Christopher Price reports Tedy Bruschi challenged Chad Ochocinco to stop acting like a fan and get into the playbook if he wants to contribute.
"Drop the awe factor, OK, Ocho? Chad, drop the awe factor," Bruschi said. "You’re not a fan, all right. You’re not someone who’s on another team or watching TV. You’re not an analyst. You’re a part of it. They want you to be a part of it. So get with the program because obviously you’re not getting it and you’re tweeting because you’re saying, ‘It’s amazing to see’? It’s amazing to see because you don’t understand it. You still don’t understand it and it’s amazing to you because you can’t get it.
"Stop tweeting and get in your playbook," Bruschi added. "Wake up! If you’re just waking up now — I don’t know when this was, six minutes ago? — get out your bed and get to the stadium and watch some film if you still think it’s amazing. If you’re in it and you know what you’re doing and you execute out there you don’t think it’s amazing. You know why? Because it’s what you’re supposed to do."
Nick Caserio turns his focus to the San Diego Chargers and what strengths they'll bring to New England.
"Defensively, this is a pretty disciplined group. They've got a lot of good football players at all three different levels: the front seven, the linebacking corps – they signed Takeo Spikes – the inside – Donald Butler didn't play last year. Along the defensive front or front seven, they signed Travis LaBoy, Antwan Barnes, who gave us some problems last year rushing the passer. They drafted Corey Liuget who looks like he's going to be a pretty good player for them. They sustained an injury there to [Luis] Castillo the other day, but they've got a lot of depth and their secondary, collectively as a group. [Eric] Weddle is probably as good of a weak safety as there is – a very smart, instinctive player, very aware, good ball skills. And [Quentin] Jammer has been a real productive player for their secondary here – basically since he's been a rookie. And then [Antoine] Cason's given them a lot of good snaps. So defensively, they certainly present a lot of problems.
And offensively, they've got a lot of weapons. They lost [Darren] Sproles, but between [Mike] Tolbert and Ryan Mathews in the running game and the passing game for that matter out of the backfield, they present some issues. And then [Antonio] Gates is as good a tight end as there is in the league. They've got a bunch of big receivers: [Malcom] Floyd had a lot of production for them last year. [Vincent] Jackson looks like he's back at playing at a high level. I think across the board, this is a good football team. A.J. [Smith] and Coach [Norv] Turner, they've put together a solid group. We're certainly going to have our hands full. This has been a consistent, high-performing team for a number of years now, so we're going to have to prepare on a short week and get ready to go out there and play our best game to date."
TEAM TALK
- Game Preview: New England Patriots vs. San Diego Chargers. Broadcast info, series history, team connections, and more.
- Ask PFW: Passing thoughts.
- Conference Call transcripts: Bill Belichick - Nick Caserio - Bill O'Brien.
- Patriots Today - Zolak analyzes the Pats' win. (2.40 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Record-setting offense. (2.57 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Focused on the Chargers. (1.46 min. video)
- WEEI Patriots Monday (on a Tuesday): Danny Woodhead, Vince Wilfork and Bill Belichick.
LOCAL LINKS
- ESPNBoston reports Tom Brady is named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
- Christopher Price highlights Bill Belichick and Bill O'Brien talking about the Patriots' uptempo approach against Miami.
- Ian Rapoport writes how the Patriots took advantage of the Dolphins defense being winded and out of breath.
- WEEI highlights Tom Brady's Q&A on the Dennis & Callahan show this morning. Some good perspective on the Miami game here.
- Mike Reiss shares some follow-up thoughts from the Patriots' season-opening win over the Dolphins after re-watching the game, and goes easier on McCourty.
- Tom E. Curran gives us 44 lines on 22 Patriots issues.
- Greg A. Bedard tells us how the defense we saw Monday night was fundamentally sound and an improvement over 2010.
- Greg A. Bedard piles even more evidence that the defense played well against the Dolphins. The start and finish to the game skew the stats out of context.
- Shalise Manza Young reports the Patriots insist they can do better and are focused on what needs fixing.
- Rich Levine talks about the Miami 500 was just Brady being Brady.
- ESPNBoston puts context behind the Patriots' historic offensive output against the Dolphins. (1 min. video)
-
Chris Gasper details how Wes Welker may play like a man possessed but he's much more than just a possession receiver
- Greg A. Bedard graphs out Monday's play of the game.
- Rich Levine lists Tom Brady's five biggest games, saying Monday night was one for the books.
- Mike Reiss focuses on the performance of core special teamers in Monday's win.
- Rich Levine thinks Eric Mangini's regret over spygate is a load of crap.
- Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Dan Koppen has a "small crack, bad sprain", likely having surgery to insert a screw in his ankle, and will miss 6-10 weeks; Nick Caserio doesn't elaborate on why Brandon Spikes was scratched, since he wasn't listed on the injury report; Matthew Slater gets high praise for his play Sunday and his hard work.
- Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Bill O'Brien credits splurge to team concept; Dan Connelly will be replacing the injured Dan Koppen until Week 9 or 10; Brian Waters was impressed with how Connelly subbed in at center without missing a beat; Leigh Bodden played nickel corner and Dane Fletcher had a few reps at fullback; Pats have a short week to prepare for the Chargers on Sunday.
- Kirk Minihane grades the Patriots with his Week 1 report card.
- Ron Borges grades the Patriots in his Week 1 report card. Must have killed him to give the Hoodie an A.
- David Filipov reports five Boston statues will be decked out in Hoodies today, in honor of NFLN's tribute to Bill Belichick tomorrow night.
- ESPNBoston reports the Patriots-Dolphins MNF season-opener scored big in the ratings.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Albert Breer (NFL.com) Patriots' linemen clear way for Brady's 517-yard outburst.
- Experts Debate (NFL.com) Could Brady's manic Monday launch a season for the ages?
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Fade route to Hartline? That's bad football from Miami.
- Don Banks (SI) Week 1 brought many fresh starts, but not everyone took advantage. /He's looking at you Chad.
- James Walker (ESPN) AFC East stock watch.
- Barry Jackson (Miami Herald) Defensive casualty: Miami Dolphins cut CB Benny Sapp.
- James Walker (ESPN) AFC East Power Rankings analysis.
- Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) Everyone thinks that Tom Brady is a Jedi ... but Jason Taylor disagrees.
- Adam Schein (Fox Sports) Jets a long way from Super Bowl look.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Week one sets records for passing yards, return scores.
- Leigh Steinberg (Nat'l Football Post) Unchartered territory: How much will the abbreviated offseason impact the first few weeks of the 2011 campaign?