Karen Guregian hears Mike Wright's account of his season-ending concussion and the recurring symptoms that have just begun to dissipate.
"It was very scary," Wright said earlier tonight, speaking for the first time about the injury since it happened during the game against the Colts. "It’s something you can’t describe. I don’t wish it upon anybody, that’s for sure."
"[His worst days] were rough," said Wright, who was attending Jarvis’ Green’s annual wine tasting gala at the Johnson and Wales Inn in Seekonk. "There was a lot of motion sickness. Everything was very sensitive. It just seems like the symptoms wouldn’t leave and they wouldn’t subside. I did everything I could. It just didn’t seem to want to cooperate."
"It’s been a long road, a frustrating road," Wright said. "We’re moving forward every day. I’m getting better. That’s all I can ask for."
Wright said he suffered the injury during a head-to-head collision, and thought it was your basic run-of-the mill concussion. But the symptoms just wouldn’t go away.
"I’ve had concussions prior to this, but nothing where the symptoms lingered on quite as much," he said. "It was definitely a new experience for me. An unfortunate one. I’ve learned from it. I’m moving on."
Ian Rapoport notes QB Brian Hoyer says Foxboro is like a ghost town without his teammates. The Pats backup quarterback is one of the few who have remained in the area to ride out the lockout.
"I’m in town. There’s some of us in town, trying to work out together, hang out together," he said. "But it’s kind of like a ghost town around here. I’m calling my friends up to see if there’s things to do. I’m just trying to pass the time. But there’s still a few of us around."
Hoyer said he’s been working out with defensive lineman Mike Wright, offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer and linebacker Jerod Mayo and a few other guys who have remained in the area. Like everyone else in the decertified union, he gets updates on the situations via emails and texts.
TEAM TALK
- Gillette Stadium will host its 2011 NFL Draft Party Thursday Night April 28th. Tickets are now available.
- Andy Hart reports RB Jordan Todman (UConn) is scheduled to meet with the Patriots this week.
- Andy Hart and Erik Scalavino debate whether the Patriots should bring back Randy Moss.
- NFL Network's State of the franchise: Patriots. (6.04 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport reports Robert Kraft will miss the NFL's annual meetings in New Orleans due to a private family medical matter.
- Mike Reiss describes the scene at the NFL's annual meeting in New Orleans at the Roosevelt and the two main themes to be covered from a reporting perspective.
- Ian Rapoport selects five areas the owners might want to focus on, when their annual meeting begins today in New Orleans. Jonathan Kraft and Bill Belichick are attending.
- Ron Borges manages to blame Robert Kraft's absence for the unwise extension of the 2006 CBA and for the two sides not coming to a new agreement this year.
- Mike Reiss looks at the proposed kickoff rule change and notes we shouldn't automatically assume there will be a touchback on every kick.
- Mike Reiss offers some quick-hit thoughts from around the NFL and with the Patriots.
- Shalise Manza Young reports the NFL Players' Association crafted a response to the letter Roger Goodell sent to all players earlier this week.
- Ron Borges says that the straw that broke the NFL camels’ backs turned out to be the owners’ decision several years ago to cut a deal with DirecTV for money if games were not played.
- Chris Gasper thinks the NFLPA should pick fans over draft boycott.
- Tedy Bruschi says rookies have a responsibility to skip the Draft.
- Christopher Price updates the list of Patriots' private workouts.
- WEEI reports the Patriots worked out CB Johnny Patrick (Louisville).
- Ian Rapoport notes ex-Patriot Jarvis Green is mulling his future, with off-the-field options almost as enticing as his football career.
- Robert Lee reports Jarvis Green thinks the owners "must be very guilty if we can't see their books at the end of the day."
- Ian Rapoport notes Logan Mankins was seen at Jarvis Green's charity event, but declined to talk about his current contract situation.
- Ian Rapoport posts a picture of Bill Belichick's AP Coach of the Year trophy that had just arrived at Gillette Stadium.
- CSNNE finds Ochocinco continues his open admiration for Bill Belichick and the Patriots on Twitter.
- Ian Rapoport discovers from a Gainesville, Florida article on Charlie Weiss that he and Bill Belichick are still close.
- Jeff Howe answers his weekly Patriots mailbag.
- Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Player rep Matt Light was disappointed in Robert Kraft for not attending the final week of labor talks; Players responded to the letter Goodell sent earlier in the week with their own letter addressed to the commissioner; Matt Light said there are no plans for Patriots players to organize workouts; Light and Alge Crumpler are both rehabbing from shoulder surgeries.
- Mike Reiss reports Alge Crumpler is rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
- Christopher Price posts the latest edition of the 'It Is What It Is' podcast, with guest Ron Washburn, a professor of legal studies at Bryant University, to talk about the NFL lockout.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Robert Kraft won't attend owners summit.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Owners convene to sort out the Big Tricky.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) League officials descend on the Crescent City for annual meetings.
- Jim Corbett (USA Today) NFL owners meetings: Can league, NFLPA find harmony amid lockout?
- Mark Maske (Washington Post) No talks in sight as NFL owners meeting is set to begin Monday.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East influence on NFL committees.
- Dan Pompei (Nat'l Football Post) Sunday Blitz: The Patriot Way in the draft, players with medical issues and much more.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Teams may trade future draft picks "at [their] own risk."
- John Czarnecki (Fox Sports) Teams will look for instant impact in draft.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Bruschi tells rookies to avoid draft event.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA needs to drop the draft day double talk.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Jerod Mayo says Pats players have yet to talk about lockout workouts.
- Russ Lande (Sporting News) Draft stock watch: Brighter for Brown, dimmer for Black.
- Greg Gabriel (Nat'l Football Post) Breaking down Cam Jordan and Da'Quan Bowers: A look at two of the best DL prospects in the draft.
- Russ Lande (Sporting News) Here's a look at 10 small-school players who will likely be drafted and become good, contributing NFL players.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) A note regarding our stake in the lockout.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Motion to lift lockout comes down to two factors.
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Breached trust but still hope: Goodell's divide and conquer strategy.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) John Mara's comments about negotiations confirm serious communications issues.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) Estimates of NFL revenue a major sticking point for players and owners.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Other players could file their own lawsuits.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) A second front to open in NFL labor battle.
- Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) NFL to file legal brief responding to antitrust filing.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Solving the philosophical debate over player pay.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) NFL and its players spar in letters from each side.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Video: Goodell trying to divide players?
- Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Texans owner: Roger Goodell right to appeal to NFL players.
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) NFL players: Goodell's email 'deceptive'.