11/25/2009

No one calls them the Aints any more
It seems like at least once a season the past few years, the New England Patriots find themselves in a showdown of (temporarily) epic proportions, a game in which the Pats or their opponent or both are undefeated, and which promises to draw major viewers to one of the NFL’s broadcasting partners.

Patriots journal: Third-quarter offense shoots blanks
While there’s no doubt that the Patriots’ offense has been getting off to a hot start in recent games, a troubling trend has popped up: they aren’t scoring in the third quarter.

11/24/2009

Patriots’ eyes are on the Saints, not the playoffs
After the Patriots lost to the Indianapolis Colts two Sundays ago, it seemed their path to one of the two AFC first-round playoff byes and the chance to play at least one postseason game at home suddenly had a sizeable roadblock dropped in the middle of it.

Patriots journal: Second time around, Belichick grabbed Welker
FOXBORO –– Leading up to the 2004 draft, the Patriots did their due diligence when it came to the Texas Tech players who would be available come April, as they do with players from schools across the country.

11/22/2009

Patriots bounce back from Indy loss with total rout of Jets
At 7-3, the Pats are two games clear of the Dolphins, who have the same 3-1 AFC East record as New England.

Jim Donaldson: Pint-sized Welker once again comes up huge for Patriots
FOXBORO — Bill Belichick cursed his New England Patriots after they blew a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead at Indianapolis.

Patriots-Jets: Bodden really had Sanchez’s number
Corner Leigh Bodden intercepts Jets QB Mark Sanchez three times, tying franchise mark

Talking points: Revis keeps Moss in check once again
FOXBORO — Darelle Revis won his battle, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a Jets loss in the latest Border War.

Patriots-Jets postgame analysis
FOXBORO –– The Patriots took a giant leap forward in the race for the division crown with a 31-14 rout of the New York Jets.

11/21/2009

In Patriots locker room and around the NFL, concussions no longer out of mind
FOXBORO — From the time most professional football players begin playing the game — and for many, that is at a very young age — they are taught to believe that the sport requires a warrior mentality, and that nearly any injury can and should be played through.

Jim Donaldson: Rex Ryan may not realize it, but there’s no crying in football
“Blubber: 1. n., Excess body fat; 2. v., To weep noisily and without restraint.”

Patriots-Jets pregame analysis
Oh, where to begin? This week’s edition of the Patriots-Jets rivalry seems to have more storylines than a midday soap opera — there’s Randy Moss versus Darelle Revis, cryin’ Rex Ryan, the shine dulling on the Sanchise, the additions of Wes Welker and Jerod Mayo after both missed the Week Two meeting, whether the Pats will have an Indy hangover… the list goes on.

Up Close With: Patriots defensive back Kyle Arrington
FOXBORO — After the Patriots’ win over the Dolphins two weeks ago, there may not have been a happier player in the locker room than Kyle Arrington.

NFL Beat: Interim coaches seldom succeed
As one of the original AFL owners, Ralph Wilson has been around pro football for 50 years. And as owner of the Buffalo Bills — a franchise that hasn’t won a championship since 1965 — Wilson has been long on patience.

Patriots’ running backs all see NFL life from different perspectives
FOXBORO — The life of a running back in the NFL can be unpredictable. Consider, for example, the questions being asked of Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk on Friday.

11/20/2009

Patriots journal: Patriots-Jets rematch will still look different
FOXBORO — Want an example on how quickly a team’s outlook can change in the NFL? Consider the situation for the repeat match between the Patriots and Jets on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Brady on target to have second-best season ever with Patriots
FOXBORO – This likely isn’t a phrase that’s uttered too often in regards to a quarterback with three Super Bowl rings, a supermodel wife, bulging bank account and is considered one of the best ever at his position, but:

Patriots journal: Weakness now is strength
FOXBORO — Kevin Faulk has become a key part of the Patriots’ offense, the guy who always answers the call and rarely gets enough credit for his contributions.

11/19/2009

Jets’ Ryan humbled as he talks of matchup with Patriots
FOXBORO — When Rex Ryan strode to the dais on Wednesday, he brought with him a box of Kleenex.

Patriots journal: Brady says Belichick ‘cursed out’ team after Indy loss
FOXBORO — While many NFL teams enjoy “Victory Mondays” — when players get the Monday after a win off, Bill Belichick gave his players Monday off this week despite their loss against Indianapolis.

11/18/2009

Patriots see red-zone issues in matchups with Jets
FOXBORO — No team has had more success shutting down the Patriots’ high-powered offense this season than the Jets. They are the only team to have held the Patriots to zero touchdowns.

Patriots journal: Business as usual for Belichick
FOXBORO — Bill Belichick has understandably come under his fair share of criticism for his decision to go for a first down on fourth-and-2 at the Pats’ own 28 with 2:08 remaining and the Pats up by six against the Colts, but Tom Brady doesn’t think the criticism is fair.

11/17/2009

Belichick says he doesn’t regret Patriots decision to go for it on 4th-and-2
FOXBORO – When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, Bill Belichick’s decision to go for a 1st down on 4th-and-2 at the Pats own 28 with 2:08 remaining in the game played a huge role in New England’s 35-34 loss to unbeaten Indianapolis.

Jim Donaldson: Belichick made the right call, it just didn’t work out
INDIANAPOLIS –– I’m backing Bill Belichick.

Bill Reynolds: Belichick’s decision foolish even if it had worked
Okay, here’s the question.

Patriots Journal: Meriweather likes Belichick’s call
FOXBORO – Former Patriot linebacker Tedy Bruschi and safety Rodney Harrison both said that Bill Belichick, with his team up by six, must not have believed that his defense could stop the Colts’ high-powered offense and that’s why he mistakenly chose to go for a first down on 4th-and-2 at the Pats’ 28 with 2:08 remaining in their 35-34 shocking loss to the Colts instead of punting the ball and making the Colts drive the length of the field.

11/16/2009

Colts 35, Patriots 34: Mistakes doomed Patriots before Belichick's gamble
The fourth-down call got all of the debate after the game, but it wasn't really the fourth-down call that got the Patriots on Sunday night.

Patriots-Colts postgame analysis
WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAD THE BALL

Patriots-Colts Talking Points: Springs and Warren are late scratches
INDIANAPOLIS — The New England Patriots played much of the first half of Sunday night’s game with the Indianapolis Colts with a nickel look on defense — utilizing five defensive backs.

In Indianapolis, Patriots lose one they should have had
INDIANAPOLIS — Bill Belichick gambled.

Jim Donaldson: AFC there for the taking for Pats, Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — Denver lost. Again. For the third game in a row. This time, to the struggling Redskins, who improved to 3-6 while dropping the free-falling Broncos to 6-3.

11/15/2009

All differences aside, Brady and Manning are as good as it gets
What’s not debatable is that Brady and Manning are the two best quarterbacks in the game today. And two of the best ever.

Polian has built the Colts from the bottom up
As much as fans of the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts may be loathe to admit, the two franchises do share some things in common: outstanding quarterbacks, near-annual playoff runs, strong ownership.

Patriots-Colts pregame analysis
WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

Up Close With: Shawn Springs
FOXBORO — From nearly the moment he arrived at Gillette Stadium after being signed to a free-agent deal this year, Shawn Springs endeared himself to his new teammates through humor.

11/14/2009

Converting in red zone will be key for Patriots, but Colts won’t make it easy
FOXBORO –– The Patriots’ offense will have to buckle down when it matters most on Sunday night if they’re to have a shot at knocking the Indianapolis Colts off their undefeated perch.

Patriots Journal: Light, Koppen, Edelman and Morris back on practice field
FOXBORO –– A number of familiar faces made unexpected appearances on the practice field Friday at Gillette Stadium, with linemen Matt Light and Dan Koppen, wide receiver Julian Edelman, and running back Sammy Morris all practicing and giving hope that they could be healthy in time for the much-anticipated brawl with the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night.

11/13/2009

Patriots will count on physical play to counter Colts’ Dallas Clark
FOXBORO — Dallas Clark has gashed many a defense over the past two-plus seasons, as the Indianapolis Colt has become one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL.

Patriots Journal: Dan Connolly prepares to step in –– and squat down –– to Dan Koppen’s role
FOXBORO — Dan Connolly laughs as he says Tom Brady doesn’t know his backside very well yet, but he’s going to become pretty familiar with it.

11/12/2009

Caldwell keeps Colts on the consistent path
FOXBORO –– If you hadn’t heard much about Jim Caldwell before January, it wouldn’t be that surprising. He had spent the previous seven years as quarterbacks coach of the Indianapolis Colts, but most folks believe that Peyton Manning is his own coach and coordinator anyway.

Patriots Journal: Colts have made the most of their one dimension
FOXBORO –– In the first few games of the season, there was a great deal of talk about the Patriots’ offensive imbalance –– too many passes and not enough running.

11/11/2009

Mangini should remember that he's not in New England anymore
Recently, interviews have come out with Eric Mangini comparing the situation with the Browns now with the situation with the Patriots when Bill Belichick took over the team in 2000.

11/10/2009

McGowan loves football, and it shows
FOXBORO — Brandon McGowan grew up in Jersey City, N.J. And Orono, Maine, is nothing like Jersey City.

Patriots journal: Moving Wilfork gives defense a different look
FOXBORO — When the Patriots lined up on defense against the Dolphins, something looked a bit off about the defensive line, and not just because Jarvis Green wasn’t on the field.

11/09/2009

Patriots journal: Porter follows up a mouthy week with a quiet game
FOXBORO — You can’t always judge a player’s performance by his statistics, but for someone who talked so much before Sunday’s Patriots-Dolphins game, Miami linebacker Joey Porter sure had a quiet game.

Pats 27, Dolphins 17: New England tames Wildcat and takes control of AFC East
FOXBORO — The New England Patriots weren’t as crisp on offense as they’d been in recent games, and defensively they didn’t do as good a job against the Dolphins’ Wildcat offense as they would have liked.

Jim Donaldson: Dolphins didn’t learn their lesson with Moss
FOXBORO — Rookie cornerback Vontae Davis already had one interception and had his eye on another as he ran down the right sideline alongside Randy Moss.

For Pats, 1 for 4 inside the 20 raises a red flag
FOXBORO — Between the 20-yard lines, the Patriots had no problems moving the ball up and down the field in their 27-17 victory over the Dolphins yesterday at Gillette Stadium.

Analysis: Pats do enough to get the divisional win they needed
FOXBORO — Last year, the Patriots missed out on the playoffs because they didn’t have the best record within AFC East divisional play. They don’t want that to happen again this year, so they played yesterday’s game against the Dolphins, who entered 3-0 in division play compared to the Pats’ 1-1, as if it were a must-win.

11/08/2009

Pats’ lineman Pryor overcomes ADHD
FOXBORO — The fact that Patriots rookie defensive lineman Myron Pryor has gone from unheralded sixth-round draft pick to regular contributor for the sixth-ranked defense in the NFL is accomplishment enough.

Jim Donaldson: Dolphins not likely to sneak up on Patriots
FOXBORO — It’s been two weeks since the Patriots played a game; three weeks since they played a game in this country.

Up close with . . . Wes Welker
FOXBORO — Some things are all about timing or the best situation at the right time.

Analysis: Patriots have the edge in most categories
No one has to tell the Patriots what is at stake in Sunday’s game against the Dolphins: through Miami is 3-4, all three of their wins have come against AFC East foes. New England, meanwhile, is 1-1 in division play and can ill afford to take a second loss if it is going to reclaim the title it had a stranglehold on from 2003-07, but which Miami claimed last year on a tiebreaker.

11/07/2009

Patriots wary of Ginn’s returns
FOXBORO — How do you win a game in the NFL and score 30 points when you have only 104 yards of total offense?

Patriots journal: Belichick says Moss is smartest receiver he’s seen
FOXBORO — Bill Belichick poked a little fun at himself but also shed a little light on what makes Randy Moss an exceptional receiver on Friday, giving fascinating insight into one of the best wideouts in NFL history.

11/06/2009

Pats’ Mayo says patience is key in defending against Wildcat
FOXBORO — When the Miami Dolphins unveiled their now-infamous Wildcat package against the Patriots in Week Three last season, it was certainly something New England had not prepared for.

Patriots journal: Porter says refs have different rules for Brady
FOXBORO — Apparently, giving Joey Porter credit for holding back a bit during his Wednesday conference call with New England reporters was premature.

11/05/2009

Dolphins’ Porter can’t hide hate for Patriots
FOXBORO — Joey Porter tried. He really did.

Patriots journal: Tougher competition is coming
FOXBORO — The Patriots played the NFL version of the junior varsity in the two weeks leading up to their bye, beating up on the Titans and Buccaneers by a combined score of 94-7 with the offense reminding many of the 2007 glory days.

11/04/2009

Patriots hope to continue second-half dominance
FOXBORO — With the bye week behind them, the Patriots are focusing on the second half of the year.

Patriots journal: Knee surgery will keep Green out for a month
FOXBORO – Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green confirmed yesterday that he had knee surgery last week. He could miss up to a month of action.

11/03/2009

Declawing Miami’s wildcat still a priority for Patriots
With the amount of attention it seems the Miami Dolphins’ Wildcat offensive package receives, you’d sometimes think they invented the forward pass, not simply popularized the single-wing formation that has been in use for decades.

Patriots Journal: Brady thinks he may play at age 40
Fresh off a long bye weekend in the Miami sunshine, Tom Brady seemed to be in good spirits during his weekly radio appearance on Boston’s WEEI, giving Patriots fans some great news when he declared himself to be in great shape physically.

Jim Donaldson: Football, not baseball, is the true ‘National Pastime’
What with the World Series going on, the Fall Classic and all that, this seems like a good time to ask the simple sports question: What is America’s “National Pastime?”

11/01/2009

On the bye week, a look at this year’s distinctive Patriots
The New England Patriots players are away on a bit of a fall vacation, enjoying their three-day bye weekend in places like Pittsburgh, where Leigh Bodden was inducted into the Duquesne Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, or Louisiana, where Kevin Faulk returned home to see his Louisiana State Tigers take on Tulane and spend some time with family.

Up close with Kendall Simmons
FOXBORO — For an offensive lineman, job requirement number one is being super-sized. These days, the men in the trenches routinely top 300 pounds.

10/30/2009

Jim Donaldson: For Patriots, the toughest battle could be staying healthy
So far, so good for the Patriots. But there’s still a lot of football left to be played, and the New England doesn't have any players left to spare.

Self-scouting part of Patriots bye-week focus
FOXBORO – Without an opponent to prepare for, Bill Belichick has always taken advantage of the Patriots’ bye week by using two or three days to reinforce some fundamentals and improve his team.

Patriots’ Brady named AFC offensive player of the month
FOXBORO – While the fandom frets about Tom Brady’s performances coming off his knee injury – with many expecting a repeat of his off-the-charts 2007 season – the NFL seems to think QB12 is pretty close to the player he was pre-Bernard Polian.

10/29/2009

Patriots, for now, back to being beasts of East
FOXBORO — Some things are aberrations: For example, the 2008 AFC East title residing somewhere other than New England, where it has been held captive for six of the eight seasons since 2001.

Patriots Journal: Meriweather is staying humble
FOXBORO — Brandon Meriweather is starting to get noticed, though that’s not hard to do when you pull in two interceptions in one game, including one for a touchdown.

10/28/2009

Patriots must continue to play hard-nose, team football to reach goals
The New England Patriots are enjoying their bye week, sitting atop the AFC East with a 5-2 record and having thoroughly dominated their last two opponents by the combined score of 94-7.

04/09/2009

Tank Williams ready for second chance with Patriots
Lost amid all the speculation over who might join the New England Patriots in the coming weeks – draft picks, Jason Taylor, Julius Peppers – is one player already on the roster who could have a big impact.