Shots Heard 'Round The Web - Patriots Links 5/21/09

Paul Perillo offers his observations from Wednesday's OTAs at Gillette.

“A lot of training, a lot of leg workouts, trying to get my legs bigger and stronger,” Crable said when asked what his offseason has been like. “A lot of one-on-one with [strength and conditioning coaches] Harold [Nash] and Mike [Woicik]. A couple of meetings and watching film and things like that to try to learn.”

“I have to learn,” Crable said when asked what the coaches told him to work on. “It’s my second year and I have to be more consistent and doing a lot of things better. They’ve voiced that opinion to me and I have to take that seriously.”

Shawn Crable at rookie mini-camp in May '08.

Christopher Price says all eyes will be on Kevin O'Connell as Brady's backup.

At the quarterback spot, the Patriots had three signal-callers working -- O’Connell, Matt Gutierrez and Hoyer, a free agent invitee out of Michigan State. But it was O’Connell who got the bulk of the work. The good weather -- no rain or wind -- was certainly advantageous when it came to throwing the football, and O’Connell took advantage. His passes were crisp, and O’Connell looked confident in the series of drills.

AP NFL won't vote on longer season.

New players union executive director DeMaurice Smith said players need to be aware of what's at stake for additional games.

"The players understand the cost to their bodies," he said. "The players understand how tough it is to get through a regular season. They understand how hard it is to try to stand up on a Monday morning. They understand why they need a day off on Tuesday. Their families understand when they get out of football and they have arthritis before they're 40. They understand the cost."

More Shots after the jump...

TEAM SHOTS

• Erik Scalavino talks with Fred Taylor and Kevin O'Connell at yesterday's practice.
• Andy Hart offers his thoughts from the media portion of today's OTAs.
• Andy Hart tells us what he'll be looking for during the workouts at Gillette.
• Patriots Today! Analysis of the first team OTA, Tom Brady speaks, Kevin Faulk's charity softball game and more.
  

LOCAL SHOTS

• Christopher Price presents his Wednesday OTA report, and offers some notable quotes from the media portion of the session.  He also notes that Derrick Burgess was not on the field during Oakland's OTAs.
• Mike Reiss lists the attendance at Wednesday's OTA, and gets Wes Welker's thoughts about returning for his third season with the Patriots, as well as some charity work that he's excited about.
• Karen Guregian points out the veteran newcomers that did not show up - Bodden, Springs, and Galloway, and praises the work ethic of Fred Taylor.
• Ron Borges focuses on Tank Williams, his rehab, his eagerness to play and the experiment of using him as a Safety/Linebacker hybrid.
• Chris Gasper catches up with Shawn Crable and Terrence Wheatley, who are looking forward to atoneing for rookie seasons cut short.
• Mark Farinella says Kevin O'Connell feels ready to be number 2, will keep learning and working hard.
• Shalise Manza Young talks with Safety Brandon McGowan who feels he couldn't have made a better choice by coming to New England.
• Shalise Manza Young notes Fred Taylor says he is inspired by all the rookies and is elated to be learning the Patriots' playbook.
• Chris Gasper talks about what caught his eye from yesterday's workout. (2.3 min. video.)
• Mike Reiss offers his perspective of a writer attending the NFL owners' meetings, and reports that the Fall owners' meeting will be held in Boston.
• David Heck writes about Randy Moss's successful NASCAR venture.

LONG SHOTS

• Peter King lists New England as one of five places Michael Vick could land.
• Real Scouts (Sporting News) Defensive end rankings: Allen, Peppers can do it all.  Richard Seymore is ranked  5th.
• Kara Henderson (NFL.com) Report from Foxborough as the Pats gear up for OTAs minus Tom Brady. (2.26 min. video)
• NFL Total Access Are the Patriots the team to beat?