Bill Belichick feels that Isaiah Stanback’s background as a quarterback helps him as a receiver. "I think one of the advantages he has is that he understands what the quarterback’s looking at. I think he has a better-than-average feel for how to come open, when to come open on certain routes and what the quarterback’s looking at," Belichick said. "For anybody that’s played quarterback, you know it doesn’t really help you for a receiver to come open when either you can’t or you’re not ready to throw him the ball."
Tully Banta-Cain on getting pressure on Drew Brees.
"It's huge. He's on fire right now. If you don't have any water to put it out, he's going to keep burning you up. Sorry for the analogy. But I think anytime you have a threatening quarterback like that the only way to beat them is pressure, and obviously the guys on the back end behind us doing the job and vice versa. We definitely have our hands full with him and everybody he has to go to."
Shalise Manza Young points out an upcoming Brady milestone.
Not only is Brady close to passing Drew Bledsoe as New England’s all-time passing leader, but he is also close to hitting 30,000 yards for his career. Coming into Monday night’s game, Brady has 29,495 yards is 163 yards shy of Bledsoe and 505 yards shy of the 30k mark.
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino notes Isaiah Stanback is learning while contributing; plus news and bits from Friday's practice.
- Patriots-Saints Injury Report for Friday.
- Patriots Locker room quotes for Friday.
- John Cockrell Friday Out-Takes: Things that make you go "Duh".
- Patriots Today Getting set for a Monday night tilt. (10:19 min. video)
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Patriots All Access: Sights and sounds from a victorious locker room vs Jets. Steve goes one one one with AFC Defensive Player of the Week Leigh Bodden. Scott Zolak gets Coach Belichick's take on the undefeated Saints. He also breaks down the Saints weapons on The Belestrator. (41 min.)
LOCAL LINKS
- Chris Gasper asserts that a win over the Saints would substantiate the Patriots' season, while the Saints want to prove that its impressive 10-0 start is not a statistical mirage.
- Adam Kilgore says the most difficult stragetic decision for the Patriots defense Monday night might be how much to blitz Drew Brees.
- Adam Kilgore notes the offensive versatility of lineman Mark LeVoir.
- Chris Forsberg feels the Patriots' defense knows that it has something to prove against the Saints.
- Ian Rapoport notes Leigh Bodden credits his time with Romeo Crennel, the former Patriots defensive coordinator, with transforming him from a reserve to a star.
- Albert Breer notes Isaiah Stanback feels privileged to have played with and been tutored by future Hall of Famers Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.
- Mike Reiss questions whether the Patriots defense will use its base 3-4 alignment or a sub package with extra defensive backs against the Saints.
- Albert Breer wonders how the Patriots will tackle the O-Line, as Sebastian Vollmer sat out two days of practice with a head injury, Matt Light returned and Nick Kaczur wasn't with the first offense.
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat.
- Adam Kilgore reports the league will fine neither Mark LeVoir for his punishing block on Jets cornerback Donald Strickland nor Strickland for his vow to retaliate against LeVoir.
- Albert Breer says the Patriots could very well be in Detroit for Thanksgiving next year.
- Mike Reiss Football Journey: Ron Brace.
- Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Running back Fred Taylor - no limp or brace - made his first appearance in front of reporters Friday; Sebastian Vollmer sat out of practice; Derrick Burgess and Tully Banta-Cain talk about the need to disrupt Drew Brees; Terrence Wheatley is itching to play.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Ron Jaworski (ESPN) Depleted secondary leaves Saints vulnerable.
- Tedy Bruschi and Mike Reiss (ESPN) Bruschi's breakdown: Pats-Saints game has great matchups.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Final Word: AFC East.
- Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) Roethlisberger having second thoughts about playing; reportedly has concerns about suffering another concussion.
- Mike Reiss presents ESPN's Patriots-Saints prediction roundup.