New England Patriots Links 12/11/09 - Brady Misses Second Day of Practice With Rib Injury

by Marima on Dec 11, 2009 9:42 AM EST in New England Patriots News

Wes Welker selected to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team.

USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and the NFL Players Association have selected wide receiver WES WELKER of the New England Patriots and 25 other NFL players to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team. This 26-man roster honors the NFL's most fundamentally-sound players who also commit themselves to service in their communities.

This honor recognizes Welker as an example for youth players – particularly wide receivers – to emulate due to his ability to properly catch the ball with his hands.

In addition to his fundamentally-strong play, Welker does exemplary work in his hometown of Oklahoma City. The six-year NFL veteran created the 83 Foundation, which provides underprivileged children of Oklahoma City to reach their full potential through values and mentoring relationships gained through football.

Adam Kilgore explains why Adalius Thomas will not be cut this year.

The Patriots are responsible for $4.4 million in guaranteed bonuses for Thomas each of the next two seasons, a total of $8.8 million that counts against the salary cap if Thomas is cut.

But the league is currently scheduled to operate without a salary cap in 2010, which alters the ramifications. Cutting Thomas, according to league sources, would force the Patriots to add all of the additional $8.8 million of Thomas’s bonus to this year’s salary cap. That makes releasing him prohibitive.

So for the next month at least, Thomas will remain a Patriot.

TEAM TALK

Thursday Press Conference: Wes Welker (5:38 min. video) Plus Transcript.
Patriots-Panthers Thursday Practice Participation and Injury Report.
Patriots Today: Thursday practice news, Carolina close-up. (10:43 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

Ian Rapoport says Adalius Thomas finds out what real 'Humble Pie' tastes like, and spits it out.
Shalise Manza Young reports Adalius Thomas refuses to apologize for arriving late.
Dan Shaughnessy portrays Adalius Thomas, aka 'George Jetson' as the latest cartoon character in Boston sports.
Karen Guregian focuses on quiet leader Jerod Mayo about his knee injury, the season not going as he planned, and his style of setting an example instead of making speeches.
Christopher Price offers five things to watch for Sunday afternoon.
Mike Reiss notes preparing to face the Carolina Panthers and their third-rated rushing attack, the Patriots’ run defense will be tested.
Albert Breer explains what the Steelers loss means.
Mike Reiss points out a rib injury is added to Brady's list along with his finger and shoulder.
Ian Rapoport notes Brady's bruises are piling up with his right shoulder, right index finger and now his ribs.
Dan Duggan notes Wes Welker, honored for his sound fundamentals, bought a JUGS football passing machine for his backyard to keep sharp in the offseason.
Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Sebastian Vollmer has been back at practice but was still learning off the field; Darius Butler is still confident despite his rough outing in Miami; Titams Adams says his promotion to the 53-man roster is proof that this organization recognizes hard work;

NATIONAL NEWS

MJD (Yahoo! Sports) Belichick's heave-ho act was both justified and necessary.
Shutdown Corner (Yahoo! Sports) Adalius Thomas is neither motivated nor a Jetson.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Should Belichick bench them? Would he?
Tedy Bruschi (ESPNBoston) Bruschi's breakdown: Pats' focus should be on AFC East.
Howard Bryant (ESPNBoston) Harsh reality is that Patriots are rebuilding.
Troy Aikman (Fox Sports) Five Questions. When is the last time Tom Brady had to call out a teammate?
Tim Graham (ESPN) Steelers' loss gives AFC East more juice.
John P. Lopez (SI) 6-7 Steelers prove (again) they're not equipped to defend title.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Larry Izzo, one of the best special-teamers in NFL history, probably has leveled his last return man after being placed on IR with a herniated disk in his neck.
Adam Teicher (Kansas City Star) Vrabel adjusts to being out of contention. "Anybody can play for a 12-2 team in December," Vrabel said. "When things are good, it’s all fun and games. This is not fun and games. But we’re going to stay professional about it."
Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Week 14 Picks. Pats over Cats 28-10.

VIEW FROM CAROLINA

David Scott (Charlotte Observer) Task for Sunday: Points and lots of them.
David Scott (Charlotte Observer) Panthers in a scoring drought.
Darin Gantt (Rock Hill Herald) Despite massive shuffling, defense has perservered for Panthers.
Charles Chandler (Charlotte Observer) Brayton lets chips - and QBs - fall where they may: Change in perspective pays off for Panthers lineman, who's on pace for career high in sacks and tackles.

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Comments

When in space, Wes runs like a nerd

As much as I love the diminutive one, I laughed my butt of when he was running on the play pictured above. His legs were flailing around as he tried to eek out just a bit more speed. Those little legs can only go so fast.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Dec 11, 2009 10:58 AM EST reply actions

He could always zig-zag to keep them from tackling him.

Walter Payton had the same problem, so he would stutter step to through off the guy’s timing. It worked for him.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 11, 2009 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

As nerdy as he may be...

He is still the best YAC guy in the NFL. No one can eek out more yards after EVERY catch than he can. Every time I watch the guy, he gets 3-4 more yards than he should. It amazes me

by Ogor on Dec 11, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 11, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions

Interesting that there has been more hand-wringing

over the fact that the Patriots lost two in a row, and their last three out of four, then over the reigning Super Bowl champions who just lost 5 in a row – the Steelers’ second such streak since 2003. I know I felt a lot better after watching the Steelers-Browns game last night.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 11, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions

a different team without Polamalu

that’s not to take anything away from them, but meant in deference to Troy’s playmaking ability on defense. He’s a beast and just changes the whole character of that team when he’s suited up. Any time we play them, he’s the first name I’m looking for on the injury/playing report to see if he’s someone the Patriots will need to account for.

by jctsai12 on Dec 11, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

I agree.

Compare the intensity with the Steelers’ first game of the season – another Thursday night game – with the effort put forth last night. Polamalu was all over the field, hitting everything in sight. That attitude and intensity has to infect the entire team, and leaves such a void without him.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 11, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

My friends laughed at me when I said that Polamalu...

…is the NFL Defensive MVP. He may not put up the numbers because of his injuries, but he IS their defense. Take him out and the Steelers are harmless. No other defensive player impacts his defense is such a way.

by Richard Hill on Dec 11, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

To be fair

the loss of Aaron Smith hurts alot as well. Now, their defense wasn’t even that good with Smith and without Troy (as seen in like Weeks 2-6), but hit a new low without Smith. Weird that in the decade, the only two teams to lose the Super Bowl, and make the playoffs the next year are the teams the Steelers beat.

EVH+DLR=BFFr........ God I Hope So!!

by dmstorm22 on Dec 11, 2009 6:17 PM EST up reply actions

That's why the Steelers don't really seem to be a 'dynasty' in a salary-cap world

They’re hit-and-miss because they’ve got so much of their salary cap/playmaking ability/experience wrapped up in only a few guys. The Steelers would never, ever get to 11-5 with Roethlisberger’s backup playing all but one quarter; nor would they cope with a season-ending injury to Polamalu; and if their linebacking corps got hit as hard as some of the Pats ones have of late, they’d founder, too.

This is the reason why I prefer RBBC, Bill’s trading down to get multiple picks, etc. It’s depth-building to keep a dynasty going, not hit-and-miss moves that might get a Superbowl one year, and then get a sub-0.50 win record the next – the difference being say, two injuries.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Dec 11, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions

Willie Parker... I disagree about the Steelers having cash wrapped up in a few players

As much as I hate them they seem to find diamonds in the rough as much as the PATS do. James Harrison and many other Draft picks where late rounders.

Jack of all trades-Master of None.....

by Yardpenalty.com on Dec 12, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions

I took that into consideration

Willie Parker was a good grab, but they also went out and took a fairly expensive Rashard Mendenhall. They’re paying Santonio Holmes a fair amount, Hines Ward isn’t cheap, and they’re paying Max Starks a lot even though he’s only a lukewarm LT. Their linebacking corps is being paid market rates, too. The difference, I suppose, is they haven’t got some of those drastically underpaid players that make big plays – the McGowan, Tully Banta Cain type.

What you should also remember is that some of those previously great undrafted free agent guys/ low draft pick guys outplayed their rookie contracts and got lucrative extensions. At that point they weren’t paying the UFA contracts, they were paying them market rate for Pro Bowl level players. Injure a couple of them (as has happened this year) and the team falls over – they don’t quite seem to have the inexpensive contributors that previous teams were built on.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Dec 12, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions