New England Patriots Links 10/20/11 - Patriots Begin Five Day Break

Erik Scalavino talks with Wes Welker about his plans for the bye break.

"It’s really nice to get away, relax a little bit, refresh for the second part of the season. I am going back to Oklahoma City for a few days and see the family. Hang out there, just a couple days, then head back here."

"I think you put it out of your mind for a few days," Welker conceded. "There’s just so much every single day of football, football, football. So, it’s nice to get a few days to relax and spend time with family and friends and get away from it for a few days."

"It’s not like spring break in college or anything like that. Everyone understands you still have to work out and so some of those things, but not out there running routes and the other things you do on a daily basis. But also making sure you’re getting a lot of rest, sleep, not staying out late, and taking advantage of the time."

Chris Forsberg hears Rob Gronkowski's plans for the bye week.

"I'm just chilling," the easy-going Gronkowski said with a big smile. "I'm going to work out, get my body right. I've definitely got some bruises, some dings and stuff. If you're going to get stronger, you have to get back in the weight room, try to get some lifting, some weights. Get the body right, that’s my plan."

"No, you definitely take your mind off football a little bit. Go do something, enjoy yourself -- go and relax. Have a good time and see some family, some friends. You'll think about football a little bit, but the majority of the time it's just relaxing."

Ian Rapoport notes Brian Waters, scooped up by the Patriots from the Chiefs a week before the season opener, has learned a lot about his teammates in six weeks.

"I actually saw [Matt Light] get rolled up on the quarterback sneak," Waters said. "I saw him getting up very slowly, but he did a great job of surviving. That’s one of those things where the adrenaline is pumping, you’re doing what you need to do. The one thing I’ve found out about these guys, they’re all fighters. That’s something that showed up and was very evident in that situation."

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino tells us what happened at Gillette on Wednesday, the last day of practice before the Bye break.
• Hall at Patriot Place Contest will award behind-the-scenes tour and a look inside the Patriots football operation.
• Press Conference: Bill Belichick (15.23 min. plus Transcript)
• Andre Carter as a guest on NFLN's Around the League Live addresses how thankful he is to be playing in New England and the professionalism of Tom Brady. (4.21 min.)
• Patriots Today - Belichick Breakdown. (3.30 min. video)
• Patriots Today - News and Notes heading into bye. (2.52 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Arrington leads NFL in INTs. (2.33 min. video)
• Locker Room Uncut - Players' plans for bye week. (3.41 min. video)
• Player Interviews: Patrick Chung (1.23 min.), Matthew Slater (2.59 min.), Brian Waters (2.29 min.), Nate Solder (3.12 min.), Rob Gronkowski (2.31 min.) and Wes Welker (6.12 min.)
• PFW in Progress - 10/19/11. (2 hour program)

LOCAL LINKS

• Ian Rapoport reports Bill Belichick huddled up with the rookies before the Bye, imploring them to clear their minds and come back refreshed and re-energized.
• Christopher Price highlights Wes Welker's media Q&A before the Bye. Welker is heading back to Oklahoma for a few days.
• Shalise Manza Young details Nate Solder's transition from tight end to tackle to a first-round draft pick.
• Karen Guregian says Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski are a matchup nightmare. Too fast for linebackers, too big for safeties means trouble for the opposition.
• Karen Guregian charts out how much Tom Brady has relied on his tight ends this season.
• Tom E. Curran reports Wes Welker is in the final year of his contract, but says the ball is in the court of his agent.
• Jimmy Toscano highlights Bill Belichick's guest appearance on Showtime's Inside the NFL last night speaking on a number of NFL and Patriots-related topics and some stories from his Cleveland days.
• Jeff Howe believes Ross Ventrone has done a good job keeping a level head during his stint with the Patriots.
• Christopher Price offers the transcript of the Q&A between Andre Carter and the media.
• Mike Reiss, Chris Forsberg & Mike Rodak serve up some quick hits from the Patriots locker room.
• Christopher Price tells us who has been Tom Brady's favorite receiver through six games, and which receivers have the best catch percentage.
• Chris Forsberg says Week 6 was Tom Brady's worst with regards to his Total QBR.
• Mike Reiss breaks down the practice players of the week for Week 6. Matt Kopa and Antwaun Molden earned their 4th honor in five attempts.
• Mike Reiss updates the Patriots' weekly penalty watch, and notes the team drew five holding penalties in Sunday's win over the Cowboys.
• Greg A. Bedard and Jermaine Wiggins break down Sunday's game-winning TD, showing just how tough it is to defend both Hernandez and Gronkowski. (1.21 min. clip)
• Mike Reiss notes that all it took was for Bill Belichick to show up once at a press conference wearing a new hoodie to spark a surge of sales at the team's Pro Shop.
• Christopher Price dishes on Rex Ryan poking at Norv Turner, bragging that if he had the "loaded" team Turner did in 2007, he would have won "a couple of rings." Turner's response was pretty good too.
• Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Patriots began a five-day break last night with players looking forward to some much-needed rest; Pats practiced inside the Dana-Farber Field House in shells and shorts; Brady, Light, Dowling and Fletcher were missing; Belichick spoke with the rookies for about 40 minutes before breaking for the bye; Ross Ventrone and Sterling Moore were re-signed yesterday.
• Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Patriots held a scrimmage at practice yesterday, putting in work with game-like situations even without full pads; Players enjoyed the break from monotony; Brady was missing from practice, but since it wasn't one that had to be filed with the league, Belichick wasn't concerned; Brian Waters talks about watching Matt Light get rolled up on the QB sneak; Players looked forward to the odd experience of having five days off.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Welker's contract year slipping under the radar.
• Kerry Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) 'Impossible' for Pats to win Super Bowl.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Patriots-Cowboys, Ashton Kutcher dominate TV ratings.
• Jen Floyd Engel (Fox Sports) Jones' criticism of coach again crosses line.
• Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) NFL Week 7 cheat sheet.
• Mike Florio (ProFootball Talk) British government wants full-time NFL team.
• Jeff Diamond (SI) Pressure of expectations can be felt from top to bottom of NFL teams.
• Don Banks (SI) Packers perfection is realistic, but potential bumps are ahead.