Patriots Links 6/30/09 - Players Serve Up Fun at Youth Camps and Clinics

Tom Behmer (Omaha World-Herald) catches up with Russ Hochstein as he signed autographs and visited with hundreds of fans back in his Nebraska hometown.

Hochstein attributes his success to his work ethic and never-accept-failure attitude.

"I'm a competitor, and I hate losing," he said. "Like anybody, when you're a competitor, you don't like being dictated to. Ultimately, that's probably what drives me the most — I don't like to be told I can't do something."

"Sports is as much psychological as it is physical. There's no athlete who hasn't experienced up-and-down moments. That's part of the game," he said. "It's how you handle it and what you make of it that really defines who you are. Life ain't always easy — whether you're a football player or a plumber ... but sometimes you've just got to take the ups and the downs and run with it."

"It's just a constant drive to try to improve and be the best at what you do, and I've had a lot of help," he said. "I've had some great coaching and a few lucky breaks. I don't deserve all the credit."

Travis Lazarczyk (Kennebec Journal) Vince Redd, a second-year linebacker, joined veteran New England linebacker Eric Alexander and former Patriot defensive tackle Ray Hamilton, the current defensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons, as instructors at the three-day football clinic in Waterville, Maine.

Redd played in five games last season, seeing action mostly on special teams.

"I couldn't have picked a better place to come," Redd said of the Patriots. "If I'm lucky enough, hopefully I'll remain on the team."

Alexander is listed as a backup inside linebacker on the latest unofficial Patriots' depth chart on the team's Web site, while Redd is listed as a third-team outside linebacker. Redd, who will turn 24 two weeks before the start of the regular season, thinks his age might be his best asset in a crowded field of linebackers, although he won't limit his chances to make the roster to just one position.

"Youth, more than anything else," Redd said. "I want to get out there and play anything the Patriots want me to."

"Just being with the kids and teaching them something they can take with them is good," Alexander said

TEAM SHOTS

• Erik Scalavino discusses Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees' and his wife Melody's love of music.  Pees is a gifted pianist and notes when Patriots Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins was married, Melody performed the ceremony (she’s an ordained minister) and Pees penned a personalized wedding song for them.
• SBLI and Tedy Bruschi team up for 2nd annual Youth Football Clinic at Gillette Stadium.  "54" Lucky Kids Learn the Plays from the Pros At a One-Day Mini Camp with Bruschi & His Special Guest Coaches.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Jeff Howe notes that James Sanders will be leading the charge in the secondary, but everyone is prepared to step up, help out and learn from each others' strengths.
• Mark Farinella notes the Colts have refused permission to speak to former Mansfield High wide receiver Brett McDermott, a Holy Cross product who's heading back to Indiana in August to take part in the Colts' training camp.  He promises not to ask for a peek at the playbook.

LONG SHOTS

• Brian Gadd (Zanesville TimesRecorder) Former New England Patriots wide receiver and sometimes cornerback Troy Brown spoke to 60 youths who took part in the week-long Philo youth football camp in Huntington, West Virginia.
• Jason LaCanfora (NFL.com) Money doesn't always buy you wins.  Interesting to note how many of the most successful organizations spent in the middle of the pack, while several of the top five spending teams suffered.
• Jason LaCanfora (NFL.com) Team rankings in terms of "bang for their buck" — how much each club spent per win the past five seasons.  Patriots and Colts are numbers one and two.  Again, very interesting to look at these numbers.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Pats get bulk discount, Bills pay premium per win.
• Pro Football Weekly Galloway leading for Pats third WR spot.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Positional Rankings: Tackle.  Vince Wilfork 5th.
• Tom Monkovic (NY Times) A better way to decide overtime in the NFL.
• Robert Boland (NFP) Internationalizing the game: The sport's future may lie in recruiting college-age European players.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Council of Trent: Green omits Edwards.
• Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Today's NFL rookies face many obstacles.
• Vic Carucci (NFL.com) NFLPA head Smith urges rookies to examine life after football.
• Fox Sports The Top Remaining NFL Free Agents.
• AP Court takes case over licensing of NFL apparel.