Projo Pats Blog

-Former Patriots linebacker Vince Redd, who was cut on Monday by the Kansas City Chiefs (the Patriots of the Midwest), was reportedly facing a four-game suspension from the league for an unspecified policy violation. The report is from Scout's Adam Caplan, via ProFootballTalk.com.

Given the usual lack of controversy surrounding Patriots camp, much focus continues to be placed on nose tackle Vince Wilfork's contract situation. My guess is that Wilfork will not in fact be a distraction to the team, but here nonetheless are some of the views being expressed about the big man today:

-In a Globe 10.0 discussion of who is the most indispensable Patriot (other than Tom Brady), Dan Shaughnessy offered up Wilfork, and spoke of the importance of signing him beyond this season. Bob Ryan countered with the wide-receiver tandem of Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and both agreed that Jerod Mayo deserved mention. My votes go for Welker on the offensive side of the ball, and Mayo on the defensive side. In terms of sheer production, and the number of plays in which Welker and Mayo are involved, no one else comes close.

-The Globe's Mike Reiss suggests that the Patriots could give Wilfork an assurance that if he plays this season under his current contract -- which would pay him $2.2 million -- they will not use the franchise player tag on him and therefore allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.

-The Herald's Ron Borges criticizes the Pats for leaving Wilfork and others hanging -- saying that uncertainty surrounding the league's labor situation prevents them from entering into long-term deals -- while signing Nick Kaczur to an extension under terms favorable to the organization.

-Julian Edelman continues to be a hot topic this Patriots preseason. In an interview on WEEI yesterday, Bill Belichick said the Patriots did not draft Edelman -- who can play quarterback and wide receiver as well as return kicks -- specifically to use him in a wildcat offensive formation, but he did not rule out that option either.

-The Redskins had cornerback Carlos Rogers and fullback Mike Sellers both sit out Monday's practice, but they expect both players to be in action for Friday's preseason game against New England.

-To show you how little college stats mean when evaluating professional potential, the Redskins have two of the best passers in NCAA history -- Chase Daniel and Colt Brennan -- competing for the number-three job behind the undistinguished duo of Jason Campbell and Todd Collins.

-Last night's "special preseason game" between the Jets and the Ravens was an up-and-down affair for Mark Sanchez, who threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and went just 3 for 8, but ended his night by throwing for a touchdown pass himself to Leon Washington -- who looks like the best offensive player the Jets have. Sanchez didn't hurt his chances of landing the opening-day starting job, especially since Kellen Clemens also threw an interception that Baltimore ran back for a touchdown.

-The Ravens defense doesn't look like it is going to be any less ferocious this season with Rex Ryan gone coaching the Jets.

-The AP's Tim Dahlberg likes what he sees from Ryan, who is much-maligned for his tough talk. Dahlberg said the Jets look like a much tougher team, and credits Ryan for the change in identity.

-At halftime of the game, ESPN's Adam Schefter said that some Vikings players believe that Tarvaris Jackson should be their starting quarterback, despite the public displays of enthusiasm for Brett Favre.

-Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $92 million, with close to $40 million guaranteed. Rivers' big deal comes just in the same month that Giants quarterback Eli Manning -- the man traded for Rivers in a draft-day move in 2004 -- signed an even richer deal.

-San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson reports that he is feeling fine after playing in his first two preseason games since 2005. Tomlinson, who is coming off the worst season of his career, says he is not even sore.

-Giants starting cornerback Aaron Ross has suffered an apparent hamstring injury in this morning's practice, and early reports are that it doesn't look good.

-Titans wide receiver Nate Washington, a member of last year's Super Bowl champion Steelers, is out for the rest of the preseason and could miss the start of the regular season because of a hamstring injury.

-The Titans have at times been linked to free-agent wide receiver Marvin Harrison, but Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole talked to five NFL executives who said that Harrison's age and his reputation as a difficult personality make him an undesirable acquisition.

-Another quarterback controversy has been decided, as 49ers coach Mike Singletary has named Shaun Hill the starter over former number-one draft pick Alex Smith. Singletary cited Hill's presence on the field and his leadership skills in handing him the job.

-In Cleveland, Eric Mangini is not ready to call a winner in the competition between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn for the Browns' starting job.

-Edgerrin James could sign with the Seahawks today.

-Eagles officials met with animal-rights groups yesterday to discuss initiatives to stop dogfighting, in the wake of the predictable outrage over Philadelphia's signing of Michael Vick. An Eagles spokeswoman called the meeting tough but constructive.

-Federal prosecutors have charged Mary Wong, a woman who once acted as a financial advisor for Vick and other NFL players, with stealing more than $3 million in a Ponzi scheme. It's not clear if Vick was among the victims.

-In his first interview since pleading guilty to weapons charges that will put him in prison for two years, wide receiver Plaxico Burress says security at the New York nightclub Latin Quarter knew he was carrying a gun adding, "it wasn't like I was trying to hide it."

 Tags  Football Today Vince Redd

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