Evidently, the NFL has a rule that prohibits a team changing the type of surface on its home field during the season. At least, that's what everybody (Boston Herald, The Boston Globe) is reporting. I don't have a copy of the official rulebook, it's not available online, and I couldn't get Amazon.com to send it to me in time to write this. So, we'll have to take everyone else's word.
Anyway, that rule means the New England Patriots can't resurface the Gillette Stadium field with anything but natural grass. Some might argue that that would be changing the type of playing surface, but that's another story.
So, the team will begin installing new sod on Oct. 25. The process should take 2-3 days, leaving about a week before the Patriots next home game, Nov. 5 against ...
... The Indianapolis Colts.
You know what that means, don't you?
That means Adam Vinatieri won't have to battle placekicking nightmare that is the Gillette Stadium Sandbox.
That's if he's playing. Vinatieri has missed the last three games with a groin injury. The Colts had a bye this past week, and Vinatieri is expected to be suited up for Washington on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Patriots made no trades before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. In fact, the only trade of note was the Colts' acquisition of defensive tackle Anthony McFarland from Tampa Bay for a 2007 second-round draft pick.
McFarland, of course, is a top-rated run stopper, and the Colts run defense has been horrible so far this season.
Almost sounds like the New York Yankees going and finding that one guy they expect to put them over the top.