Karen Guregian explains how Meriweather was able to avoid suspension.
During an interview with the NFL Network last night, Ray Anderson, the league’s executive vice president of football operations said, "At the end of the day, we wanted to be fair. The notion was, if you’re going to have elevated discipline, give players and coaches and organizations fair notice that, in fact, suspensions, taking guys off the field, is an option for us going forward in these types of hits. We didn’t think [suspending now] was appropriate."
Bill Belichick addresses the media Tuesday, with his focus on the San Diego Chargers.
We are getting a jump here on San Diego. We are pretty well into it today. That team played very well against Jacksonville and Arizona at home. You can see they have a real talented team all the way around, real good on offense, defense, a lot of big plays, explosive players and really good specialists. So, we certainly know what this team is capable of. They've had a couple tough breaks - turnovers and a couple plays that have hurt them on special teams. But, you can see why this team has had the kind of success they've had and they're very talented, they're tough, they're big, they're physical. It's going to be a big challenge for us, going out there and playing them in San Diego, trying to get a win on the road.
Tedy Bruschi looks ahead to Sunday's matchup in Southern California, and gives his keys for the Patriots to beat the Chargers this weekend:
* Get pressure on Philip Rivers: Last week the Rams sacked Philip Rivers 7 times.
* Get the running game going: The Chargers' run defense has shown a lot of vulnerability.
* Spread the ball around offensively: If the Patriots establish the run, watch for Tom Brady to pick apart the defense by hitting targets all over the field.
Bruschi also sees this game as an opportunity for the Patriots to establish confidence on the road. If they win Sunday, it'll be two straight road victories. Last season, they had just one true road win all season (not counting the neutral site game in England).
TEAM TALK
- Game Preview: New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers. Broadcast info, series history, trends, team connections and more.
- Patriots signed S Ross Ventrone to the practice squad Tuesday.
- Deion Branch nominated for GMC Never Say Never Moment of the week.
- Jermaine Cunningham nominated for the Pepsi Rookie of the Week. Fans are encouraged to go to nfl.com/rookies and cast their vote.
- Tuesday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick (14.18 min.), Nick Caserio (9.58 min.) and Bill O'Brien (9.19 min.). Plus transcripts.
- Ask PFW: Building momentum.
- Patriots Today - Coming up this week. (1.26 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Crumpler named a Pats' captain. (3.31 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Patriots Kids Cafe. (2.14 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Christopher Price reports Brandon Meriweather will be fined $50K, but won't be banned.
- Monique Walker writes about the fines handed down by the league yesterday.
- Tom E. Curran notes the rash of penalties handed down Tuesday were not only for dirty hits, but also for tackles that players are told -- and expected -- to make.
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Kirk Minihane offers five quick thoughts on the NFL's decision Tuesday to fine -- and not suspend -- Brandon Meriweather for his hit on Todd Heap.
- Ron Borges asserts the announcement that all of a sudden players will be suspended and fined ... is whitewashing what is really a public admission that they’ve been looking the other way for years.
- Jerry Thornton talks about cheap shots and says it just wouldn't be the NFL season without a raging firestorm of controversy.
- Monique Walker gets the reaction to Meriweather's fine from LB Rob Ninkovich and CB Devin McCourty.
- Christopher Price discusses what's next for Logan Mankins and the Patriots.
- Brian MacPherson profiles DL Brandon Deaderick, who has gone from seventh-round pick to starter.
- Mike Reiss notes the Patriots-Chargers game rates the top CBS broadcasting duo of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms for the second week in a row.
- Mike Reiss takes a look at where the Patriots rank in key NFL statistical categories after six weeks. Good news, bad news.
- Mike Reiss points out that Jerod Mayo is on pace for a 208-tackle season. He was credited with 19 against the Ravens.
- Mike Reiss breaks down the Patriots defensive packages utilized in their 23-20 overtime win over the Ravens.
- Mike Reiss looks at the special teams tackle leaderboard, with Tracy White on top.
- Tedy Bruschi thinks the only way NFL players will get the message that head-to-head and other dangerous hits will not be tolerated is if an example is made out of an offending player.
- Tom E. Curran reports Robert Kraft says that a lack of new CBA could cost the NFL and its players $1 billion.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag.
- WEEI offers highlights from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk and Tedy Bruschi on the Dennis & Callahan show.
- Michael Felger Patriots Week 6 Report Card.
- Monique Walker Patriots Notebook: Bill O'Brien calls disagreements normal when players voice their opinion about something related to football; Without Moss in the lineup, Tom Brady completed passes to six different receivers; Devin McCourty's former teammate at Rutgers, Eric LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down after a tackle; Patriots didn't make any moves before the trade deadline passed yesterday; S Ross Ventrone was signed to the practice squad.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East High Energy Player of the Week: Deion Branch.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Power Rankings: AFC East gains command.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB Tuesday Edition: Week 6 may have changed how defense gets played.
- ESPN NFL football operations executive Ray Anderson says the league will hold players accountable under a "strict liability" standard.
- Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Rodney Harrison: Suspensions only way to stop vicious hits.
- Don Banks (SI) Ex-VP of NFL officiating: Refs won't overreact on big-hit ejections.
- Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) NFL.com selling pictures of Harrison and Meriweather hits. "Shots of the shots."
- Stuart Scott, Matt Millen, Steve Young and Trent Dilfer (ESPN) NFL going too far in legislating hits?
- Hyacinth Williams (WISH TV) Indianapolis Metro Police confirm Colts punter Pat McAfee was arrested early Wednesday morning after officers found him allegedly swimming in a Broad Ripple canal, shirtless and drunk.
VIEW FROM SAN DIEGO
- Chris Jenkins (San Diego Union-Tribune) Chargers scouting report: Patriots.
- Christopher Smith (Chargers.com) Chargers will not let the 2-4 start change their mindset as San Diego prepares for New England.
- Nick Canepa and Tim Sullivan (San Diego Union-Tribune) Debating what's wrong with Chargers.
- Tim Sullivan (San Diego Union-Tribune) Chargers choke on cake part of schedule.
- Kevin Acee (San Diego Union-Tribune) Good news about Gates; not on Floyd, Kaeding.
- Nick Canepa (San Diego Union-Tribune) Turner, Smith take blame for Bolts' bungling start.
- Christopher Smith (Chargers.com) Defense wants to finish.