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It's hair day! / Photo

AP photo / Charles Krupa
Rookies Zach West, left, and Oscar Lua walk onto the field after getting their hair buzzed by veterans during training camp.

Hey all -

Yes, it is Hair Day at Pats Camp, the day when the rookies get their "lovely" haircuts. Oscar Lua had his whole head shaved save for a patch at the front and a patch at his nape.

Players who had either bald heads already or dreads lost their eyebrows.

Today is also Bon Jovi day - not only were we treated to a healthy dose of the band's music this morning, but Bill Belichick's BFF Jon Bon Jovi, is here visiting as well. He makes a visit every year.

As for the absences, they are plenty:

Tom Brady (a day of rest? Or on baby duty?)
Artrell Hawkins
Larry Anam
Gemara Williams
Kyle Bissinger
Randy Moss
Kyle Brady
Ty Warren
Adalius Thomas
Mike Wright

The players are in full pads.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Jarvis Green Foundation Gala

Jarvis Green has rescheduled his wine-tasting charity fundraiser event. It was originally scheduled for June 1, but was canceled after the death of former teammate Marquise Hill. The fundraiser was originally to benefit single mothers in New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina victims, but now includes Hill's family (he left a fiancee and toddler son).

A ticket includes the wine-tasting, hors d'ourves, and live jazz by Ameranouche. There will also be an auction; one of the items available is a one-on-one kicking session with Stephen Gostkowski.

So here are the new details:

When: Friday, September 21, 2007 from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

Where: Johnson & Wales Inn in Seekonk, MA
213 Taunton Ave
Seekonk, MA 02711
(508) 336-8700

Why: To benefit single mothers in New Orleans, victims of Hurricane Katrina and the family of the late Marquise Hill, former New England Patriots and teammate of Jarvis Green, who died tragically in an accident earlier this year.

Tickets are $100 each or eight for $700

To purchase tickets, please visit:
Chris Gasbarro's Fine Wine & Spirits, Rt. 6 Seekonk or 27 Market St.,Swansea
Jamiel's Shoe World, 1000 Bald Hill Rd Warwick or 471 Main St, Warren
Johnson & Wales Inn, 213 Taunton Ave, Seekonk
or call 310-289-4476.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Dope of the week: the return

Hey all --

Dope of the Week has been on the shelf for a while, and even though Michael Vick is a more than worthy contender (actually, he might get the lifetime achievement award), we've found a more "local" dope.

And this one pains me a bit because it's a fellow Orangeman. Person. Whatever.

Tennessee linebacker Keith Bulluck was clearly sniffing glue before the comments he made to the Tennesseean yesterday about still harboring bad feelings toward the Patriots after last year's season-ending 40-23 home loss.

"Just the way they were acting after the game kind of irked me. A couple of the guys on the team weren't being too professional. It is only a preseason game, but No. 87 (Reche Caldwell) needs to keep his head on a swivel, that's all I've got to say.''

Bulluck even called out the Pats' Methuselah, Vinny Testaverde: "I hope his old (butt) is in there too."

Testaverde threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, extending his NFL record of consecutive seasons with a scoring pass to 20; Caldwell was apparently seen waving to the Titans' bench at the end of the game (the loss knocked the Titans out of the playoffs) and also had a 62-yard score.

We have several issues with Bulluck's statements, chief among them this: it is a preseason game. He even noted that himself in that first quote there. Preseason games, for starters like Bulluck, are for getting ready, hitting a little bit, and mostly not getting hurt.

Rodney Harrison will already be trying to suppress the anger he still feels for the way his trip to LP Field ended last year, when a questionable-but-legal block from Bobby Wade (now with the Vikings) gave him a season-ending knee injury. Harrison said Titans players were laughing as he lay on the ground writhing. Now you want to give him more ammo? Although to his credit, Harrison essentially said this week that the game was in the past and would stay that way.

Secondly -- this is a two-parter -- Testaverde isn't with the Patriots right now. And besides that, Tennessee was losing, it was a bit of history for a guy that's mostly respected, and if you didn't want him to get the record, then maybe you should have, I don't know, tried to prevent it from happening (hello!). Or maybe even one of the four touchdowns or two field goals New England scored before that...that's me though.

Bottom line: Bulluck should have known better. The Patriots feed on locker-room stuff like this, and have been known to manufacture it at times to further their cause.

But welcome to our list of honorees, Keith.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Wednesday morning practice

Is this deja vu? The Patriots morning practice is just like last Wednesday morning - there are just 32 players on the field, all of the rookies and backup players.

The players are in pads, though we haven't seen a lot of hitting yet.

But it is quite the perfect morning out here - not too hot, a nice breeze.

We'll have more later.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments 1