Shots Heard 'Round The Web - Patriots Links 11/17/08

TEAM SHOTS

Listen to Patriots Monday/Friday interviews.  Belichick was on WEEI Friday, after the Jets game, and is always worth hearing in this format.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Mike Reiss takes us back to how the division looked last year and talks about an exciting race to the finish.
• Shalise Manza Young calls Belichick and the Patriots champions of the underdog.
• Mike Reiss spends a Few Minutes With Lonnie Paxton.
• John Tomase asserts the Patriots season hinges on what happens this Sunday in Miami against the Dolphins, and ponders what to do with Cassel next year.
• Steve Buckley says perseverant Matt Cassel rewrites the future, in his tale of transformation.
• The Herald staff discusses the Wild Card race and presents the NFL’s wild card tiebreaker when more than two teams are involved.
• Eric McHugh puts the Dolphins in Focus, after watching them rally to beat the Raiders.
• Bob Halloran points out the New England defense is lacking depth.
• Glen Farley discusses the 1985 Patriots team that snapped an 18-game losing streak in Miami with a win in the AFC Championship game.  --I still have the T-shirt!
  

LONG SHOTS

Peter King (SI) Quote of the week II:  "Ty Law now is gonna back off Randy Moss and give him a free release. I don't know about that one.''
-- Cris Collinsworth, on NFL Network's 34-31 New York Jets win over New England Thursday night, talking with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots lined up for a fourth-and-one at the Jet 16.

• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinal) notes the Miami Dolphins are playing with house money now, as they prepare for the New England Patriots on Sunday.
• Dave Hyde (Sun-Sentinal) The Dolphins are in the playoff hunt and have also had some planets align for them this year: They're completely healthy; Tom Brady's injury opened the AFC East; their schedule is not only full of bad teams, but bad teams flying across the country to play them.
• Peter King (SI) awards Ben watson with his uncontested "Goat of the Week" distinction for simply dropping the ball and coughing up New England's momentum in the process.
• Peter King (SI) also awards former Patriot defensive back Je'Rod Cherry with his "Good Guy of the Week" honor, for auctioning off his 2001 Super Bowl ring to raise money for children's charities around the world.
• Dan Arkush (ProFootball Weekly): Red-hot Jets, resilient Pats both remain in national spotlight.