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Tedy on "Parade"

Hey all --

Tedy Bruschi and his wife, Heidi, are on the cover of this week's "Parade" magazine (which comes inside the Sunday Journal, conventiently enough). Inside, the linebacker talks about the 2005 stroke he suffered and his comeback from the potentially-devastating episode. The issue deals with a variety of health matters.

In the story, Bruschi says, "I feel like it's a victory for all stroke survivors every time I put on my uniform."

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

No change to injury report

The injury report reamins the same for both teams:

PATRIOTS

Questionable: Nick Kaczur (shoulder), Chad Jackson (hamstring) and Artrell Hawkins (thigh)

Probable: Tom Brady (right shoulder), Doug Gabriel (hamstring) and Matt Light (knee)

All but Brady reportedly missed a portion of practice today. Light was present at the media portion of practice today, though he had not been Wednesday or Thursday.

BRONCOS

Out: Cedric Cobbs (ankle)

Doubtful: Courtney Brown (knee)

Probable: Mike Bell (finger), Rod Smith (head)

Cobbs and Brown reportedly missed at least a portion of practice.

Unless something of interest happens before Sunday around 5p, we'll talk to you then.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 6:53 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Locker room/wrapup

Hey all --

Even though our access on Fridays comes after practice, there weren't a lot of faces milling around -- or at least, not faces that we can talk to on the record (aka rookies).

Junior Seau held court for a few minutes, as did Ben Watson. Other players were around, with most of the offensive linemen at the game table, as usual.

Forgot to say earlier that when we came in this morning around 10:30a, there were still cranes on the field dismantling the final pieces of equipment from the Rolling Stones concert on Wednesday night. Word was, they were supposed to be done around midnight last night.

While we were on the field for practice -- NBC's Andrea Kremer was there taking notes -- John Madden's Outback Steakhouse cruiser pulled up, though the man himself did not make an appearance. Madden takes the bus everywhere thanks to a dislike of flying.

We'll post the injury update in a couple of hours.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Perfect practice

Well, at least perfect attendance. Matt Light was on the field during media access for the first time this week, and neither David Thomas nor James Sanders was wearing a red no-contact jersey.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Friday morning

Hey all --

Coach Belichick just wrapped up his morning chat with the media. When he came into the room, he asked those of us assembled if we were ready for Denver, the question came back, Are you? He smiled and said, "I hope so."

Not only does Belichick admire Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, but he also has a lot of respect for wideout Rod Smith, and intimated today that he's the best undrafted player in the NFL.

"Every superlative you want to write down about Rod Smith, put it down," Belichick said. "He does it all. And he's killed us."

In six games (one postseason) against the Belichick-led Patriots, Smith has averaged 108 receiving yards per game, with three total touchdowns.

Though he talks a lot about the now, Belichick said that when he's preparing to play a team like Denver, where there is so much history and continuity on the coaching staff, you go back "as far as you think is relevant" in terms of studying game tapes. A lot of that work, he said, is done in the offseason, especially with this game with the Broncos coming so early in the year.

During the offseason, when it became clear that former Green Bay receiver Javon Walker was on the trading block, the Patriots showed a lot of interest in acquiring the one-time Pro Bowler.

How close was he to coming here?

"There were four plane reservations, put it that way," Belichick said. "But there was a lot more to it than that because he wasn't a free agent. He was almost on the plane though."

Denver acquired Walker with a 2006 second-round draft pick; Belichick intimated that was a higher price than the Pats could or would pay.

Belichick also touched on the improvements made by offensive lineman Wesley Britt, who went from the practice squad last year to the active roster this year.

"He's improved tremendously; he needed to get better technique and with his physical body strength," Belichick said.

We're off to practice...

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments 0