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New England Patriots Links 12/30/10 - Wilfork Wants A Win On Sunday

By Marima

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Bill Belichick talks to the press Wednesday morning about getting ready for Miami.

We're moving on to Miami today. We're going to go up in the bubble and just kind of have a longer walk-through, here. We got off to a little bit of a short week, a short start, there on Monday. As usual, Miami looks like they usually do: tough on defense, tough team to run against. They're right at the top of the league in everything, statistically, on defense. Again, the usual complements of players on offense: good running backs, good tight end, good receivers, big strong offensive line. [We've] got to be able to stop the run against these guys. [They're] playing well in the punt return game with [Davone] Bess, as usual, [and Nolan] Carroll on kickoffs. So, they're dangerous there. [They're] a good coverage team; [have] good team speed.

We've had some real good battles with these guys over the last couple of years. [We] split with them the past two seasons with Coach [Tony] Sparano down there, so this will be tough. We've got to turn it around here and get ready for another division game [and] a team that we haven't played in a while now. So, we've got to re-familiarize ourselves with the Dolphins. Even though there are a lot of the same faces, things are a little different than they were a couple months ago when we went down to Miami. So, that's where we're at.

Vince Wilfork responds to a question about resting starters this weekend and if this is a game he wants to play.

Of course. Oh yeah, I want to play football. Especially this time of year, I think the more games you play ... the more consistent you can be. That's where I stand. I want to play every game I can, crunch time. I think anybody who loves the game would want to be playing right now and I'm one of [those] guys. There are a bunch of guys in this locker room that want to play and want to win, so hopefully we can continue that this week.

[Considering what happened to Wes Welker last season, is he hesitant to play?] No, not at all. I don't think twice about going in the last game of preseason [or] the middle of the season game. I couldn't care less when I play. When I play, I play. If it's meant for somebody to get injured, you get injured. You could easily get injured off the field. So, that's something I don't worry about.

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Steven Krasner reports Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo both want to play football this Sunday and have their focus on Miami.
  • Ian Rapoport wonders if Logan Mankins will be back next season.
  • Greg A. Bedard thinks the timing may be right to take care of Logan Mankins.
  • Karen Guregian notes the Patriots made the right choice on Devin McCourty.
  • Karen Guregian points out Devin McCourty was one of just four rookies selected to the Pro Bowl and looks at some of the more highly-touted players' seasons so far.
  • Shalise Manza Young reports Fred Taylor is strongly suggesting he is ready to retire.
  • Mike Reiss posts some quick hits from Bill Belichick's news conference from Wednesday.
  • Mike Reiss highlights an exchange in today's Bill Belichick news conference that showed how Belichick draws a firm line between on-field and off-field business.
  • Steven Krasner asserts that unlike last season, leadership is not lacking with this Patriots team.
  • Dan Shaughnessy writes about Tom Brady going from faceless backup to face of the franchise in 10 years.
  • Steven Krasner notes Chad Henne was impressed with Tom Brady's INT record.
  • Steven Krasner says the Dolphins expect a full-force Pats team Sunday.
  • Mike Reiss talks about how much the Patriots' starters will likely play on Sunday against the Dolphins. (1.32 min. video)
  • Mark Farinella reports the Patriots captains play more than an honorary role with the Patriots, and they're not just "a vote for who's the best player" according to Belichick.
  • Mike Reiss reports WR Julian Edelman earned his fourth practice player of the week honor of the season for his efforts leading up to Sunday's win at Buffalo.
  • Daniel Barbarisi finds the Patriots defense has come a long way this season.
  • Mike Reiss reports the startling statistic that Wes Welker leads the NFL in dropped passes.
  • Mike Reiss looks at the special teams tackle leaderboard and notes Tracy White and Matthew Slater are tied for the top spot with 18 tackles apiece.
  • Mike Rodak gives us some of the Patriots reactions to being named to the Pro Bowl this year.
  • Monique Walker points out Terrell Suggs admits he did indeed vote for Tom Brady for the Pro Bowl.
  • Monique Walker Patriots Notebook: The Patriots defense must have earned some respect based on the results of Pro Bowl voting; Mankins didn't need to play a full season to show his Pro Bowl worthiness; Dan Connolly is still trying to shake off the effects of a concussion he suffered against the Packers; Tully Banta-Cain was hit with the flu; Terrell Suggs admits he did vote for Tom Brady for Pro Bowl; WR Buddy Farnham is back with the team after being released Sept. 4th.
  • Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Wes Welker is planning to play Sunday; The Pats defense was still productive enough to earn four Pro Bowl spots; The selection of Brandon Meriweather to the Pro Bowl is a head-scratcher to some; Chad Henne is taking the uncertain future of the Miami Dolphins is stride.

NATIONAL NEWS

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