New England Patriots Links for a Rainy Saturday - 10/03/09

Bill Belichick staunchly defends Randy Moss, disputing the misconception that Moss is one of the laziest receivers in the league.

I thought he showed a lot of toughness last week. I think that's one of the stronger performances I've seen. He was hurting. He had a will and he played through it. I know he's doing a lot better this week than he was last week, but he showed me a lot of toughness in that game.

He's been tough, but I thought that was really ... It was a pretty special performance, going over the middle, blocking, catching short passes, taking a lot of hits, making first downs, and he was making a lot of them. I thought it was a real good performance.

It was just one of those games where the ball came to him. There were a lot of big plays. A lot of those were critical plays, a lot of it was tight coverage. We needed those plays and he came through.

Karen Guregian notes Wes Welker's knee is improving.  He wants to play but is taking it slow.

"Being a football player, you always want to get out there and play," said Welker, who never had missed a game in his career until sitting out the Pats’ last two contests. "The main thing is being smart, and make sure you’re ready for the long haul."

"That’s the key thing of making sure I’m ready to go for the year," he said. "It’s a long season. That’s what we’re working toward."  "Every day I’m just working hard, trying to get it better, and it’s getting better, but we’ll see what happens."

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Ravens Friday Injury Report and practice participation.
• Erik Scalavino Mayo, Wilfork return; Welker hopeful; Friday notes.
• John Cockrell Friday Out-Takes: He ain't Heady, He's my brother; Blooper Reel, and more.
• WEEI Patriots Friday Interviews: Matt Light (16.58  min.), Dan Koppen & Logan Mankins (11.05 min.), Fred Taylor (10.35 min.), and Ben Watson (7.40 min.)
• Patriots All Access:  Sights and sounds from the victory over Atlanta. Belichick talks about the 4th and 1.  Working out with RB Fred Taylor.  Director of Player personnel Nick Caserio.  Coach Belichick breaks down the Ravens D on The Belestrator. Scott Zolak and Christian Fauria look at how Baltimore might defend Tom Brady.  One on one with TE Chris Baker.  (41 min. video)
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Julian Benbow reports that Mayo, Wilfork and Welker were all at practice yesterday, but it doesn't mean any of them will be ready to play on Sunday.
• Chris Gasper notes Belichick discusses Jerod Mayo, who is listed as 'doubtful' on the injury report.
• Ian Rapoport wonders which of the injured players will play or not play, and what the consequences will be.
• Mark Farinella reports former Raven Adalius Thomas wants to dispell the myth that those players who leave Baltimore become underachievers.
• Kevin McNamara notes Fred Taylor gets set for one more meeting with old foe Ray Lewis.
• Jeff Howe reports the undefeated Ravens plan to disrupt Tom Brady and the Patriots.
• Ian Rapoport says the Patriots running backs are well aware of the Ravens' success at stopping the run.
• Julian Benbow Patriots Notebook: Belichick defends Moss; Myron Pryor's new nickname is "Ten-Year" because he plays like a 10-year vet; Belichick talks about preparing for a physical team like the Ravens and reveals that although he supports the efforts by the NFL to raise breast cancer awareness, he will not be wearing a pink hoodie on Sunday.
• Globe 10.0 Kevin DuPont and Steve Zola debate how the Patriots and Ravens matchup.  (2.42 min. video)  Zola is 'not sold' on the Pats running game or their defense.
• John Chandler saw Junior Seau in Boston Thursday night promoting his new television series on Versus called Sports jobs.  Seau would come back to the Patriots if summoned by Bill Belichick.  
• Herald Wire Services reports former Patriot Richard Seymour was fined $7,500 by the league for pulling the hair of Denver tackle Ryan Clady.  I'd say that qualifies for unnecessary roughness.
  

NATIONAL  NEWS

• Mike Reiss (ESPNBoston) Chris Baker discusses his road to New England; Wes Welker still not at 100%; Can the Patriots defense stand up to Baltimore's rushing attack if Vince Wilfork can't play? (1 min. video)
• Ross Tucker (SI) Week 4 viewers guide: What to watch in Ravens-Patriots, and more.  He can't wait to watch "the best team in football play in person."  And he's not talking about the Patriots.
• Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) Flacco making major strides in second NFL season.
• Inside the NFL (NFL.com) Week 4 Pick 6:  Warren Sap picks Baltimore, Cris Colinsworth and Boomer Esiason pick New England.  (5.22 min. video)
• Bill Simmons (ESPN) breaks down who has the best (and worst) shot at raising the Lombardi Trophy after three weeks of NFL action.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Calls and effect: AFC East penalty tracker.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Final Word: AFC East.
  

VIEW FROM BALTIMORE

• Mike Preston (Baltimore Sun) Why I'm picking the Pats, in a close one.
• Ken Murray (Baltimore Sun) Washington appreciated his time in New England.
• Jamison Hensley (Baltimore Sun) Scouting Report: Ravens at Patriots.