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Friday injury report

Hey all --

There were no changes to the Pats' injury report, though the Bengals did add one player. I'll save you the scroll down and refresh your memory:

PATRIOTS

Questionable: S Artrell Hawkins (thigh), CB Elliss Hobbs (wrist), T Nick Kaczur (shoulder), S Eugene Wilson (hamstring), WR Chad Jackson (hamstring)

Probable: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), WR Doug Gabriel (hamstring), T Matt Light (knee), T Ryan O'Callaghan (head)

All except Brady missed a portion of practice.

BENGALS

Out: C Rich Braham (knee), S Dexter Jackson (ankle), WR Tab Perry (hip), DE Frostee Rucker (shoulder)

Doubtful: LB A.J. Nicholson (ankle)

Questionable: WR Antonio Chatman (groin), LB Rashad Jeanty (foot)

Probable: DT Sam Adams (knee), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (foot), T Levi Jones (ankle), S Kevin Kaesviharn (neck), LB Brian Simmons (knee), DE Justin Smith (foot), TE Reggie Kelly (illness)

(Kelly is the new addition.)

All of the players listed as out or doubtful, along with Kelly, missed at least a portion of practice.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 8:48 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Locker room look

Hey all --

As Joey and I mentioned in SS/HS, the locker room was pretty loose today. On Fridays, we get the guys coming in off the practice field, so there's a lot of activity as guys move about.

Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi were among those drawing a media crowd, but all around there were guys with chatting with reprorters.

For those of you interested in the weekly Who I Am, this week's subject is Mike Vrabel. To me, he's such a guy's guy, but he didn't even bristle when I asked him when was the last time he cried. I thought it was interesting, hopefully you will too.

If there are any changes to the injury report, we'll let you know.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

She Said/He Said

You know, this may be counter to the whole point of this debate forum, but I kind of agree with you.

They were pretty loose in the locker room today. And they were pretty loose at practice as well; it seemed like there was a good amount of joking going on while they were stretching, though that also could have been because we were in the fieldhouse so noise is amplified.

For all the talk this week about the Bengals' receivers -- and they are good, don't misunderstand me -- the Steelers exposed some of the team's warts last week. I think this game will be won in the trenches, especially since Cincy's starting center, Rich Braham, is out of the game with a knee injury and the O-line lacks cohesion (Carson Palmer was sacked six times by the Steelers). And if their O-line isn't that great, then I see New England's D-line dominating.

Conversely, Cincy's D-line isn't doing so hot either. The Bengals are giving up over 113 yards rushing per game, and 24 of the 62 (39 percent) first downs by their opponents have come on the ground (compared to 11 of 47 or 24 percent for the Pats) which has to have Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney jazzed. And don't forget, there's also Dillon's history with Cincy giving some added incentive.

Rodney Harrison said this week that Rudi Johnson is as key to Cincy's offense as the receivers because "the running game sets up the passing game and vice-versa." That works for both teams.

But I think the key to this game is New England's defense getting involved. If the defense can put points on the board, it's in the bag.

I think it will be a close game, but the Pats can win.

Pow.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

He Said/She Said

Before you respond to the latest entry I've changed my mind just a little.
Like I said to you in the locker room just moments ago, the team seems very loose and focused. In my experience that is always a good thing. The Pats' Don Davis was walking around handing out union business when Mike Vrabel yelled to him "we'll do this on Monday." Davis agreed and collected the folders, meaning the only thing they should worry about is Cincy.

My pick hasn't changed, but I think New England has a chance. Then again, this could mean I'm thinking with my heart and not my mind.

Joey Mac

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

He Said/She Said

Cincinnati takes this one.

The Patriots have been out of sync in the first three weeks of the season, while the Bengals are firing on all cyclinders, which has been impressive to watch this early. One of two things will happen this weekend. 1. The Pats get blown out. 2. They win by a very narrow margin (Gostkowski 43-yard field goal).
I know that's a very general statement, but looking at the match up it makes too much sense. My feeeling is, however, that New England takes a hit again this weekend. Should make for great talk radio on Monday.

Joey Mac

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

She Said/He Said

Hey Hockeyboy --

First of all, I didn't rip you about bringing up Gostkowski. It is a point of concern. He's still a kid (witness him using writing a term paper and having your computer crash before you could save your work as a comparison to not being properly prepared for the field conditions Sunday) and a kid who, whether he admits it is or not, knows the icon he is replacing.

But, as one of our readers pointed out, that icon, Adam Vinatieri, wasn't exactly a picture of perfection when he first got here either. Vinatieri missed five field goals and three extra point tries in his first season with the Pats. However, don't think Mr. Clutch has been giving the kid pointers -- Gostkowski flatly said this week that he has never spoken to Vinatieri.

I do agree with you -- he *needs* to make a field goal this week to know that it's not him. Josh Miller can tell Stephen all he wants that he hasn't missed a kick yet, but you have to know that in his own mind he's dumping on himself.

Okay, what now? Who do you think wins this Sunday?

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Friday practice

Hey all --

Just spent some quality time in the fieldhouse, and once again the only player not on the field for stretching was Ellis Hobbs, listed as questionable on the injury report with a wrist injury. We haven't seen Ellis in the locker room this week either.

Laurence Maroney was there, though he walked into the building a few minutes late.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

He Said/She Said

Okay,

I have returned after two days back on the hockey beat. The Gostkowski argument is no longer timely since you wrote about him on Thursday (after ripping me for bringing it up) but to add just one more point about the kicking game before we put that episode to bed, I think Sunday is crucial for the rookie.
Coaches are always looking to see how young players responded when faced with a bit of adversity, and Gostkowski is no different. It was good to see him finally talk to the media the other day, despite the gag order on rookies. I was starting to think he didn't have enough nerve.
Like our Brady discussion, I believe he's going to fine. He certainly has the ability to do the job, now he just needs a little help from his line.
Oh, by the way, the P-Bruins look pretty darn good this season.

Joey Mac

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Friday morning

Hey all --

I guess our lovely late-September weather has left us. Practice today is in the Dana Farber Fieldhouse; we'll be headed out there in a bit and then locker room access is after practice.

Coach Belichick, first and foremost, wasn't in his grey sweatshirt today. He had on a navy Patriots polo shirt with his regular navy shorts. But he didn't seem as relaxed as he normally does on a Friday.

The Pats practiced without full pads both Wednesday and Thursday, an unusual move. Belichick did acknowledge that the physical nature of the team's first three games did play a role in that decision.

There was talk of why a holder on placekicks lines up 7-8 yards behind the line of scrimmage, rookie Willie Andrews and the Paul Brown's impact on the game.

Apparently Joey is preparing some big rebuttal for She Said/He Said about the blocked field goals, so we'll let him do that while we go to practice.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments 0