New England Patriots Links 8/30/10 - First Waive: Five Must Go
by Marima on Aug 30, 2010 9:14 AM EDT
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PrintRobert Mays catches Brandon Tate talking about his breakthough moment.
Returning kickoffs at the professional level was an adjustment for Tate. While openings in college left some room for hesitation, the NFL provides no such luxury.
"I’ve just to got to hit it,’’ Tate said. "Hit it and go. You can’t do too much dancing. The holes close up on you. That’s one thing I had to learn fast.
"It’s a little faster. You’ve got to make your decisions quick. You don’t have too much time to think because the dudes will be on you quick.’’
Albert Breer hears Tom Brady recount Belichick's discontent with the team after Thursday's loss to the Rams.
"He gave it to us pretty good on Friday after the game and then again yesterday," Brady said. "There's always a running joke with our team about humble pie, and he was serving it up on Friday. Just what we needed, we didn't go out and play very well. Hopefully we can learn from it and move on."
But it didn't take until that Friday meeting for the message-sending to begin. Brady got the picture when Belichick declined to go for a fourth-and-short during the game.
"I think he was just pissed off at us," Brady said. "At that point I think he was pissed off at everybody. I went over, I said, 'Coach, it's six inches.' He was like, 'Get off the field!!' I said, 'Let's go for it!' I think he wanted to do that just to yell at us, just so he could say these are the things we can't do."
Albert Breer catches up with former Patriots WR Donte Stallworth who remembers 2007 fondly and talks about what it takes to learn the Patriots offense.
"That was a special year and a special team," Stallworth said. "It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing football. Getting to learn from coach [Bill] Belichick and Josh [McDaniels], playing with and learning from the older guys there. It was just a real special year . . . Even though we didn’t win it all, I still carry that feeling that we did."
Stallworth said he was touched by the amount of support he got from his ex-Patriot teammates during a trying time. In particular, he said his close friends Wes Welker, Sammy Morris, and Benjamin Watson helped, and he also got a lengthy email -- most guys just texted -- from Tom Brady that meant a lot.
"When I felt like the world was coming to an end, knowing they had my back, that helped a lot," he said.
As for that "special year," Stallworth said playing with Brady left an impression. "Just seeing the way he prepares for the game, watching him work, the things he does, it's easy to see why he's such a great player," he explained. "Obviously, he'll be forever etched in there with the all-time greats."
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino reports Stephen Gostkowski expresses gratitude for his four-year contract extension; Friday notes from Gillette.
- Patriots Today - Not many positives from loss. (4.20 min. video)
- Patriots Roster Report - 8/27/10 Edition. Breaking down recent Patriots roster transactions, recapping the Pats loss to the Rams and player injuries. (14:35 min. audio)
- Bill Belichick Conference Call - 8/27/10. (15:37 min. audio) Plus Transcript.
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Rodak lists the Patriots players currently on the roster who if cut and clear waivers will be eligible to be signed to the team's practice squad.
- Shalise Manza Young looks at which players will still be on the Pats roster on Saturday (the date rosters need to be cut down to 53 players.)
- Mike Reiss prints out a to-do list for the Patriots before the opener.
- Mike Reiss highlights Tom Brady's appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show this morning.
- WEEI recaps Tom Brady on the Dennis & Callahan show this morning, talking about more 'Humble Pie'.
- Karen Guregian reports the veterans have been helping the young DBs, especially with their confidence after a bad loss, and to help them learn and grow from their mistakes.
- Ian Rapoport points out how Belichick never separates the pass-rush from the secondary, saying the two have to complement each other to be successful.
- Mike Reiss offers his quick-hit thoughts from the Pats and around the NFL.
- Chris Gasper feels 'the Patriots are somewhere between the team that fell flatter than a blueberry pancake against a cupcake opponent and the one that showed promise against the Saints and Falcons.'
- Tom E. Curran looks at QB Carson Palmer's performance this preseason to get ready for the Pats season opener against the Bengals.
- Stan Grossfeld spent time with Vince Wilfork and his family at his home in Frankllin to get to know him better. Great photos.
- Monique Walker spotlights the stellar play of Randy Moss at Training Camp and in the preseason.
- Christopher Price notes Week 3 of preseason wasn't the greatest for the so-called powerhouses of the AFC East.
- Mike Reiss writes it's only a preseason game that doesn't count. So why is Bill Belichick so upset?
- Jim Donaldson reminds readers that one bad preseason loss doesn't mean much.
- Mark Farinella isn't panicking over the Patriots losing a preseason game. They can be an indicator of trouble, but there's still time to fix it before it really matters.
- Mike Reiss dissects the topic of the new position of the umpire in 2010. The Colts were burned twice with illegal snap penalties and he wonders if Bill Polian will get the league to change the rule back.
- Ian Rapoport posts some pics of the Patriots rookies awful haircuts. 'Awful' doesn't quite describe the horror.
- Mike Reiss reports DL Ron Brace is undergoing an MRI to determine the severity of the ankle injury he occurred in the 4th quarter of Thursday's game.
- Mike Reiss notes Belichick is sorting out the injury situation and seemed down about the team's effort against the Rams.
- Tom E. Curran likens the Patriots secondary to swiss cheese.
- Mike Reiss breaks down the Patriots' three quarterbacks this preseason, with one stat standing out: No interceptions.
- Mike Reiss discusses Laurence Maroney and the running back rotation through Week 3 of the preseason.
- Tom E. Curran notes that when asked if Laurence Maroney is going to contribute this year, Belichick confirms it 'absolutely'.
- Mike Reiss puts the spotlight on spread formations.
- Mike Reiss asserts that contrary to the initial impression from the Week 3 loss to the Rams, pressure wasn't the main issue for the defense, it was coverage.
- Mike Rodak reviews Thursday night's preseason game against the Rams by quarter: First , Second, Third and Fourth.
- Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by Patriots skill-position players from Thursday's loss.
- WEEI posts a video of a 3-year-old who is clearly upset that Tom Brady hurt his knee. Pretty cute. (2.09 min. video)
NATIONAL NEWS
- PFW staff (Pro Football Weekly) Where does Maroney stand with Patriots?
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Rex Ryan eyeing Pats flop Adalius Thomas.
- Ross Tucker (SI) Week 3 preseason games not a reliable gauge for regular season.
- John P. Lopez (SI) Fifteen players who could be this NFL season's hidden rookie gems. Zoltan Mesko mentioned for the Patriots.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Manning, Colts worry new NFL rule will slow down hurry-up offense.
- AP (NFL.com) Up-tempo Colts plead for adjustments to umpire position rule. (Plus 2.30 min. video)
- Tim Graham (ESPN) How worried should the Jets be about Sanchez?
- Dan Pompei (Nat'l Football Post) NFP Sunday Blitz.
- Len Pasquarelli (Fox Sports) Tip Sheet: Around the league inside edition.
- Kerry J. Byrne, Cold Hard Football Facts (SI) Time for pass-happy offenses to return to basics of ground game?
- Jeff Pearlman (SI) Message to NFL players: Proposed 18-game schedule is a bad deal.
- Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Players aren't quick to yield on 'enhanced season'.
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Mike Rodak did a great job creating the Practice Squad Eligible list:
OFFENSE
QB Zac Robinson (rookie)
RB Chris Taylor
RB Thomas Clayton
WR Brandon Tate
WR Darnell Jenkins
WR Taylor Price (rookie)
WR Rod Owens (rookie)
WR Buddy Farnham (rookie)
TE Rob Myers
TE Carson Butler
TE Rob Gronkowski (rookie)
TE Aaron Hernandez (rookie)
OL George Bussey
OL Rich Ohrnberger
OL Ryan Wendell
OL Ted Larsen (rookie)
OL Thomas Welch (rookie)
OL Brian Simmons (rookie)
DEFENSE
DL Darryl Richard
DL Brandon Deaderick (rookie)
DL Kyle Love (rookie)
LB Tyrone McKenzie
LB Thomas Williams
LB Brandon Spikes (rookie)
LB Jermaine Cunningham (rookie)
LB Dane Fletcher (rookie)
DB DeAngelo Willingham
CB Terrence Wheatley
CB Devin McCourty (rookie)
S Sergio Brown (rookie)
S Ross Ventrone (rookie)
SPECIAL TEAMS
P Zoltan Mesko (rookie)
Sometimes you have to dig to find some of those guys.
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 Aug 30, 2010 9:34 AM EDT reply actions
Ok, but of those guys, how many are realistic?
On offense, you have to figure Tate, Price, Gronk, Hernandez, Wendell, and one of Ohrnberger or Bussey make the active roster. On defense, you have to figure McKenzie, Spikes, Cunningham, and McCourty make the roster, and Mesko is a no-brainer on special teams.
And of the guys who are left? On offense, Robinson will definitely be on the practice squad if he clears waivers, and Larsen, Welch, and whichever of Ohrnberger and Bussey don’t make the roster will be candidates. On defense, Richard, Deaderick, and Fletcher seem like good bets if they clear waivers, and I wouldn’t bet against Brown. All the rest are up in the air except Wheatley, who is gone if he doesn’t make the roster.
True, you have to pare the list down.
But I’ve been in the conversations where Law Firm goes to the practice squad. Which is a good idea except that he is not eligible. That’s where the list is nice.
From your list we remove: Tate, Price, Gronk, Hernandez, Wendell, (and one of Ohrnberger or Bussey – leave them and let BB decide), McKenzie, Spikes, Cunningham, McCourty, and Mesko. Additionally, I think Wheatley is unlikely on PS. He’s either active roster, cut, or IR. That leaves:
OFFENSE
QB Zac Robinson (rookie)
RB Chris Taylor
RB Thomas Clayton
WR Darnell Jenkins
WR Rod Owens (rookie)
WR Buddy Farnham (rookie)
TE Rob Myers
TE Carson Butler
OL George Bussey
OL Rich Ohrnberger
OL Ted Larsen (rookie)
OL Thomas Welch (rookie)
OL Brian Simmons (rookie)
DEFENSE
DL Darryl Richard
DL Brandon Deaderick (rookie)
DL Kyle Love (rookie)
LB Thomas Williams
LB Dane Fletcher (rookie)
DB DeAngelo Willingham
S Sergio Brown (rookie)
S Ross Ventrone (rookie)
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 Aug 30, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
I still believe there are multiple players on that list that would not clear waivers.
I don’t believe Buddy Farnham, Rob Myers, Rich Ohrnberger, Darryl Richard, Brandon Deaderick or Thomas Williams would clear waivers.
A few 50/50 players that may not clear for me are Zac Robinson, George Bussey, Ted Larson and Dane Fletcher.
Then again, all this shows for me is there will be a lot of depth when it comes to deciding the final roster spots for this team, and we should still have quite the talented practice squad.
by Justin_Bobo on Aug 30, 2010 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I would add Welch
The top OL draftees usually have around 34 inch arm length. Welch arms are 33 1/2 plus Being a former TE will mean he has better feet and hands. Also being a former QB means he will learn and adapt fast. He hasn’t been at position long so is raw. Patriots gave up two 7th round draft picks for him.
Welch has only one year to prove self because I think there will be a log jam at OL after next draft. He’s the only one I think could become a bonafide starter. Volmer will be left tackle and maybe Welch right tackle.
As long as he clear waivers, having him on PS is fine.
And then of those, there are still two issues
1) They have to clear waivers.
2) You can only have eight of them at a time.
So as I said, Robinson makes it because no one is going to bother with a third string rookie QB, and Larsen, Welch, and Ohrnberger/Bussey probably make it but are less certain. Assuming they make it, that leaves you with four spots left.
I doubt Deaderick makes it through waivers, so he’s either on the final roster or gone, though if by some miracle he makes it through, he’s your first signee to the practice squad out of everyone. Richard, Brown, and Fletcher each might make it, and if they do, I’d sign them too.
So assuming you end up with a practice squad of Robinson, Bussey/Ohrnberger, Larsen, Welch, Richard, Deaderick, Fletcher, and Brown, you lose Jenkins, Farnham, Myers, Simmons, Love, Williams, and Ventrone — all guys who we’ve heard good things about at times and who would be likely candidates for the practice squad if they’re still available when guys from the original PS get elevated to the 53-man roster due to inevitable injuries. Granted, most of them weren’t likely ever to play anyway — the Pats are too stacked at WR, TE, and S for Jenkins, Farnham, Myers, Brown, or Ventrone to have had any chance, and the OL guys are just too raw even when we lack depth there — but you hate to let so much potential go.
And that's without looking into the free agent pool for PS possibilities...
As a side note, when you look at previous Practice Squad rosters the Pats have carried, they’ve usually had a QB, O-linemen and/or TEs, D-linemen, and DBs. There haven’t usually been a lot of HBs, WRs, or LBs – I guess because a lot of those can be found in free agency at any given time. It might factor in to who they keep – if it’s a choice between Buddy Farnham and Ross Ventrone, they might go with Ventrone just because he’s a DB instead of a WR (in saying that, I liked Farnham).
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
And again, we're loaded at WR this year
Last year, with Galloway playing like a guy with neither hands nor brains and Edelman just starting to learn how to play the position, Aiken ended up as the de facto #3 receiver for a good chunk of the year and the #2 guy, behind Moss, on the outside. I think we can all agree, though, that he should only be on the field as a WR in an emergency.
This year, we have Moss, Tate, and Price on the outside; Welker and Edelman in the slot; and, so long as O’Brien doesn’t take a shot to the head, three very capable to excellent targets in the TEs. That makes Aiken the #6 receiver, #4 on the outside, and the #9 target overall if you discount the RBs — and you know Faulk alone is going to be good for 30-40 catches.
I like Buddy too, but I just can’t see the Pats keeping a WR on the practice squad this year when we’re so thin on the lines.
Foxboro flu for Buddy, or he's as good as gone
I’d also factor in Hernandez and even Gronkowski as slot options – Hernandez as a big-WR who’ll get as many looks at WR as at TE/H-back, and Gronk as a part-time split-wide TE.
I could see Hernandez get a lot of looks in the 3WR look, either as a 2TE set that splits him out, or as a genuine 3WR set that has the option of moving him around. All dependant on whether O’Brien remembers he’s allowed to use options, of course…
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
And I quote:
This year, we have Moss, Tate, and Price on the outside; Welker and Edelman in the slot; and, so long as O’Brien doesn’t take a shot to the head, three very capable to excellent targets in the TEs. That makes Aiken the #6 receiver, #4 on the outside, and the #9 target overall if you discount the RBs — and you know Faulk alone is going to be good for 30-40 catches.
As I said, Aiken is the #6 receiver, but the #9 target, and then only if you discount RBs. Including RBs, he’s the #10 target at best.
I was thinking of Aiken as #7 WR
Moss, Tate, Price, Welker, Edelman #1-5, Hernandez #6 (and #3 TE), Aiken #7. Minor quibble, but he’s earned his stripes as a WR, so if I had to choose between the two as an injury replacement, I’d probably lean towards Hernandez.
If the receiving game was such that Aiken got exactly zero targets over the season, I wouldn’t complain. Not because Aiken isn’t capable, but because it’d suggest that everyone else was.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Which likely PS players could be claimed
Any player drafted from 1st to 5th is going to make the team. So after removing those players,
Which remaining players do you think would be highest prospect for other teams to claim if they become available ?
Last year
The Browns tried to sign Darryl Richard and the Pats doubled his practice squad salary to keep him. So were I to guess, O- and D-linemen are always popular to steal from the Pats, probably because those are the two areas the Pats are good at coaching fundamentals in.
There are usually a big bag of free agent QBs, WRs and HBs around at any given time, so I’d think offensive skill positions are the least likely to get stolen from the PS.
The other positions fall somewhere in the middle.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm less worried about who gets cut and more worried about who is going to play
Roster is unsettled on the DL and OL, these are areas I really want to see solidified soon.
To that point I would think the first 5 cut are from WR/DB areas.
I think Deaderick has a shot at making the team and getting snapes but this is a separate post all together
Roster is unsettled on the DL and OL, these are areas I really want to see solidified soon.
That’s why I’d suspect the practice squad is heavy in linemen this time around – just in case they need to bump up a squaddie to the active roster because they get a couple more injuries.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
have to agree w. the little girl about brady going to michigan
My name is Vince. Call me.’
loved the vince article
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Vince Wilfork as a PG.
That would be hilarious, and murderous at the same time. Nobody would try to get a held-ball foul on him…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
The various schools of the Big Ten should let Ohio State and Michigan know in no uncertain terms that dissent will NOT be tolerated.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 30, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
can you call a foul for using your gut as a blocker?
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
I thought that was what Shaq and Glen Davis did...
How unusual is it to have Shaq on the Celtics? Next thing you know, Kobe’s a Cavalier…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
The various schools of the Big Ten should let Ohio State and Michigan know in no uncertain terms that dissent will NOT be tolerated.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 31, 2010 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions
i just love that line.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Deaderick should be a roster guy ... too much upside
to hand away. He will never stay on the PS. They will have to risk Welch not being taken from the PS. I think he is safe. Ohrnberger should make the 53. They moved up to get him last season. With one season in the playbook already, he should be ready to sub.
the most sought after
ComedicSans agreed that the DL and OL will be the most sought after. I agree with that.
although I’d also take a close look at the WR’s if i were another team.
So we will whittle list down to …
OL George Bussey
OL Rich Ohrnberger
OL Ted Larsen (rookie)
OL Thomas Welch (rookie)
OL Brian Simmons (rookie)
DL Darryl Richard
DL Brandon Deaderick (rookie)
DL Kyle Love (rookie)
Looking at the list who would be the likely players who could start in the line or play very significant role in the future. I’d place my bet on the following players …
DL Brandon Deaderick (rookie)
OL Thomas Welch (rookie)
and maybe
OL Brian Simmons (rookie)
I would bet that Deaderick makes roster so we’re down to
OL Brian Simmons (rookie)
OL Thomas Welch (rookie)
I would bet that Simmons will easily make waivers
So we’re down to … OL Thomas Welch (rookie)
It gets down to whether teams would have any interest in a raw player with upside
I couldn’t see teams interested in any OL player except maybe Welch and Bussey
let me add
the positions most closely looked at will be positions where the patriots are deep but positions the patriots can afford to let go.
its really about keeping the players who have upside at positions where they are thin.
Sniff, sniff.
I think someone sprayed some air freshener in here. It doesn’t smell like troll dung anymore.
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 Aug 30, 2010 6:25 PM EDT reply actions
Thanks
I warned him and then banned him, but had a change of heart and thought I should wait to see if my warning was enough. Guess it wasn’t, lol. Annoying little bugger.
Keep the faith!
I missed a troll? Again? Noooooooooooooo! :)
by frogfromthemud on Aug 30, 2010 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Look under bridges
and if necessary, take billy-goats.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
some stupid jets fan
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
kept posting
pats sucks…jets will win the sb…and cut them all pats players suck
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Any word on Chad Henne Is Your New Bicycle?
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
The various schools of the Big Ten should let Ohio State and Michigan know in no uncertain terms that dissent will NOT be tolerated.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 30, 2010 6:26 PM EDT reply actions
Good question
He’s still on the roster, as far as I can see, but I can’t see him on the stat sheet (and there are 10 guys rushing for the Bears every game!). I guess he’s buried way on the stat sheet, and couldn’t make up for the time he lost in minicamp, etc.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, found it
From Yahoo! sports:
The Bears will get another spot because running back Harvey Unga(notes) is on injured reserve. While being on IR counted for one of the spots for the 80-man roster, it will not count against the 75-man roster.
I couldn’t tell you whether that’s a legit injury or a Foxboro Flu-type. Everyone turns a blind eye to the latter.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Aug 30, 2010 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks!
I still covet a 245lb [+/- 5lb] FB for short yardage runs [< 2 yards]. Now that the PATS are using a three TE set on some running plays, a FB behind that type of bulk should get you 2 yards consistently.
I’d be very pleased to see Hernandez used for this purpose if he could learn to take a handoff. He has excellent shiftiness which would make him ridiculously good at short yardage gains. I suspect that he would be able to avoid the head on, momentum stopping hits by veering before impact.
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