The Meat Locker Sports has an in-depth interview with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Here is a sample, but the entire piece is worth a re
"Coming into the draft after the season they have a grading system, and on that grading system I was figured into the 3rd or 4th round. It was a real funny year and with the draft, it is what it is. It just didn’t pan out the way I wanted it to. I just had to pick up the pieces and keep moving on."
"I’ve always been the type of person to put in the effort to work hard and to do things that would allow me to become successful. Hard work is something that kind of comes along with the area I come from. Being from New Orleans, the odds are against us… We weren’t supposed to make it out of the city, we were supposed to be dealing drugs or something like that. Your back was always against the wall, you had no choice but to go out there and work hard to try and not become a statistic."
"Every week, you’re supposed to be ready… You never know when your time comes and when your time comes, you just need to be prepared and ready to perform."
"I don’t need anything to motivate me or anything like that, I will just always maintain my energy level and let my work show for itself."
"I hope that there’s a season in 2011. We’re working hard to get back out there and be able to put the best product out on the field that we can. Even though we’re in a lockout situation, and we’re not able to work out at Gillette (stadium). All the players are still working hard to get back out there and perform."
Christopher Price reports that one year removed from rehab, Wes Welker is a completely different player.
"It’s been great. I’ve actually been able to train instead of rehabbing," he said Saturday morning during a break at his camp, held at Bishop Fenwick in Peabody. "It’s been a world of difference. I’ve actually been able to bench press for the first time. I’ve been able to squat because of my shoulder — I can reach back there to grab the bar. Some of those things are kind of key when it comes to football. I’m definitely excited about that and that’s encouraging to see. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use some of those skills I’m working on now during the season."
"I feel so much better. It’s been great, really. Being able to train ... I have confidence and everything. I feel good out there. The running, there’s no achiness. There’s none of that. It’s just being able to go out there and being able to do everything I’ve been able to do in the past and not have the aches and pains in the morning or anytime through it all. It’s been nice to see."
Ian Rapoport reports Bill Belichick has been trying to use the lockout time wisely.
"We got a few other little projects going on," Belichick told me last week. "Things that, sometimes you don’t have time to get to in the offseason that are interesting in one way or another. You try to allocate a little of time looking at those while you have it."
"(We’re) checking out things that other people are having success with and seeing if there’s anything we can use there."
LOCAL LINKS
- Karen Guregian reports Bill Belichick has been spending much of the lockout engrossed in the film room, and delving into areas he usually doesn't have the time to explore in depth.
- Ian Rapoport catches up with Wes Welker during a break from his football camp yesterday at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, MA.
- Greg A. Bedard says Wes Welker was feeling pretty good at his football camp, and loving the feeling of being pain-free.
- Christopher Price reports Wes Welker says he's "not worried" about his contract situation.
- Ian Rapoport notes Wes Welker is hoping to take part in workouts with teammates sometime soon.
- Christopher Price writes Wes Welker says the Patriots think highly enough of Brandon Tate and Taylor Price that they didn't need to draft any more wide receivers.
- Ian Rapoport posts a video of Wes Welker breaking down his offseason and talking about the young wide receivers. (5.29 min. clip).
- Christopher Price talks about LB Jerod Mayo checking in at no. 62 in the NFLN's Top 100 Players of 2011.
- Tom E. Curran looks at the defensive line and which available free agents might be a good fit for the Patriots.
- Christopher Price reports Wes Welker is one of several NFL players who have been training at Bonmaritos Performance in Florida.
- Mike Reiss reports Wes Welker was annoyed the owners used his comments against him in court, because he was joking when he said them.
- Jeff Howe answers his Patriots mailbag: Logan Mankins may refuse to sign franchise tender, but offensive line has depth to survive.
- Jerry Thornton (BarStoolSports) Bart Scott says Jets have to win Super Bowl or they'll be "a joke".
- Adam Kurkjian reports Peyton Manning visited Marciano Stadium in Brockton, MA Friday, in response to a contest. He was supposed to visit last year but never showed up.
- Greg A. Bedard reports Sunday was the 68th day of the lockout, and notes the assistants and agents are caught in the crossfire.
- The Boston Herald gives a rundown of what has been missed so far in a normal NFL schedule because of the lockout.
- AP Report: Players call NFL a "cartel" in court filing.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) NFL Network's list of The Top 100: Players of 2011 resumed Sunday night with Nos. 61 through 70. Jerod Mayo is no. 62.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Are Patriots automatic favorites in 2011?
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Wiley: Bills will 'take a little piece' of Pats.
- Dan Pompei (Nat'l Football Post) NFP Sunday Blitz: Elway jumps the line, what the Patriots saw in Mallett and much more.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) SportsCenter Video: Lockout panic meter moves needle. (2.18 min. video)
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Tales from the lockout: Thoughts on Lewis, Ebersol, Newton and more.
- AP Report (NFL.com) NFL owners gather for spring meetings as lockout continues.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Lockout insurance ruling may not provide lockout insurance for players.
- Mike Freeman (CBS Sports) Manning's silence is golden for owners, not players.
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) What's the Plan? Harsh ruling puts Smith, plan in focus.
- Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Smith guiding NFLPA in frightening direction.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) League, players squabble over deadlines in antitrust lawsuit.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Appeal ruling boils down to recognition of union.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Owners continue to wallow in their 2006 blunder.