Pats Pulpit: FanShots

Cole: Why are there so many bad teams around the league this year? Belichick: Here’s the only t...

2009-11-06T20:33:19Z

Cole: Why are there so many bad teams around the league this year?

Belichick: Here’s the only thing I’ll say: I think to have a really good team in this league, you have to make a lot, a lot of good decisions. You have to have a lot of good people, players, coaches, whatever. You need a lot of those. Conversely, to not be competitive, you would have to have a lot of bad decisions. One bad decision is not going to do it, one bad player is not going to do it, one bad coach is not going to do it. You’re going to have to collectively, over a cumulative period of time, make a long series of bad decisions and accumulate a lot of players who are substandard for their position. There have to be a multitude of things that go wrong.

Cole: Because you can keep yourself average for a long time?

Belichick: That’s the system. If you don’t have good players, you have money to spend on players. If you have a bunch of good players, you eventually run out of money and you can’t keep them all and somebody else gets them. That’s the system, it keeps everybody average. We’ve seen teams be really good just on coaching. We’ve seen teams be competitive with just a few good players.

Q&A with the Hoodie. An excellent interview with Yahoo!'s Jason Cole, the kind of peek under the hoodie that makes you hope he writes it all down at some point.

The media are going to focus on the juice, things in here like "everybody is available at the right price." But even the context of that quote reveals the complexity of managing a roster. Comedic.sans had some excellent points about this in comments the other day, and they were borne out perfectly in the quote above.

There's more -- what makes a quarterback, what makes a team, competition, priorities. It's a jam-packed quick-shot -- go forth and read it.

Mad props to bforce3, whose fanshot scooped this and I failed to see it. Well done, Pulpiteer.

fascinating article about bill

2009-11-06T16:05:56Z

fascinating article about bill

guess we better get ready to see a lotta mayo and brady

Logan Mankins

2009-11-06T03:01:12Z

Logan Mankins

What are the chances the Pats don't re-sign him after this year?

Celebrities for Charities offer Pats-Jets Raffle

2009-11-06T01:42:28Z

Celebrities for Charities offer Pats-Jets Raffle

The Celebrities for Charity Foundation is a non profit organization that helps raise money for other non profits primarily through our online raffle website NetRaffle.

We are currently working with the Alpha Omega Foundation and they are raffling off 4 Premium Fidelity Club Seats to the November 22 Pats Jets rematch at Gillette Stadium.

What remains to be seen in the AFCE

2009-11-05T20:34:55Z

What remains to be seen in the AFCE

The Pats enter the brutal part of their schedule, while the Fins enter the softer part of their schedule

"My feelings toward New England go back further," Porter said. "It goes back to my Pittsburgh days....

2009-11-05T17:58:18Z

"My feelings toward New England go back further," Porter said. "It goes back to my Pittsburgh days. I felt a certain way, after some things came out, way back when I was in Pittsburgh, some AFC championships I lost to them, couple times. Come to figure out a few months later why we lost. So yeah, I have a natural hate for them. Period. And that’s just gonna be with me forever."

Porter was critical of the Patriots in the wake of Spygate two years ago, and after some tap-dancing around it, he was asked directly: Do you feel like it cost you rings?

"We do this every year around this time when I do this conference call," Porter said. "You know exactly what I’m talking about. And they know exactly what I’m talking about. And that’s not gonna change."

Joey's Hate is Natural, and That's a Good Thing

The Dolphins hate the Jets. Maybe they don't have the warm-and-fuzzies for the Patriots either, but...

2009-11-03T20:50:28Z

The Dolphins hate the Jets. Maybe they don't have the warm-and-fuzzies for the Patriots either, but if you talk to the Miami players, it's pretty clear that their feelings toward the two teams aren't in the same ballpark.

When I asked Ronnie Brown about the Jets, he said that, "Yeah, I don't really like them too much." With the Patriots, Brown said, "the respect factor is there."

Miami seeking breakthrough

Jarvis Green has Knee Surgery - Out 2-4 Weeks

2009-11-03T16:19:30Z

Jarvis Green has Knee Surgery - Out 2-4 Weeks

Patriots DE Jarvis Green underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a menicus injury last week, according to a league source.

The decision to have surgery was made based on having Green ready for the season's stretch run. By having it done now, the Patriots will likely have Green back by early December.

Green already has started all seven games this season at defensive end. He's in the final year of a five-year contract he signed prior to the 2005 season.

Update (10:59 a.m.): A source put the timetable for Green's return at 2-4 weeks. While he's likely out for this week's game against the Dolphins, the possibility exists he could play in Indianapolis against the Colts.

Green is already walking on the surgically-repaired knee.

Tom Brady named AFC Offensive Player of the Month

2009-10-30T01:03:44Z

Tom Brady named AFC Offensive Player of the Month

The New England Patriots announced today that QB Tom Brady has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October by the National Football League. It is the third time that Brady has earned an AFC Player of the Month honor. He was the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September and October in 2007.

Brady led New England to a 3-1 record in October, including a 59-0 win over Tennessee and a 38-7 win over Tampa Bay. He completed 92 of 131 passes (70.2 percent) for 1,161 yards, 12 touchdowns and a 121.7 passer rating during the month. Since the 2006 season, Brady is now 12-1 (.923) in the month of October. Brady's 12 touchdown passes this October ranks first in the AFC and second in the NFL.

The Patriots safety was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his three-year...

2009-10-28T14:31:48Z

The Patriots safety was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his three-year career. Meriweather got New England's rout of Tampa Bay started, picking off Josh Johnson and going 31 yards for a touchdown on the Buccaneers' first offensive possession. He also registered another first-half pick as New England really put Tampa in the rear-view mirror.

"The difference today is I was playing within the defense," Meriweather said on Sunday. "I was being myself, but I was playing within the defense. The d-line got a great rush, and he happened to throw the ball like that, and I happened to have a good break on the ball."

Brandon Meriweather Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

R & R on the Patriots' Schedule for the Bye Week

2009-10-27T19:48:56Z

R & R on the Patriots' Schedule for the Bye Week

Mike Reiss brings us up to date on the Patriots' plans for the week:

After arriving home Monday following their 35-7 victory over the Buccaneers in London, the team has Tuesday off. Players are scheduled to return to work Wednesday afternoon, with a practice scheduled for 2 p.m. That is likely to be a light clean-up-the-mistakes session, perhaps even a walk-through.

Thursday will be another work day, with a practice scheduled for 1 p.m. After that, players will have a four-day stretch to recharge as they won't practice Friday through Monday. Coaches are likely to sneak some time off in there as well.

Players return to work next Tuesday in preparation for the next game -- at home against the Dolphins Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m.

Brandon Tate and Mark LeVoir Activated

2009-10-25T00:36:33Z

Brandon Tate and Mark LeVoir Activated

According to Mike Reiss:

The Patriots have filled their two open roster spots by activating rookie receiver Brandon Tate and veteran offensive lineman Mark LeVoir.

Tate, a third-round draft choice out of the University of North Carolina, opened the season on the non-football injury list as he was still recovering from torn knee ligaments sustained during his final season with the Tar Heels.

Tate bolsters a receiving corps that has been thinned this week; Julian Edelman is out with a forearm injury and Joey Galloway was released. Tate also should be a factor in the return game.

LeVoir opened the season on the physically unable to perform list with a shoulder injury. With starting left tackle Matt Light out with a right knee injury, LeVoir adds depth.

Rookie Sebastian Vollmer started last week at left tackle. LeVoir projects as the swing tackle -- the top backup -- as he eases his way back into action.

Edelman has broken arm

2009-10-21T13:39:26Z

Edelman has broken arm

Wes Jr. suffered an injury getting tackled after a 4 yard pass from Brian Hoyer. No word on how long he may be out. This may push Brandon Tate into action even quicker than expected.

Julian Edelman has a Broken Arm

2009-10-21T02:13:34Z

Julian Edelman has a Broken Arm

Ouch! Bring on Tate and Nunn and hopefully Aiken can step up!

Galloway must feel terrible that he can't beat a one-armed rookie.

The Patriots announced today that quarterback Tom Brady has been named the AFC's Offensive Player...

2009-10-21T01:57:07Z

The Patriots announced today that quarterback Tom Brady has been named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week by the NFL for his record-breaking performance in the Patriots’ 59-0 victory over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. It is the second time in 2009 (Week 1 against Buffalo) and 14th in his career that Brady has earned the award.

Extra Points: Brady named offensive player of the week

Chris Gasper: Making Sense of the Moves

2009-10-20T18:20:55Z

Chris Gasper: Making Sense of the Moves

Boston Globe sportswriter Chris Gasper has a pretty lucid explanation of the moves to date. A good read.

Joey Galloway Released

2009-10-20T14:36:21Z

Joey Galloway Released

According to Mike Florio of ProFootball Talk:

"Steve Duemig of WDAE in Tampa tells us that, indeed, Galloway has been released. Duemig contacted Galloway, who confirmed that he is indeed gone.

Galloway signed with the Patriots in the offseason. In three appearances, he caught seven passes for 67 yards.

Because he was cut before the trade deadline, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. He also is entitled to collect the balance of his base salary as termination pay, regardless of whether he signs with a new team."

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy supported Belichick's gameplan after the game on NBC's Football Night...

2009-10-20T12:48:46Z

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy supported Belichick's gameplan after the game on NBC's Football Night in America.

"I don't think he was running up the score," Dungy said. "If you're Tennessee, you've got to stop them."

Tony Dungy supports Belichick's gameplan during Titan's game

Kris Jenkins out for year

2009-10-20T06:35:01Z

Kris Jenkins out for year

According to Adam Schefter per Tim Graham NT Kris Jenkins is done for the year with a torn ACL. It is always sad to see a player go down with a serious injury, but it is obviously very "good" news for the Patriots (and Dolphins).

Before the season I thought the Jets had build a decent starting lineup but lacked depth, partly because they traded away so much for the Sanchize and Shonn Greene. Now the price has to be paid.

Most points in a game - 59 Most points in a half - 45 in the first half Most points in a quarter -...

2009-10-19T02:05:27Z

Most points in a game - 59
Most points in a half - 45 in the first half
Most points in a quarter - 35 in the second quarter
Most total net yards in a game - 619
Most net passing yards - 426 (tie)
Most touchdowns - 8 (tie)
Most passing yards in a half - Tom Brady, 345
Most passing touchdowns in a half - Brady, 5 in first half
Most passing touchdowns in a game - Brady, 6 (tie)

In addition, the Patriots set two NFL records - most touchdown passes in a quarter (Brady, 5 in second quarter) and largest halftime lead (45-0).

Extra Points: More Patriots Team Records