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"Practice... we're talkin' `bout practice"

Thanks in advance for letting me indulge in a little Allen Iverson.

Anyway, there were some interesting players on the field -- and not on the field -- for New England during the open media period.

Not seen:
QB Tom Brady (likely just a day of rest)
RB Laurence Maroney (ditto)
T Matt Light
T Nick Kaczur
DL Ty Warren
S Tebucky Jones
WR Chad Jackson
S Guss Scott
LB Chad Brown
DL Dan Klecko
S Raymond Ventrone
LB Freddie Roach
LB Tedy Bruschi (wrist surgery)
FB Patrick Pass (PUP list)
WR Deion Branch (still no sign of him)

Taking part in practice for the first time in quite a while was DL Marquise Hill; RB Corey Dillon was also out there after apparently getting poked in the eye durihg Saturday's game, though he wasn't talking much during the locker room access period. DL Jarvis Green was back out there after missing much of last week.

Rookies David Thomas and Willie Andrews were both wearing red no-contact jerseys. Thomas missed practice last Thursday and did not take part in the game against Washington; Andrews did play Saturday.

The players were in pads and shorts.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Monday morning notes

Hey all --

Just back from the locker room access period, which followed coach Belichick's press conference. As Belichick noted, with the Patriots playing their final preseason game on Thursday against the Giants, the team is trying to fit seven days of work into five.

Belichick said he had no roster moves to report, though the team has to cut 10 players by 4 p.m. tomorrow. He also said -- through pursed lips -- that there was no update on the Deion Branch situation.

About the team's red zone play (New England was seven-for-seven Saturday):
"Well, it's been erratic. We've been down there 18 times [during the preseason], scored nine, whatever it is, it's not a lot. We'd like to have a few more touchdowns, a few less field goals."

Getting to as many situations as possible during preseason:
"Well, there's a lot of situations you'd like to have in preseason; you're probably not going to get all of them. The ones you get, you take, the ones you don't, you keep working on because they'll come up eventually. There's 20 situations I'd like to see us have -- you don't want to see us on third-and-20, but it's good to be in third-and-20 because it's going to happen sooner or later. I'd like to see them in third-and-20."

Belichick said Tebucky Jones, who seemed to suffer a leg injury Saturday, and Corey Dillon, who was poked in the eye, are "day to day," as is rookie receiver Chad Jackson, who has not practiced in several weeks.

More when I get back from practice.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments 0