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New England Patriots Links 1/12/11 - Patriots Heal Up, Quietly Prepare For Playoffs

By Marima

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Alge Crumpler discusses how he handles the urgency of a playoff game, and how much he enjoys playing for Bill Belichick.

I think it's okay to be urgent. It's a big game. Everybody's pretty excited about the opportunity that we have, but I think for the most part, you just have to be mentally tough. You have to be prepared for anything that happens throughout the ball game. It is a playoff game. As you've seen, [from] other teams that [were playing] last week in the playoffs, anything can happen. 

I certainly wish I had an opportunity to play here [earlier], so I have enjoyed my experience with Coach Belichick.

[What are some of the things that have impressed you most from him?]  Football historian. Accountability. He gets the best out of the players that he's coaching. He really believes in the players that he's coaching, whether anybody outside of this building does or not. He tends to get the best out of his players and I respect that the most.

Deion Branch is asked if he ever just has to laugh when he looks at the difference between Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan.

Yeah, you know they're different. I actually just heard what Coach Belichick said, too, this morning. All of it's funny. I think the biggest thing is we all both have to play a game at 4:15 [Sunday]. I think the thing is that Coach Belichick isn't playing Coach Ryan; The New England Patriots are playing the New York Jets Sunday at 4:15. I think all the stuff that will be said up to that point won't make a difference.

Sammy Morris knows what's at stake Sunday.

Obviously, you realize that every play could be the last play of your season or could be the deciding factor on the last play of your season. So, you want to do what you got to do to make plays to keep your team in it."

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Greg A. Bedard sees the Patriots having the edge Sunday, but the Jets being sharper than they were on Dec. 6th.
  • Karen Guregian points out to Rex Ryan that Bill Belichick with a bye week just doesn't lose.
  • Ian Rapoport reports Jerod Mayo hasn't washed away the memories of the brutal 33-14 loss to the Ravens, but he's living for this game.
  • Steve Buckley says being in the playoffs in New England is like old times for Deion Branch, who said it doesn't seem so long ago.
  • Mike Reiss talks about Jermaine Cunningham's calf injury, his role on the defense and how the Patriots might fill it if he doesn't suit up Sunday.
  • Mike Petraglia reports Jerod Mayo is more concerned about the Jets running the ball, not their mouths.
  • Ian Rapoport says to look for Darrelle Revis to feel lonely again this week. Brady had no trouble looking the other way in the 45-3 rout.
  • Tom E. Curran notes Bart Scott explained to a radio host the reason New York's defense failed against New England and how they plan to fix it Sunday.
  • Jerry Thornton dissects the species that is the Jets fan.
  • Tom E. Curran warns the Patriots engaging in trickeration at this point is a risky proposition.
  • Mike Reiss notes the snow moved the Patriots practice inside today.
  • Christopher Price tells us the five most important things we need to know from Tuesday at Gillette.
  • Mike Reiss shows us how Belichick handled the Patriots bye week.
  • Tom E. Curran relates an eye-popping Pats stat against top-10 defenses.
  • Mike Reiss takes a look at the Patriots by the numbers.
  • Shalise Manza Young notes according to an ESPN poll, fans prefer their own team's coach to be bland over boasting.
  • Jerry Spar rehashes the Jets' whining comments about Tom Brady.
  • WEEI highlights Herm Edwards appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show this morning. Edwards says Cromartie's comments were disrespectful.
  • Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag with fans both excited and concerned for Patriots-Jets Part III.
  • Monique Walker Patriots Notebook: Players used the bye to rest and heal, and Moore, Vollmer, Woodhead, Koppen and Connolly were back at practice; Cunningham and Pryor were not; Belichick told the team to keep quiet, HE will handle the Jets' verbal jabs; Players know they are expected to be at Gillette on time no matter how much snow there is; Jarrad Page is excited to be in a position to contribute during the postseason.
  • Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Alge Crumpler was surprised to hear all the chatter from the Jets start so early, but he doesn't mind taking after Belichick and keeping quiet; Patriots appear healthier after the bye week; Deion Branch saw a noticeable difference in Brady on his return, his deep ball is looking a whole lot better.

NATIONAL NEWS

VIEW FROM NEW YORK

  • Mark Hale (NY Post) Ellis says Brady taunted Jets in rout.
  • Gary Myers (NY Daily News) Jets' Antonio Cromartie tells Daily News he hates Tom Brady, calls Patriots QB an 'ass----'.
  • George Willis (NY Post) CB Antonio Cromartie mocks Chargers, embraces life with Jets.
  • Kristie Ackert (NY Daily News) Antonio Cromartie, who had pivotal kick return in Jets' win over Colts, practices with return units.
  • Steve Serby (NY Post) Brady & Co. can be had - here's how.
  • Manish Mehta (NY Daily News) Rex Ryan must dial up blitzes, bring more pressure on Tom Brady than Jets did on Peyton Manning.
  • Mark Cannizzaro (NY Post) Jets' Ryan plans to outcoach Patriots' Belichick.
  • Steve Serby (NY Post) Coach's battle with Brady more important to Jets.
  • Flip Bondy (NY Daily News) Rex Ryan throws himself in way of Patriots, while Jets players see humor in coach's pre-game antics.
  • Hank Gola (NY Daily News) CBS analyst Bill Cowher thinks Rex Ryan is unwise to give Bill Belichick, Patriots extra motivation.
  • Mike Lupica (NY Daily News) Jets vs. Patriots is not a rivalry, but can become one if Gang Green beats New England in playoffs.
  • Bart Hubbuch (NY Post) Pats to Ryan: Don't rag on our 'dork' QB.
  • Mark Cannizzaro (NY Post) Jets' Taylor: 'This is it'.

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