Shots Heard 'Round The Web - Patriots Links 10/17/08

LOCAL SHOTS

• Mike Reiss reports that Patriots QB Tom Brady underwent a second procedure on his injured left knee Wednesday to clear out an infection.
• Chris Gasper feels that Cassel has to show he has "it" in the next couple of weeks or his stint as starter could end up as incomplete as his would-be touchdown pass to Randy Moss last Sunday.
• Karen Guregian writes, "While the [defense] hasn’t performed poorly in every game, the Miami and San Diego blowouts sounded the alarm.
• Shalise Manza Young focuses on Sammy Morris and the running game.
• Guregian's Patriots Notebook focuses on Matt Cassel's defense of his play so far, among other news and notes.
• The Globe's Patriots' Notebook states Matt Light returned to practice with no sign of a knee injury, reports on the injured players, and talks a bit about the running game.
• Chad Finn posts the transcript of Matt Cassel's Q & A media session yesterday.
• Jim Lazar puts his money, and the odds, on Cassel to win this week.

LONG SHOTS

• Jason Whitlock (Fox Sports on MSN) asks a great question:  "What would the reaction around the league be if Peyton Manning played for Bill Belichick and never acknowledged a second offseason surgery on his knee?"  I like his answer too.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) tells the Patriots faithful not to give up on their team, and points out the Patriots history of holding it together and rebounding.
• Don Banks (SI) says the Patriots won't switch to rookie Kevin O'Connell as their starting quarterback because Cassel won't give them the two to three straight rough performances that it would take for them to bench him.

FOCUS ON DENVER

• Reiss puts the Broncos in Focus, noting what stands out about Denver, and lists the Bronco's participation report.
• Jim Armstrong (Denver Post) says the thinking there is that the Broncos can beat the Patriots in New England, if they make the big plays on offense.
• Lee Rasizer (Rocky Mountain News) talks with players about the importance of this weeks game.  "There's no question it's a big game for us, especially with a bye coming up," says Bronco center Casey Wiegmann. "It could make or break a season."
• Reiss helps me out by providing some additional links from the Denver perspective.
• Howard Ulman (AP) asserts Denver QB Jay Cutler is a deep threat against the shaky Patriots.