Mike Reiss notes Sebastian Vollmer spoke with reporters for a few minutes, which could be viewed as an encouraging sign for his availability Sunday in Pittsburgh.

"Trying to get back, trying to do what you can, and contribute somehow," he said. Vollmer was then asked if he was hoping to play Sunday. "Always hoping, so we'll see how that goes," he said.

Mike Petraglia notes it took some prodding before BenJarvus Green-Ellis acknowledged that the week off may have been good, but not because he personally needed any rest.

"I don’t take a lot of pounding," said Green-Ellis on Tuesday. "I guess rest is always good but at the same time, you have that urge to want to get back to football, get back to practice and right now, that’s where I’m at with it. I’m just anxious to get back on the practice field and continue to get better at the things needed to win," he said.

"Troy [Polamalu] is kind of a spontaneous player," Green-Ellis said. "He’ll kind of go anywhere so you’ve got to make sure you’re moving your feet and staying with him when you’re blocking and make sure your little technique things are fundamentally sound."

"They’re fundamentally sound and they know what they’re doing," Green-Ellis said. "Sometimes, they don’t cut guys loose and they’ve been doing it for a while so that helps [them], and they’ve been playing together for a while. So, we just need to capitalize when we can."

Chris Forsberg notes Albert Haynesworth couldn't help but watch football on Sunday during the bye week.

"What else should I watch on TV? I'm not a soap opera guy, I don't watch broadway or anything like that," said Haynesworth. "Sunday, that’s what you’re going to watch: Football. Monday night, you're going to watch football."

"I caught myself watching the Steelers play," he said. "I watched a lot of football, so I guess I didn't get away from football. I'm drawn to it. I like to watch it."

"When I was on other teams, I loved watching [the Patriots] play football. They are well-coached and just went out there and handled business. I don't think I'm a fan of anybody else, but I like seeing how the Titans were doing, or the Lions and people that I respect. I had a good time with [Lions coach and former Titans defensive coordinator Jim] Schwartz and [Titans coach Mike] Munchak."

TEAM TALK

• Game Preview: New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers. Broadcast info, series history, team connections and more.
• Erik Scalavino notes that after five straight days off the refreshed Patriots are glad to be back and prepping for Pittsburgh.
• Erik Scalavino opens his locker room notebook and tells us what happened Tuesday at Gillette.
• Ask PFW: Now that the bye week is over, the fans are focused on the rest of the schedule.
• The Patriots announced the signing of DB Malcolm Williams to the practice squad and the release of DB Josh Victorian.
• New England Patriots Charitable Foundation will launch its "Kicks for Community" campaign for 2011.
• The New England Patriots and NEPCF celebrate service projects volunteerism.
• Player Interviews: Brandon Deaderick (2.41 min.), James Ihedigbo (2.24 min.), Rob Ninkovich (2.45 min.), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (3.53 min.), and Albert Haynesworth (3.09 min.)
• Patriots Today - Belichick on WEEI. (3.28 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Pats discuss return from bye week. (2.35 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Cannon takes the field. (1.44 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Pats host Hometown Huddle. (2.42 min. video)
• Patriots Playbook - 10/25/11: John Rooke and Erik Scalavino take you out of the bye week and discuss the Week 8 matchup with the Steelers. (2 hour program)

LOCAL LINKS

• Chris Forsberg takes a peek ahead at the Week 8 Patriots-Steelers matchup.
• Greg A. Bedard reports Tom Brady has been nearly unstoppable in the past four meetings with the Steelers.
• Mike Petragila reports the Patriots know Ben Roethlisberger is still a load.
• Tom E. Curran reports Kevin Faulk is ready for a rowdy Steel City crowd Sunday, and knows how to deal with the Heinz Field hostility.
• Monique Walker catches up with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is glad to have veteran Kevin Faulk back practicing.
• Mike Reiss tells us Sunday's Pats-Steelers game will rate the top CBS broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms.
• Kerry Byrne and Gary Tanguay break down the Pats vs. Steelers matchup. (3.16 min. video)
• Tom E. Curran reports Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has his eye on Chad Ochocinco as he prepares his team for a Patriots team coming off a bye.
• Christopher Price identifies five different positional battles that are still being fought six games into the season.
• Mike Reiss shares some quick hits from the Patriots' locker room Tuesday.
• Ian Rapoport assesses the status of Sebastian Vollmer, who is "hoping" to play Sunday, after a limited two weeks of practice.
• Karen Guregian is still waiting on Albert Haynesworth to be the disruptive force he was brought in to be.
• Tom E. Curran thought it was worth noting that Albert Haynesworth stayed away from his rock crawler and the power boat to just watch football during the bye.
• Mike Reiss analyzes Marcus Cannon's return to the practice field Tuesday.
• Chris Forsberg wonders how Kevin Faulk will fit into the running back mix.
• Jeff Howe thinks the Steelers' defense could lead to Kevin Faulk's season debut and 19 other Patriots thoughts.
• Christopher Price notes Brandon Deaderick and Ron Brace have a huge supporter in Albert Haynesworth as they get ready to return.
• Chris Forsberg notes Brandon Deaderick is excited to be back on the field.
• Mike Reiss charts where the Pats rank in key statistical categories while comparing them to the Steelers.
• Mike Reiss takes a weekly look at the tackle leaderboard and notes Patrick Chung has been on the rise averaging 7.6 tackles per game.
• Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag, this week focused on the upcoming Pats-Steelers game and more.
• Mike Reiss posts the results of teams coming off the bye this year: 3 wins, 9 losses.
• Andy Gresh grades the Patriots at the bye week.
• Rich Levine hopes, for the Patriots sake, the Colts eke out a 4-12 season instead of going 0-16 and landing a top pick in the Draft.
• Gary Washburn Patriots Notebook: Albert Haynesworth said health is no longer an issue, and he is seeking to re-emerge as the dominating force he was; Tom Brady joked he was glad Rob Gronkowski had some pictures out there so the team could take a break from poking fun at him; Marcus Cannon made his debut; Sebastian Vollmer is optimistic about his progress; Practice update, with only Dane Fletcher absent.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) Brady says 'it's going to be a long time' before he walks away.
• Trevor Ebaugh and John Parolin (ESPN) Stats & Information: Pre-snap motion key for Pats. Interesting "Where's Welker " chart.
• Around the League (NFL.com) Can Brady do it again? (3.51 min. video)
• James Walker (ESPN) AFC East Stock Watch.
• Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots-Steelers matchup of the day: OLB LaMarr Woodley vs. OTs Sebastian Vollmer and Nate Solder.
• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Marcus Cannon practices for first time since cancer treatment.
• Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Ravens loss adds more meaning to Patriots-Steelers battle.
• Mike Wilkening (Pro Football Weekly) Steelers' pass defense impressive.
• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady has owned the Steelers.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Is Steelers' Wallace the top deep threat in the NFL?
• Troll Report (Cold Hard Football Facts) Gronkowski top target for porn stars, Brady. Includes chart of Brady's passer rating receiver by receiver.
• Clark Judge (CBS Sports) MVP race? Not much of a battle with Rodgers in lead, but...
• Mike Pereira (Fox Sports) Transcript of the NFL rules expert's weekly online chat.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) T.O works out, with no teams in attendance.
• Clark Judge (CBS Sports) NFL's new lethal weapons? Field-goal kickers.
• Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Teams' hopes float or drown with QB play.

VIEW FROM PITTSBURGH

• Mike Bires (Beaver County Times) Advanced Scouting: The Patriots.
• Scott Brown (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Patriots' defense porous for a reason.
• Ed Bouchette (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Patriots game not as big as next one.
• Teresa Varley (Steelers.com) Getting off the field the hard way.
• Ed Bouchette (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) At least four Steelers likely out for Sunday.
• Scott Brown (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Steelers' Hampton might play against Patriots.
• Ed Bouchette (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) NFL wouldn't survive death test. Bouchette uses Tom Brady being tackled and dying on the field as his lead example.
• Mike Bires (Beaver County Times) Steelers notes: DL Steve McLendon solid in first start.