Projo Pats Blog

September 13, 2009 - September 19, 2009 Archives


Injured Pats Connolly, Slater and Wheatley won't play Sunday

9:04 PM Sat, Sep 19, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mark Divver    Email

BOSTON (AP) -- The New England Patriots have downgraded three players for Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Offensive lineman Dan Connolly, who had a back injury, won't be playing in the game at Meadowlands. Wideout Matt Slater, who......

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Adalius Thomas fined $5,000 for roughing the passer penalty

3:52 PM Fri, Sep 18, 2009 | | Comments (5)
By Mike McDermott    Email

Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas has been fined $5,000 for what many saw as a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty in Monday night's season opener. The penalty came in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game, when Thomas wrapped up 231-pound Bills quarterback......

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Week 2: Friday practice peek

12:06 PM Fri, Sep 18, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Once again, Jerod Mayo was the only Patriots player not at practice today. It is an absolutely beautiful September day for the players to work out in, a stark difference from the gray skies and windy conditions of the last......

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Football Today: Kris Jenkins describes 'New York mentality' (updated with picks)

11:38 AM Fri, Sep 18, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins explains in today's New York Post that the Jets' boastful attitude is just the way they are, as a true New York team. Jenkins, who is actually from Detroit, said the Patriots "will see a......

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Week 2 -- Thursday practice report

3:54 PM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

For the Patriots LB Jerod Mayo -- DNP, knee C Dan Connolly -- LP, back WR Julian Edelman -- LP, ankle G Stephen Neal -- LP, back LB Rob Ninkovich -- LP, calf DL Myron Pryor -- LP, calf WR......

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Derrick Brooks still wants to play this season, and praises Pats

1:46 PM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

Linebacker Derrick Brooks, who has reportedly drawn interest from the Patriots, but who has signed to become a studio analyst for ESPN, might not be in the broadcast game for long. This afternoon, on SportsCenter's live show, Brooks said that......

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Week 2 -- Thursday pracitce peek

1:33 PM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Once again, LB Jerod Mayo was the only player not on the field during the media-access window at practice. The players were in full pads.......

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Mayo hobbles through locker room

12:28 PM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Just as the Patriots' locker room was opened to media today, Jerod Mayo was walking out, but not before reporters saw him with his right knee in a brace and using crutches to walk. He was with team strength and......

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Football Today: Jets' Rhodes intent on 'embarrassing' Patriots

rhodes_0917.jpg 11:22 AM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

One of these years the Jets will again rise to the top of the AFC East. It might even be this year. In order to do that, they'll probably have to beat the Patriots, which is something they've done far......

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Pats will miss Mayo's talents against the Jets

9:30 AM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

By ROBERT LEE Journal Sports Writer FOXBORO -- With Jerod Mayo out with a sprained MCL, linebacker Gary Guyton will take over his duties as the quarterback of the defense. And while Belichick said that he has full confidence in......

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Conflicting reports on whether Tom and Gisele are having a boy

8:42 AM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mark Divver    Email

A boy for Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady? The National Enquirer reports that the baby is a male and that the couple are leaning toward naming him Gabriel. Not so fast, says The Boston Globe. The Globe has a source......

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Pats vs. rookie quarterbacks

8:41 AM Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

By ROBERT LEE Journal Sports Writer FOXBORO -- Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez is looking forward to playing the Patriots in the Meadowlands on Sunday. But rookie quarterbacks haven't had too much success against a Bill Belichick coached defense. According......

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Week 2 -- Wednesday practice report

4:09 PM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

For the Patriots LB Jerod Mayo -- DNP, knee C Dan Connolly -- LP, back WR Julian Edelman -- LP, ankle LB Rob Ninkovich -- LP, calf DL Myron Pryor -- LP, calf WR Matthew Slater -- LP, elbow LB......

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Jets coach appeals to fans for noise on Sunday vs. the Pats

2:39 PM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Comments (3)
By Mark Divver    Email

The Jets have made no bones about the fact that they are treating Sunday's visit from the Patriots like the Super Bowl. The latest development is that coach Rex Ryan left a voicemail with season-ticket-holders appealing for vocal support against......

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Week 2 -- Wednesday practice peek

1:34 PM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

New England is holding its first practice of the week under very gray skies; players are in shells and shorts/sweatpants. There was one player not spotted: linebacker Jerod Mayo. Matthew Slater, who suffered an ugly-looking left elbow injury in the......

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Week 2 -- On Rex, Sanchez and the Pats-Jets rivalry

12:33 PM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Media access for the day is mostly done, as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have held their press conferences and some players took time to chat in the locker room. The practice window opens shortly. Here at Gillette, there are......

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Pats might be interested in signing Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks?

11:50 AM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

-- With Jerod Mayo shelved for a few weeks with a reported sprained MCL, one linebacker that the Patriots are interested in adding to the team is Tampa Bay free agent Derrick Brooks, the Boston Herald is reporting, citing an......

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Brady named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week

11:34 AM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

FOXBORO - The accolades keep on coming for Tom Brady. The NFL announced today that Tom Brady has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Patriots' 25-24 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills......

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Buffalo still reeling after Monday night loss

11:00 AM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Mark Divver    Email

Looks like it's going to take Bills fans a while to get over Monday night's debacle in Foxboro. According to the Buffalo News, nitwit fans vandalized the lawn of Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin, whose fumble open the door for Tom......

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Chicago officials block Walter Payton statue outside Soldier Field

10:09 AM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Mike McDermott    Email

On the surface, there would not seem to be a more fitting person to memorialize at Chicago's Soldier Field than Walter Payton, formerly the NFL's all-time rushing leader, a man who represented his franchise with class and dignity and died......

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Patriots don't like roughing calls on Wilfork and Thomas

8:43 AM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Comments (2)
By Robert Lee    Email

FOXBORO -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't quite sure why Vince Wilfork and Adalius Thomas received roughing-the-passer penalties Monday night. In the third quarter, Wilfork hit Bills quarterback Trent Edwards in the thighs a split second after Edwards threw......

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Nobody has kissed Belichick's rings

8:28 AM Wed, Sep 16, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Robert Lee    Email

By ROBERT LEE Journal Sports Writer FOXBORO -- Jets coach Rex Ryan said in an interview with a New York radio station this year that he didn't want to coach the Jets to "kiss Bill Belichick's rings." "I came to......

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Report: Mayo has sprained MCL, could miss 8 weeks

10:14 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Monday's game, according to a report tonight by The Boston Globe's Christopher Gasper. The report cites two unnamed "sources with direct knowledge" of the injury. One......

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Mangini's role in Favre injury unclear

mangini_0916.jpg 9:50 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Browns coach Eric Mangini can't seem to escape from New York. The NFL is investigating Mangini's role in the Jets' failure to list quarterback Brett Favre's arm problem on injury reports last season. Mangini coached the Jets......

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Conference call transcripts: Bill Belichick, Nick Caserio, Dean Pees

8:09 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Comments (2)
By Mike McDermott    Email

BILL BELICHICK BB: We have a quick turnaround here with this short week. We watched the film this morning from the Buffalo game and try to make the corrections on that and get some of those problems fixed as they......

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McKelvin, Monday night's goat, is the victim of vandalism near Buffalo

7:55 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

HAMBURG, N.Y. (AP) - The front lawn of a home belonging to Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin was vandalized following Buffalo's season-opening loss to New England. Hamburg police on Tuesday confirmed the home of a Bills player was vandalized, but declined......

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Pats-Bills game was highest-rated cable TV program of 2009

7:34 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

According to the Patriots public-relations department, Monday night's season-opening game against the Bills attracted the largest audience of any program on cable television this year. The game garnered a 10.3 rating, reaching an average of 10.2 million households, which made......

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Belichick says Mayo's injury is not season-ending

6:48 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

Associated Press It appears Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo will return to the field at some point this season. New England coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday he doesn't think last year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is done for the......

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Who Is Rob Ninkovich?

2:41 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Comments (2)
By Jim Donaldson    Email

And what is he doing playing for the Patriots while wearing Mike Vrabel's old number? For starters -- which, who knows, Ninkovich may be come Sunday at the Meadowlands against the Jets -- Ninkovich is no Vrabel, who was......

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The legend of Tom Brady grows

1:42 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Mark Divver    Email

According to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, here is what Tom Brady said in the huddle with 5:32 left and the Patriots trailing by 13: "Get your hats on. We're gonna score before the two-minute warning, get the ball back,......

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Time to get a backup QB with experience

12:32 PM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Jim Donaldson    Email

In Bill we trust. Or was it Scott? In any event, Scott Pioli is now in Kansas City, where he has quarterback problems of his own stemming from Matt Cassel's preseason knee injury that sidelined Tom Brady's former clipboard......

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A few leftovers from a memorable Monday night

8:51 AM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mark Divver    Email

*****FANCY FOOTWORK: Even with a surgically repaired knee, Tom Brady showed after time ran out Monday night that he can avoid the rush. Brady did everything but stiff-arm ESPN's persistent Suzy Kolber as she chased him down the field......

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Pats 25, Bills 24: New England takes advantage of McKelvin's mistake

1:50 AM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

The two songs don't have much in common; different eras, different genres. But as veteran Adalius Thomas bumped Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" from his locker and rookie Pat Chung had Jay-Z's "Run This Town" from his, both seemed......

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Pats keep Terrell Owens in check

12:02 AM Tue, Sep 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

By ROBERT LEE Journal Sports Writer FOXBORO -- The Pats held Buffalo Pro Bowl receiver Terrell Owens to just two catches for 46 yards. Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards only threw to him three times, but Edwards said that Owens' leadership......

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Pats get win but Belichick has a lot to fix

11:48 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

By ROBERT LEE Journal Sports Writer FOXBORO -- For a coach like Bill Belichick, the way their season opener against Buffalo played out was probably a good thing. The Pats got a 25-24 victory and he will get to show......

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Pats-Bills postgame: Maroney happy to be back

11:31 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Laurence Maroney was back to his wide-smiling, silly-joke-telling self after the game, the first time he's been in pads for New England since Week 4 last season in San Francisco. Maroney took the opening kickoff of the game 52 yards,......

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Pats and Bills put fans through a rollercoaster of emotions

11:26 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

By ROBERT LEE Journal Sports Writer FOXBORO -- The Patriots and Bills put their fans through a rollercoaster of emotions in both teams' season opener with the Pats pulling off a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback to prevail, 25-24. "It's a tough......

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Pats-Bills postgame: Without Mayo, defense plays on

11:13 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

While there was a palpable excitement in the Patriots locker room after their improbable win over Buffalo, there was also a bit of a dark cloud for the team: linebacker Jerod Mayo, ready to assume the mantle of the leader......

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Pats-Bills postgame: Without Mayo, defense plays on

11:13 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

While there was a palpable excitement in the Patriots locker room after their improbable win over Buffalo, there was also a bit of a dark cloud for the team: linebacker Jerod Mayo, ready to assume the mantle of the leader......

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Pats-Bills postgame: Bump, bump, bump...

11:06 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

...another one bites the dust. And another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust!" Bump, bump, bump... The Queen classic poured from the ipod speaker deck at Adalius Thomas' locker. In 2007, it was a familiar......

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Patriots 25, Bills 24: Pats rally from 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit

10:25 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Comments (2)
By Art Martone    Email

FOXBORO - As a rookie last year, Leodis McKelvin signed a hefty five-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. Which means he probably had enough money to buy his own plane ticket back to Western New York. After his blunder in......

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Anonymity is . . .

9:17 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Art Martone    Email

. . . playing nine years in the National Football League, making the Pro Bowl twice, earning All-Pro honors once, winning three Super Bowls, and being called the wrong name throughout the night by one of the color commentators. Ex-Raider......

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Pats-Bills: Moss moves up list

9:02 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

In the span of three catches, Randy Moss took two steps up the NFL's all-time receptions list and recorded his 60th career 100-yard game. Catching three consecutive passes during the Pats' last drive, he notched his 849th, 850th and 851st......

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Mayo won't return

8:52 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Jim Donaldson    Email

FOXBORO -- Linebacker Jerod Mayo, who led the team tackles last year as a rookie, did not come out for the second half after leaving the game in the first quarter with a knee injury. If the injury is serious,......

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Pats-Bills: Light getting embarrassed; Buffalo leads at halftime

8:24 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Comments (2)
By Jim Donaldson    Email

FOXBORO -- And he's not the only one, as the Patriots trail the Bills, 14-10 at halftime. When Tom Brady last faced the Bills, the Pats put up 56 points, winning big at Buffalo, 56-10, on Nov.18, 2007. Earlier that......

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Pats struggled in first quarter, down by 7

7:43 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Robert Lee    Email

FOXBORO -- With a high-powered offense and an unproven defense playing without six starters from last year's squad, the last position that New England wanted to be in at the end of the first quarter tonight was trailing by a......

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Pats-Bills: Mayo's return questionable

7:43 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

While tackling Bills' running back Fred Jackson, Jerod Mayo suffered an injury to his right knee. It was just announced that his return is questionable. To state the obvious, it is not at all a good thing if Mayo is......

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Pats-Bills: Buffalo inactives

6:58 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

For the Bills QB Gilbran Hamdan (third quarterback) WR Steve Johnson DB Ellis Lankster CB Drayton Florence LB Ashlee Palmer T Kirk Chambers TE Derek Fine DE Chris Ellis......

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Pats-Bills: New England inactives

5:57 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

The Patriots have just announced their inactive players for the night: OL Dan Connolly WR Julian Edelman RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis OL Rich Ohrnberger DL Myron Pryor OL Kendall Simmons S Matthew Slater CB Terrence Wheatley......

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Chalk Talk afternoon -- Edelman reminds Troy of himself

5:46 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Troy Brown was one of 19 members of the 50th anniversary all-time team, along with Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Nick Buoniconti, Andre Tippett, Sam "Bam" Cunningham, Jon Morris, Gino Cappelletti, Ben Coates, Stanley Morgan, Irving Fryar, Julius Adams, Houston Antwine,......

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Chalk Talk afternoon -- Kraft will always consider Seymour a Patriot

5:37 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Robert Kraft, who expressed a great deal of excitement for tonight's game -- he is, after all, a fan first -- was asked about Richard Seymour and the difficulty of letting go of players who have given so much to......

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Pats-Bills: Welker warming up

5:35 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Receiver Wes Welker is currently on the field with several of his teammates, warming up. Welker, officially listed as questionable with a knee injury, is in his game pants, which is a pretty good sign that he'll be active tonight.......

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Chalk Talk afternoon -- Goodell talks labor, Seymour, injury list

5:12 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

On the afternoon of each Monday Night Football game, ESPN hosts a Chalk Talk luncheon event, inviting players from each of the teams playing that night to discuss their MNF memories; community charities also get some recognition. This being the......

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Pats-Bills: Welcome to Gillette

3:07 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Shalise Manza Young    Email

Hey all -- Am I the only one who felt like this day would never get here?? There's been excitement in the air all day here at Gillette, and I've been here since around noon for ESPN's Chalk Talk presentation......

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Report: Welker a go for opener

3:03 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

Wes Welker, who was listed as questionable for tonight's game because of a knee injury, is expected to play, according to NFL.com's Jason La Canfora, via Twitter.......

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Broncos player injured by fall in locker room

2:36 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Denver Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen will miss a few weeks after injuring his shoulder in a freak fall in the locker room at Cincinnati. Larsen slipped on a wet surface and injured a shoulder while trying......

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3 NFL players, including Brown grad Morey, agree to donate brains for injury research

morey_0914.jpg 2:28 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

BOSTON (AP) - Three NFL players announced Monday they have donated their brains and spinal cord tissue to a Boston University medical school program that studies sports brain injuries. Even though dozens of former NFL players have agreed to donate......

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Red Sox weigh in with their NFL, Patriots predictions

1:34 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mark Divver    Email

Rocco Baldelli has the first pick in the Red Sox fantasy football draft, and he's going with either Maurice Jones-Drew or Adrian Peterson. That's one of the nuggets gleaned by ESPNBoston.com's Louise Cornetta, who checked in with a few Red......

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Patriots opening-day history: Week 1 results through the years (with gallery)

1:21 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

-The Patriots are 25-24 all-time in opening day games, and 17-11 in opening-day games played at home. -New England has won five consecutive season openers, and five straight season openers at Foxboro. They won six straight season openers from......

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Football Today (update): Urlacher says he's out for the season

11:36 AM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

-Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has said this morning, via text message to the Chicago Tribune, that his season is over as a result of a dislocated wrist he suffered in the first quarter of Sunday night's loss in Green Bay.......

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Al Davis says Raiders nearly hired Belichick in 1999

10:12 AM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mark Divver    Email

At the news conference Saturday night after Richard Seymour decided to report to Oakland, Raiders president-for-life Al Davis mentioned that when he was looking for a coach in 1999, it came down to Jon Gruden or Bill Belichick. Davis wanted......

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Patriots vs. Bills: Inside New England's streak of dominance

moss_0914.jpg 8:49 AM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Mike McDermott    Email

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach Randy Moss hauls in a touchdown pass as Buffalo's Jabari Greer fails to make a play during win number eight in the Patriots' record-tying streak against the Bills. The Patriots tonight will be looking......

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