New England Patriots Links 11/03/09 - Brady Feeling Great; Ty Warren Ready to Play

Bill Belichick evaluates where the team is right now and where they need to be.

Well, we need to be better in a lot of areas, and that’s always the case so, yeah … we looked at some of things we’ve done, trying to find ways to improve it. Certainly, the red area is always a good place to start, on both sides of the ball. And third down — even though statistically, we’re not bad, we could be better there. Score more points. Give up fewer. Keeping the ball in third-down situations. Two-minute. Our special teams, always better coverage. Explosive plays in the return game. The running game, the run defense. All … you know —  everything.

Tom Brady talks about how he feels and how long he'll play the game.

I feel like, I guess I’m 31 now – no, 32 – I feel the best I’ve ever felt. At quarterback, typically, like I said, guys retire due to injury at the quarterback position. A lot of other positions retire because they can’t run anymore. That’s what the game comes down to for 90 percent of the other players. For the quarterback, running is not the issue. I was slow to start, and I’m slower now, and I’ll be slower 10 years from now, but so is Favre, and so is Peyton Manning. With all these guys, no one can run. No quarterbacks can run. Marino couldn’t run. Elway couldn’t run when he got older. Steve Young become more of an in-the-pocket passer as he got older. Montana.

Assuming my arm feels great, there aren’t a lot of other things that are going to keep me from wanting to be out there and wanting to play. Five or six years ago, my arm would hurt every day throwing the football. I always used to think, man, how can I play and always have my arm hurting? Now my arm never hurts. So, like I said, I really understand my arm. It’s something every quarterback should learn. I know how many throws I can make. I know how to get it in shape for the season. And I know how to maintain it during the season. Even when a guy like Haynesworth falls on my shoulder. That could have been pretty significant. But because I think my arm is very flexible, it’s very loose in a good way, it’s able to withstand those sorts of things. If that’s always the case, then I’ll just keep playing until I have my social security if we have that left here in 30 years.

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino notes the Patriots are using their extra time coming off the bye week to prepare for Miami and their trend-setting offense.
• WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady (31:15 min. plus Transcript), Ty Warren & Vince Wilfork (27:45 min. plus Transcript), and Bill Belichick (30:45 min. plus Transcript).
• Monday Conference Calls:  Bill Belichick (15:50 min.), Nick Caserio (8:15 min.), and Dean Pees (9:48 min.) Plus Transcripts.
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Karen Guregian considers the playoff implications of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, and says the Patriots can deliver a knockout blow.
• Albert Breer says there's nothing new about talking Dolphins, and one of them is named Joey Porter.
• Shalise Manza Young notes the Wildcat can be a problem, but it is not the only problem Miami poses.
• Christopher Price likens the 2008 Wildcat to a blockbuster that no one saw coming, but adds that the sequel always struggles to live up to the original.
• Mike Reiss notes New England is entering a key five game stretch.
• Adam Kilgore lists three keys to stopping Miami.
• Adam Kilgore offers Three Questions for Sunday.  Will Randy Moss be single covered?  Will Chad Henne show up?  And, Why don't defenses drill the QB when he splits out wide in the Wildcat?
• Chris Gasper notes the Patriots have a lot to feel good about as they return to work after the Bye.
• Mike Reiss analyzes how the Patriots offense has reshaped its identity in the wake of the failed Joey Galloway experiment.  Now it's a more balanced attack.
• Christopher Price offers some highlights from the Patriots Brain Trust back to work from the bye. 
• Mike Reiss offers the Patriots plan for the week, with today being the first official practice for the week.  Players were at Gillette on Monday for lifting and conditioning.
• Christopher Price mentions the steady stream of free agents being worked out at Gillette over the past 10 days or so.
• Mike Reiss notes the Patriots worked out two running backs and two tight ends on Monday.
• Ian Rapoport explains why LB Pierre Woods is against flossin'.
• Boston Herald Patriots Notebook:: Belichick preps team for Wildcat; Dean Pees says there's nothing wrong with Ron Brace, they'll fit him into the lineup when they need him; Brandon Tate impressed in his London debut, even though he ran the wrong route on the interception; Brady's feeling really good; Ty Warren is ready to play.
• Boston Globe Patriots Notebook: Patriots unafraid of the Wildcat; Belichick very aware of Ted Ginn Jr.'s speed and abilities; Dean Pees talks about Myron Pryor vs. Ron Brace; Ty Warren ready for Sunday.
• Jim Donaldson reports that football, not baseball, is the true 'National Pastime'.
  

NATIONAL NEWS

• Tim Graham (ESPN) Rodney Harrison breaks down the Pats schedule.
• Tedy Bruschi (ESPNBoston) After Bye, Patriots will see Denver copycats.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots playoff chances hinge on division.  Merrill Hoge lays out what the New England Patriots must do over the final nine games to get back to the playoffs.  (45 second video)
• Don Banks (SI) Saints have realistic chance at 16-0.  New Orleans should be 10-0 when it next plays before the Monday night cameras, against visiting New England in Week 12.
• Sean Leahy (USA Today) Do high-scoring Saints have a realistic chance of matching Patriots 16-0 mark?

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Greg Cote (Miami Herald) Noisy Jets gone, Pats next for Dolphins.
• Ethan Skolnick (Sun-Sentinal) Miami Dolphins: It's okay to peek at the playoff picture.
• Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald) Tedd Ginn Jr.'s role under review: How do you get the most out of Ted Ginn?
• Harvey Fialkov (Sun-Sentinal) Tony Sparano: Dolphins' offensive woes will be addressed.
• Andy Cohen (Dolphins.com) Dolphins succeed with unique formula.