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Friday injury update

There were no changes on either side to the final injury report of the week, which is good news because it means Richard Seymour isn't on it. After he missed Wednesday's practice, it was reported that Seymour was tending to a family matter; that would appear to be the case today as well.

So, Bruschi (wrist), Jackson (hamstring), Kaczur (shoulder), Hawkins (thigh) and Mills (flu) are all questionable for New England and Gabriel (hamstring), Harrison (flu) and Brady (right shoulder) are all probable.

All but Brady were reported to have missed a portion of practice today.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

The big 1-0-0

Hello again --

Lost in all the hubbub this week -- something about a wide receiver and a former coach -- was the fact that Bill Belichick won his 100th regualr season game as a head coach last Sunday.

So we finally asked him about it yesterday. Characteristically, he said now is not the time to sit and reflect.

"It was nice to win; it's nice to win the opener. I think that's the most important thing. I'm sure there will be a day to look back and count `em up or whatever, but I mean right now the only thing I care about is the `06 season. Believe me, I'd rather have 100 than 99 this week, I'm not saying that, but I'm just really focused on what our record is this season."

Though you can't tell from his formal comments, Belichick was appreciative that someone remembered to ask about his milestone. He's the 30th man to reach 100 regular-season wins in NFL history.

We'll post the updated injury list and that will likely be it until we get to beautiful Giants Stadium/The Meadowlands before the game on Sunday. Unless, of course, Bam Childress gets cut again. Or placed on the 53-man roster.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Tedy talks!

Linebacker Tedy Bruschi talked to the media for the first time since breaking the scaphoid bone in his right wrist on July 31 and subsequently undergoing surgery on the bone.

Bruschi said he doesn't know just when he broke the bone, he just remembers coming in off the field that day, removing his tape job and feeling that something wasn't right. He iced it, but when the pain was still there, he went to head trainer Jim Whalen to get it looked at.

Though he famously came back from a stroke suffered in February 2005, Bruschi said there was no "now this?" element after he broke his wrist just days into training camp.

"Not at all," he said. "Football is a sport where these things happen. I can't relate the two (the wrist and the stroke). All this was was a broken wrist."

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Friday morning

Hey again -- I know I'm a bit out of order (posting practice items before Belichick items) but it couldn't be helped.

Anyway, it was the usual small Friday crowd today. Belichick began his press conference by saying the team was wrapping up a "good week of preparation" for the Jets.

The coach touched on one of his favorite players, Kevin Faulk, who lined up wide for his horizontal touchdown grab last Sunday. "On that touchdown pass, that was a really a double move where he ran the hook-and-go and that was a way to get a double move like that on a linebacker, who's usually you're not used to seeing that type of route but it was a good matchup, Kevin ran a good route and Tom made a good throw," Belichick said.

"I think he's very good in the passing game, very good. Runs good routes, catches the ball, can run after the catch. Smart, understands coverages, knows how to get open, knows when to pull up, when to keep going, stuff like that. He's very good at that."

Topics today also included the development of linebacker/special teamer Eric Alexander, more on Eric Mangini, the difficulties of kicking in the windy Meadowlands, the strength of New York's special teams, the flu that has crept into the Pats' locker room ("That's unusual this time of year," Belichick said), and Chad Jackson and Tedy Bruschi.

On Jackson's progress: "Well, it's good to see him back out there. At least he's out there, so that's good. We have to decide [if he's learned enough to play this week] when we make our active list."

As for Bruschi, "He's doing good. He sends you his best," Belichick quipped to the inquisitor, the Globe's Mike Reiss.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Practice doings

Hey all --

Just in from practice, and things were different yet again today. Richard Seymour was not on the field, nor was Garrett Mills, though Rodney Harrison was.

Harrison missed yesterday's practice (or at least a portion of it) due to the flu; Mills missed practice on Wednesday, though not yesterday. Seymour also missed practice on Wednesday, though it was later reported he was tending to a family matter; the defensive lineman was at practice yesterday but was not spotted again today.

Artrell Hawkins, who apparently suffered a thigh injury yesterday during practice, was on the field as well. Tedy Bruschi, Chad Jackson and Nick Kaczur, the other players listed as questionable on yesterday's injury report, were at practice, as they have been all week.

Reporters were only allowed on the field for stretching. The players were in shoulder pads and shorts.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments 0