Karen Guregian reports Vince Wilfork isn’t afraid to say how much he hates the idea of the proposed 18-game regular-season schedule.
"It’s one of those things where you just have to sit and see what happens," Wilfork first said with respect to a lockout. "But I can tell you one thing, 18 games don’t make no sense. Eighteen games turns into 20 games because the two preseason games you have to play your veterans and your starters. So that’s 20 games.
"Playing 20 games, then going into the postseason, I think that will hurt the better teams," he said. "You wind up playing two seasons because of all of those games. So you never get a chance to get your team back, or their bodies back. So again, I think 18 games would be real stupid.""You talk about concussions now with a 16-game season, you just think about what would happen with 18 games, and with other injuries? It would be real crazy if you have some of your key players missing games because they can’t make it through. If you get to Games 17 or 18, and your key guys are missing, what happens then?
"I don’t know, it’s all crazy. I just think it’ll be real stupid if they do that. That’s all I’m saying."
Mike Reiss gets Chicago RB Matt Forte's impression of how the Bears viewed the Patriots defense entering the teams' game Dec. 12th.
"Basically what I saw is that their offense helps out their defense," Forte said. "It's a team, as a whole, that doesn't make a lot of mistakes. When you have a team like that, and you commit a turnover against them, you can get behind fast. That can be a tough team to beat."
Greg A. Bedard reports the NFL and the players' union issued a joint statement pledging formal negotiations aimed at getting a new CBA in place by March 4th.
NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and Commissioner Roger Goodell met today in New York to discuss a range of issues related to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. As part of a process to intensify negotiations, they agreed to hold a formal bargaining session with both negotiating teams on Saturday in the Dallas area. They also agreed to a series of meetings over the next few weeks, both formal bargaining sessions and smaller group meetings, in an effort to reach a new agreement by early March.
TEAM TALK
- Mike Mayock (NFLN) Here is a look at the top five draft prospects by position.
- Erik Scalavino recaps the Pro Bowl saying the late-game rally was too little, too late, for the AFC.
- Patriots Today - Recapping the Pro Bowl. (4.12 min. video)
- Senior Bowl highlights. (2.29 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport wonders if it's time for Ben Roethlisberger to join Brady and Manning in the conversation.
- Kirk Minihane settles the Ben Roethlisberger vs. Tom Brady question with facts.
- Mike Reiss spent a few minutes with Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan discussing the top need for the Patriots this offseason, namely edge rushers.
- Mike Reiss says he'll keep us covered on any Patriots-relevant news leading up to the Super Bowl, including Rob Gronkowski's scheduled media appearance in Dallas.
- Tom E. Curran writes about Twitter - the proliferation of kneejerk, unfiltered commentary that's got the NFL by the tail.
- Tom E. Curran shares his Dallas diary: Monday in Big D.
- Ian Rapoport notes Charles Woodson repeats he'd be "a happy man" if the league threw out the Tuck Rule.
- Mike Reiss focuses on the future of each position: Outside Linebacker.
- WEEI scouts out potential Patriots: OLB Mark Herzlich (BC) and WR Ronald Johnson (USC).
- WEEI highlights Boomer Esiason's appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show Monday. Esiason calls the Pro Bowl "a joke."
- Ian Rapoport's video of the day captures Steelers DE Brett Keisel comparing his epic beard to Matt Light's. (1.27 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Alex Mayster (Pro Football Weekly) Rookie tight ends give Patriots offense new look.
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Mike Wilkening (Pro Football Weekly) PFW's Super 50: Nos. 1-10. Brady number 1.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) An AFC East take on Super Bowl matchup.
- Steve Wyche (NFL.com) Labor situation could profoundly impact undrafted rookies.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Undrafted rookies may be stuck on sidelines.
- Kerry J. Byrne (SI) Cold Hard Football Facts: Pass defense wins championships, as Steelers, Packers are proving.
- Fox Sports Top 10 Media Day moments.
- Sporting News NFLPA Ad rejected by CBS.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Should Curtis Martin be first-ballot HOFer?
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Sal Alosi's departure inevitable, necessary.
- Richard Deitsch (SI) Mayock talks NFL draft; Andrews' Reebok deal raises credibility issue.
- Eric Adelson (Yahoo! Sports) Why isn't Mike Vanderjagt still kicking in the NFL?