New England Patriots Links 9/08/10 - Brady Deal Close

Ian Rapoport demonstrates that the news regarding Randy Moss feeling 'unwanted' in New England isn't worrying the coaching staff one bit.

Belichick: "I’d just say, on Randy, he’s professional and had a good training camp. He’s played very well since he’s been here. He’s played at a very high level. I hope that continues. He’s brought a lot of passion for the game since he’s been here. He’s well liked. He’s well respected on the team."

Caserio: "I coached Randy, I was with him for the entire season, and my experience with Randy has been nothing but positive. He brings a unique perspective from a football standpoint, he’s a very smart football player. I mean, he’s seen just about every coverage thrown at him in the book. And he understands what we’re trying to do and other teams are trying to do. Just being around teammates, he’s very insightful, he’s great to deal with on my end. I think the most important thing with any player is that they prepare themselves for the season. And my experiences with Randy was certainly positive, just dealing with him on a one-on-one basis."

O’Brien: "He’s never said anything like that to me. Since the day he’s walked in here, he’s been obviously a productive, excellent player for us and a very professional player for us. I feel really good about our relationship with Randy. That’s how I feel."

Tom E. Curran asks Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco on his relationship with Bill Belichick.

How did you develop this bond?

"I think over the years just playing the game. Him admiring my game, me admiring him as a head coach and all he's done in the NFL -- especially with the Patriots. He's just been a fan of mine and I've been a fan of his."

Was it the 2006 Pro Bowl where you guys got close?

"Yeah. I think that might've sealed the deal right there. I had a chance to get to know him, he had a chance to get to know me -- who I was outside of just being a football player and I think that relationship that we had at the Pro Bowl was really special, and from then on we became extremely close."

What surprised you about Belichick when you met him?

"He's really cool, man. He's a player's coach. He's someone that I would love to play for. A lot of players can't say that about a lot of coaches because sometimes they don't get along. But if it wasn't for Coach [Marvin] Lewis, you know if there was anyone else I'd want to play for, man, and would give them my all the way I do for Coach Lewis, it would be Coach Belichick."

With Belichick's knowledge of football history linked to Paul Brown through his father, do you lean on him as a resource about the game?

"He's the opposition, so I leave it at that. I look forward to playing against him every year. Whenever I get the opportunity, I try to do my best to expose what he has going on and he does his best to try and stop me."

He's indicated that he might not double team you from the second you get off the bus. Do you believe in that?

"Child please. He's double teaming me right now while I'm sitting here."

TEAM TALK

• New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Series history, broadcast info, team connections and more.
• Paul Perillo Ask PFW: Assessing the roster. 
  
• Tuesday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick (8.40 min.), Nick Caserio (10.08 min.) and Bill O'Brien (7.15 min.) Plus Transcripts.
  
• Patriots Today - Talkin' Brady, practice squad, and more. (3.41 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Roster is always in motion. (2.56 min. video)
• Patriots Playbook - John Rooke previews the Patriots home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. (1 hour)
• PFW in Progress - 9/07/10 Edition. (2:01:20 min. audio)

LOCAL LINKS

• Albert Breer says a Brady deal is closer, but not done yet.
• Ian Rapoport, Karen Guregian and Ron Borges say a contract extension for Tom Brady is imminent.
• Albert Breer notes Tom Brady sidesteps contract questions during his WEEI interview with Dennis & Callahan.
• Christopher Price looks at the ripple effect a new contract for Tom Brady would have across the NFL.
• Ron Borges writes Tom Brady is "The Man", the rare exception among professional athletes.
• Ron Borges and Steve DeOssie discuss the Brady talks. (3.51 min. video)
• Michael Hurley notes Chad Ochocinco is twittering trash again, this time to Patriots CBs Darius Butler and Devin McCourty. Pretty funny actually.
• Ian Rapoport notes the Patriots have signed three players to the practice squad, CB Tony Carter, LB Tyrone McKenzie and CB Prince Miller. They released TE Jeron Mastrud.
• Ian Rapoport offers a video of rookie CB Prince Miller's sick punt return against the Carolina Panthers in preseason. (29 second video)
• Karen Guregian notes Darnell Jenkins gets to play Ochocinco on the scout team this week.
• Tedy Bruschi and Mike Reiss preview the 2010 Patriots. Bruschi trashes the team and then predicts "a successful season." Yeesh.
• Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag.
• Boston Globe: The five most important Patriots.
• WEEI points out how the NFL is appeasing Peyton Manning regarding the umpires. Puh-leeze.
• Mike Reiss notes Tom Brady's warm words of support for his great friend and teammate, Randy Moss.
• Karen Guregian asserts Randy Moss isn't going to let his contract frustration play out by purposely sabotaging his team and himself on the football field.
• Albert Breer dredges up bad-Randy stories to add fuel to the Moss-is-a-bad-seed fire.
• Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: DL Kyle Love first heard he made the team when friends and relatives called to congratulate him; Pats rounded out their Practice Squad, signing three and releasing one; Matt Slater survives the cuts; Julian Edelman has an ankle injury that may prevent him from playing Sunday.
• Dan Shaughnessey pouts and calls the Patriots organization names because Bill won't spill like Rex Ryan will.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Adam Schefter (ESPN) Sources say talks between Tom Brady and the Patriots have intensified.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots diplomatic about Moss comments.
• Len Pasquarelli (Fox Sports) Why Randy Moss feels unwanted.
• Peter King (SI) MMQB: Tuesday Edition - 10 things I think will happen in the 2010 NFL season.
• Randy Cross (Nat'l Football Post) A tip of the cap to Bill Walsh and a look back as we go to "Next".
• Don Banks (SI) Predicting the 2010 NFL season.
• Sporting News NFL division races: AFC East.
• John Czarnecki (Fox Sports) Top 10 storylines to shape the 2010 NFL season.
• Pat Fitzmaurice (Pro Football Weekly) Ten most intriguing players of Week 1. Wes Welker gets a mention here.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Power rankings: AFC East looks loaded.
• Jerome Bettis (SI) Inside the NFL: Holding out wasn't going to hurt Revis as much as Jets.
• Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Ten issues of 2010: Money matters still unresolved.
• Joe Reedy (Cincinnati Enquirer) Bengals-Patriots three and out.
• Judy Battista (NY Times) A foot out the door: Parcells steps aside as the Dolphins' boss.
• Jene Bramel (NY Times) Guide to NFL defenses, Part 3: The 4-3 front continued.