Patriots Links for Thursday, 1/24

Mark Maske with the Washington Post has an interesting article on how the rules changes made in response to the physical 2004 Patriots defense have helped make the 2007 Patriots what they are today.

The Patriots went back to work today, but Bill Belichick would not discuss Tom Brady's injury.  Brady was not in the locker room or on the practice field during the brief times the media had access to those places, either.  With the Herald, John Tomase talked to Joe Theismann about Brady's injury.  Theismann thinks it will not be an issue.

In other injury news, backup safety Mel Mitchell was placed on the IR today, Mike Reiss reports on his blog.

Reiss also spoke with Doug Flutie, who is impressed with the tactical changes the Patriots often make mid-game.

Those tactics, of course, are at the direction of Bill Belichick, who has something in common with Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin:  both served as assistant coaches to Bill Parcells.  Dan Shaughnessy examines the time they spent working together.  Tomase has a similar article.

Tomase also has a story on Jabar Gaffney, the only WR who played for the Patriots last year and this season.

Karen Guregian spoke with John Hannah, who has high praise for the Patriots offensive line.

But the Giants' Osi Umenyiora recently insinuated that a member of that offensive line, Matt Light, is a dirty player.  When will these opponents learn?  I now agree with Eric Wilbur, who says the Giants have no chance to win Super Bowl XLII.

Finally, on a more important note, Ben Watson recently founded his 'One More' charity.

Watson founded the foundation with his wife Kirsten under the premise that if everyone can simply help just "one more" person, a legacy of caring, generosity and community will be established. The foundation will not be attached to a specific cause or charity but will help various charities and foundations assisting the needy with such issues as food, clothing, education and medical attention.