New England Patriots Links 9/11/12 - Belichick: Players Deserve All the Credit

Bill Belichick praises the players for their win in Tennessee on Sunday.

Like I said yesterday after the game, I thought the players really did a good job yesterday. The players deserve all the credit for the outcome of the game. I thought we played physically for 60 minutes and made plays in all three phases of the game. We scored 27 points offensively, which is OK; didn’t turn the ball over. Defensively we had a solid day. On special teams we had real good field position; defensively we played on a long field and we had a few short field opportunities between the defense and special teams, so those things were good. We didn’t turn the ball over, had a couple, and didn’t have a lot of penalties. The Titans threw a lot of things at us that were new, like you always see on opening day; pretty typical of an opener. Again, I thought the players did a good job adjusting to them and playing through some situations in the game. I thought they handled themselves well. We have a long way to go, we certainly left a lot of plays out there on the field that could have been better, we could have made more out of, or were opportunities for us to gain more yards or give up fewer or turn the ball over, that type of thing. We’ll try to correct those today and turn the page and get onto Arizona. It’s good to win; it’s good to be 1-0, but we have a long way to go. Hopefully we can continue to improve this week – this is a big week for us.

Gerry Callahan lauds the heart and toughness of Logan Mankins.

"There’s guys across the league playing hurt so I don’t think I’m nothing special," said Mankins. "I’m a football player. If I get hurt and can still be out there, I’m going to be out there for my teammates."

The Mankins story made the rounds before the Patriots season opener in Tennessee and the ramifications were far reaching and instant: At least three Red Sox players were treated by medical personnel for "queasiness" after hearing of Mankins’ valor.

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino analyzes the Patriots win over the Titans.
• Monday Press Conference: Bill Belichick (11.25 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Not preseason anymore. (3.15 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Ridley's the man. (2.54 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Inside the post-game locker room. (1.04 min. video)
• Locker Room Uncut - Day after reaction. (2.53 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mark Farinella says Sundays win was a matter of everyone being consistently good, not great.
• Paul Kenyon writes that if the opening game is any indication, the Patriots have a more complete team this year than they had last season.
• Matt Chatham says the Week 1 win shows this team’s defense can stand on its own merits.
• Mike Reiss serves up some Belichick soundbites from his Monday morning news conference.
• Kevin McNamara reports Stevan Ridley's super Sunday was no surprise to his high school coach.
• Mark Farinella marvels at just how tough Logan Mankins is.
• Shalise Manza Young sees Wes Welker and Troy Brown as kindred spirits. Welker tied Brown's 557 reception record Sunday.
• Field Yates says it's too early to draw conclusions on Wes Welker.
• Jeff Howe examines Chandler Jones' debut and finds promise, progress and room for improvement alongside some flashier moments.
• Jeff Howe charts out a few key situations from Sunday where Chandler Jones came up big.
• Mark Daniels notes that for someone who was considered a reach when the Patriots drafted him, Tavon Wilson certainly played like a 2nd-round pick.
• Mike Reiss highlights the rotation at right tackle.
• Mike Reiss looks at the players who showed up on multiple units within the Big 4 on special teams.
• Mike Reiss charts base vs. sub defense.
• Mark Farinella offers his Hots & Nots from Pats-Titans.
• Zuri Berry lists five takeaways from Patriots-Titans. Tom Brady to Brandon Lloyd still needs some ironing out.
• Mike Reiss notes the Patriots' home-opener against the Cardinals will be broadcast on Fox, with Dick Stockton and John Lynch calling the game.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Tom Brady gets plenty of ribbing from his teammates for his broken nose. Wes Welker called him "probably the toughest metrosexual I've ever come across."; Rookie Tavon Wilson intercepted his first pass Sunday, after a major assist from Kyle Arrington; Jerod Mayo held his third annual Mayo Bowl to raise money for Boston Medical and "Pitching in for Kids. Two dozen players attended.
• Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Chandler Jones said a fan predicted his strip-sack and Dont'a Hightower's return for a TD right before Sunday's game; Belichick praised both rookies; Kyle Arrington chided himself for not catching that interception but was glad "a rook" was there to catch it.
• Ron Borges grades the Patriots with his Week 1 Report Card. Wow. Even Belichick earned an A-.
• Mike Reiss reports former Patriots center Dan Koppen has agreed to terms on a 1-year contract with the Broncos.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Tedy Bruschi (ESPN) Online Chat transcript. "It's always great to see the No. 54 in the end zone."
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Strange but true: Rookies make big plays for Pats D.
• Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Wes Welker's stats and playing time way down in Patriots opener.
• Video (ESPN) Eric Mangini looks at Patriots' defense. (1.07 min. video)
• James Walker (ESPN) AFC East stock watch.
• Kennedy Ross (Cold Hard Football Facts) Mark Sanchez, Tom Brady highlight AFC East Week 1.
• Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Shorts and Shells: Week one. Patriots rookies rise up.
• Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Sorting the Sunday Pile, Week 1: Patriots more complete now, Jets juggernaut, RG3's big day.
• Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) AFC East spin cycle: Week one.
• Will Brinson (CBS Sports) NFL Grades Week 1. Patriots A.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Replacement officials did solid work on opening Sunday.