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Updated Friday injury report

For the Patriots:

Tedy Bruschi, LB: Questionable (wrist)
Chad Jackson, WR: Questionable (hamstring)
Nick Kaczur, T: Questionable (shoulder)
Tom Brady, QB: Probable (right shoulder)
Doug Gabriel, WR: Probable (hamstring)
Stephen Neal, G: Probable (ankle)

The injury report also said that all but Brady missed a portion of practice. Print media were only on the field for the stretching part of the activities.

For Buffalo:
Matt Bowen, S: Questionable (shin)

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 8:16 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Locker room goodies

Hey all --

Jonathan Smith made his first appearance today during a low-key locker room session. Picked up off waivers when he was but by Buffalo, Smith is wearing number 81 with New England and said, "It was a surprise to get picked up by someone in the division, but once I got the call I was happy."

A third-year pro out of Georgia Tech, Smith said he hasn't been given a specific role, just learning the details of the offense: "All I've been doing is learning the plays and do whatever i can to help this team."

After some cajoling from the media, Corey Dillon also spoke and said he that after 10 years, he's still excited for opening day.

Several of the offensive linemen were at the game table, with Matt Light and Dan Koppen playing dominoes and Logan Mankins and Wesley Britt playing backgammon.

Tight end Daniel Graham, who generally provides the musical entertainment -- he almost always has his iPod on, which is hooked up to speakers -- took off his shell when he came off the field and immediately sprayed it with Febreze. I don't know why, but I found that humorous. Graham was playing some reggae yesterday, but often has 70s R&B as his soundtrack.

Though he has practiced for two days, Tedy Bruschi has yet to make an appearance in front of the media.

Unless some news breaks between now and the start of the game, we'll be talking to you again Sunday.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Practice peek

It was once again a short look at practice. Well, not practice for us writers, just stretching.

What did we see in that time, you ask?

Everyone was there except Deion Branch. Bruschi, Chad Jackson, Nick Kaczur... perfect attendance fail one wide receiver.

Rookie defensive lineman LeKevin Smith was once again in a red no-contact jersey, and rookie DB/WR/PR/KR Willie Andrews continues to wear a white (offense) jersey, though he is still listed as a DB on the roster.

More later.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Friday morning

Hey all --

Bill Belichick just finished up his Friday morning press conference, the last time we will see the coach until after Sunday's game.

He was upbeat, as he generally is on Fridays, but seemed even moreso today given that it is the season opener.

Though he is a veteran of 31 NFL coaching seasons, Belichick said he still gets nervous and excited before games -- but he does get sleep. He brought up an adage his father used to used when Bill asked him about his teams: "The hay's in the barn."

"Sleep's not a problem. Pardon the pun, but I can put it to bed," Bill said. "You've got it at this point or you don't. You're not going to change the result of the game 24 or 48 hours before. Be confident in your work."

Things are a bit different today, in that first we can take a peek at practice and then will have locker room access after that, around 1:15.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments 0