on the play in question -- is being fined $5,000 for unnecessary roughness in the Baltimore game last month. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette) Unnecessary roughness, in a Steelers-Ravens game?

I'M EMBARRASSED: That's the message that Donovan McNabb has for the world on his blog, now that his Eagles have fallen to 2-3. All evidence to the contrary, McNabb says he still believes that the Eagles are a better team than the Redskins, who beat the Birds in Philly on Sunday.

HARRISON ACCUSED AS SHOOTER: Dwight Dixon is not only suing Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison, he claims that Harrison is the man who pulled the trigger when Dixon was shot in the hand and body in April. (projo.com) Harrison has not been charged in the crime, which is still being investigated.

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