Archives for December 2009

On defense, Patriots are drawing upon a thin line (Boston Globe)

Still trying to talk this out (Boston Globe)

Defense keeps it simple (Boston Herald)

No ‘I’ in Vince Wilfork’s team (Boston Herald)

New-look Bills (Boston Herald)

ESPN duo: Randy Moss no quitter (Boston Herald)

Harvard kid answers NFL call (Boston Herald)

Pats defensive line beset by injuries (Metro West Daily News)

Fitzpatrick takes NFL detour (Metro West Daily News)

New coach Fewell has had positive impact on Bills (Providence Journal)

Defensive front is limping (Providence Journal)

Bills quarterback learned his trade while playing for Silver Lake’s Murphy (Brockton Enterprise)

Belichick recalls the night T.O. put on a show (Brockton Enterprise)

Brady still on the defensive about Moss (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Warren reports he’s ready to go (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Come later rounds, Pats would be wise to take Tebow (New Bedford Standard Times)

Pats find simple solution on ‘D’ (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Wilfork misses practice (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Patriots’ road to victory? (Lowell Sun)

Patriots deal with banged-up defensive line (AP)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Warren on Wilfork, Brady on Moss; Wed notes (Patriots.com)

Patriots Locker Room Quotes (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Conference Call Transcript (Patriots.com)

Kevin Faulk Conference Call Transcript (Patriots.com)

Ryan Fitzpatrick Conference Call (Patriots.com)

Perry Fewell Conference Call (Patriots.com)

‘The struggles have been surprising for a team that was an NFL-best 38-10 away from home from 2003-08. That mark includes wins in New England’s last five visits to Orchard Park, N.Y. by a combined score of 163-40, helping to extend its overall winning streak against the Bills to 12.’

‘”They’re still the New England Patriots,” Fewell said. “They still lead our division, they still have Tom Brady, they still have Wes Welker and Randy Moss. They’re still very potent offensively and they still have a solid defense in my opinion. They play good football and it’s a huge challenge for us to go out and play our best football and win that game.”‘

‘Normally, a team would like to shut a team down on the ground and force it to pass, but the Bills are dealing with Tom Brady this week. In its 25-24 loss in Week 1, Buffalo had one of its better games stopping the run (73 yards), only to watch Brady go wild with 53 passes for 378 yards and two scores. Is Buffalo’s secondary, leading the NFL with 25 interceptions, up the challenge? Collecting takeaways is the only sure way to slow Brady down and keep the game close; New England’s three turnovers helped Carolina hang around in a 20-10 loss last Sunday.’

‘The Bills’ nearly three-year steak of sellouts at Ralph Wilson Stadium is in jeopardy with 2,000 tickets left for the Patriots game and 5,000 left for the Jan. 3 game against Indianapolis. If the Colts come to town 15-0 with a chance to cap an undefeated season, that game should sell out, but QB Peyton Manning and other starters could be resting for the playoffs. Indianapolis has already clinched home-field advantage. Colts president Bill Polian, the ex-Bills general manager, told NBC Sports: “Our number one priority … is to get players who are playing hurt as healthy as they can be for the playoffs. That will be our first consideration. After that it’s, who needs playing time among the injured group? After that, everything else falls in line.”‘

‘”I don’t know if I was nervous; I was excited more than being nervous,” Fewell said. “I’ve often wanted to be a head football coach, so I tried to prepare myself for the opportunity. The way the situation occurred was out of my control, but probably more excited than nervous.”‘

‘On what’s been the biggest challenge for him since he’s taken over at QB: I think the moving parts. The fact that we’ve had guys shuffling in and out of the lineup; just being able to develop that continuity, the consistency that goes along with playing with each other, but the thing is that we’ve battled every week. It’s a fun group of guys to play with because you know that they’re going to give you everything they have. But I would say just the continuity which has probably affected our consistency a little bit.’

‘A starter since his second season, Incognito’s fiery style of play eventually got him into trouble. The last straw for the Rams came Sunday, when Incognito was benched in the second half of a 47-7 loss to Tennessee after the guard drew two personal foul penalties for head-butting.’

‘Incognito is a five-year veteran who spent his entire career with the Rams after being drafted in the third round in 2005. He has frequently landed in trouble for playing long after the whistle and was named the dirtiest player in the NFL earlier this year by The Sporting News.’

‘Forget the team, which at 5-8 has little left but pride on the line. How about Fewell himself? With a 2-2 record since taking over as interim head coach, Fewell has an opportunity to solidify himself as a serious candidate to take over the job beyond this season.’

‘”I think he’s played well in his role,” said interim head coach Perry Fewell. “He’s a big safety and a small linebacker. Bryan is really stepping up to the plate for us. It’s not the role he envisioned for himself at the beginning of the season, but it shows you how unselfish he is.”‘

‘Wilson was clearly bothered by what he had just seen as he tossed and turned in his bed. His restless slumber soon came to an end when the evening’s third spirit arrived. Standing at the foot of the bed was the ghostly figure of Jairus Byrd. “Wake Up, Mr. Wilson! Time to see the future!”.’

‘"It feels great," Byrd said. "Any time you can lead the league in interceptions, I think that’s big. But like I’ve said before, with those interceptions I just wish we could’ve done more with them. It would’ve meant a lot more. But at the same time, it’s cool."’

‘”Players can come into the league and actually play a full season,” Mueller told FanHouse.com. “There is a chance to be a starter and lead a team, and guys like … J.P. took full advantage.”‘

‘With Bruce Gradkowski injured with two damaged MCL knee ligaments, Al Davis was looking for an experienced veteran who could help them during the final three weeks of the season. Losman was a natural choice because of his strong arm and how he started to reshape his career in the UFL.’