Archives for September 2011

‘In the 17 victories, the Patriots have won by an average score of 30-12. In the two games Brady missed when he sat out all of 2008 with a knee injury, the Bills still lost twice to the Patriots and their backup quarterback at the time, Matt Cassel, but allowed only 33 combined points. Brady has five games against the Bills where he produced more than 33 points.’

‘”Naaman came in at the end of the year last year and did some good things,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any reason that he can’t come in and help where needed and have an impact. He’s not going to ever give you the speed threat down the field that Roscoe gave you, but there are some things he does well in his own right and you try to take advantage of those things he does well.”‘

‘”He’s smart, he sees defenses, he reads coverages, he gets rid of the ball quickly, he’s got good skill players to work with, he’s got a good offensive team,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “He’s done a good job of managing it and of executing it, he’s made a lot of good throws. He’s an athletic guy, he can escape and run out of some pressures. But the biggest thing for any quarterback is accuracy and decision-making, and he’s done a real good job of that.”’

‘”We’re a team full of guys looking to make a name for themselves, looking to make a name for our team,” Fitzpatrick said yesterday during a conference call. “Although most of us are unheralded, and nobody really knows us, we think we’re pretty good, and we think we’ve got a lot of talent on the roster.”‘

‘On if he’s close to a contract extension: It’s one of those things where it’s so hard to worry about that only because you put all our focus on the opponent and the upcoming game. For me it’s not something I can even think about during the season. I’m just focused on beating the Patriots.’

‘On what the buzz around Buffalo has been like over the first two weeks: If it doesn’t happen in my office I don’t know about it.’

Fitzpatrick fits the bill in Buffalo (Boston Globe)

Season over for Patriots center Koppen (Boston Globe)

Chung had thumb surgery (Boston Globe)

Bills’ Harvard guy making name known (Boston Herald)

Tom Brady runs a fine line (Boston Herald)

Myron Pryor, Dan Koppen placed on IR, done for year (Boston Herald)

Tom Brady won’t bite on fake (Boston Herald)

Veteran Waters determined to fit in, and so far he has (Providence Journal)

Injuries end season for Koppen and Pryor (Providence Journal)

Patriots’ Brady takes aim at Buffalo once more (Brockton Enterprise)

Koppen’s season is over; veteran is placed on IR (Brockton Enterprise)

Bills no patsies this time around for Patriots (Metro West Daily News)

So far, Tom Brady’s best of the bunch (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Dan Koppen, Myron Pryor done for year (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Adapting to change Waters’ top asset (Nashua Telegraph)

Buffalo trip all business for Pats (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

AFC honors go to Brady again (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Bills believe they’ve finally found their foundation in quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (Springfield Republican)

Bill Belichick on Buffalo running back Fred Jackson: ‘There’s really no weak points with that guy’ (Springfield Republican)

Patriots place center Dan Koppen and defensive lineman Myron Pryor on injured reserve (Springfield Republican)

Brady aims to continue strong start against Bills (AP)

Patriots put C Koppen, DL Pryor on injured reserve (AP)

Patriots’ depth takes early hit (ESPN)

Sources: Patrick Chung has surgery (ESPN)

Dan Koppen, Myron Pryor go on IR (ESPN)

Wanna beat Brady? Here’s how (Fox Sports)

Tom Brady, Bill Belichick Scoff at Patriots’ Historic Winning Streak Against Bills (NESN)

Dan Koppen Placed on Injured Reserve for Patriots (NESN)

Patrick Chung, Aaron Hernandez Miss Patriots’ First Practice of the Week (NESN)

Ryan Fitzpatrick Has Sights Set on Patriots, Pinocchio’s in Harvard Square (NESN)

Rob Gronkowski Ready for Any Role Necessary During Aaron Hernandez’s Absence (NESN)

Landon Cohen Excited to Get Another Opportunity With Patriots After Injury to Myron Pryor (NESN)

Julian Edelman Giving Patriots a Boost As Team’s Primary Kickoff Returner (NESN)

Dan Koppen’s Season Comes to an End Due to Uncertainty Over Severity of Injury (NESN)

Patriots Cornerback Kyle Arrington Did Not Practice Due to Concussion (NESN)

Report: Patrick Chung Undergoes Surgery on Thumb, Status Uncertain for Patriots’ Game With Bills (NESN)

Brady says high production is expected result (CSN New England)

Slater on special teams, Brady, the Bills (CSN New England)

Gailey says Bills looking to improve (CSN New England)

Fitzpatrick: Bills look forward to tough test (CSN New England)

Patriots sign Phillip Adams, Landon Cohen; Koppen, Pryor placed on IR (Patriots.com)

Win streak vs Bills not a factor; Wed. notes (Patriots.com)

Brady named AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Patriots.com)

Patriots travel to face the Bills in Buffalo (Patriots.com)

Tom Brady Press Conference Transcript – 9/21/2011 (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript – 9/21/2011 (Patriots.com)

Ryan Fitzpatrick Conference Call Transcript – 9/21/2011 (Patriots.com)

Chan Gailey Conference Call Transcript – 9/21/2011 (Patriots.com)

‘Look, I don’t want you to get hurt here. It’s admirable to stick with your team through thick and thin, to endure years of pain as those Super Bowl appearances start to get all hazy and fade like the numbers on your Thurman Thomas jersey. But when Brian Noe, host of “The Noe Show” on 104.5 WTMM, did a segment recently about which regional team has the most delusional fans, guess who came out on top?’

‘”There’s nothing wrong with having two. But we had the confidence in [Fitzpatrick], and we told him that. He’s our quarterback, and he would’ve been even if we drafted one.”‘

‘Pay the man. Now.’

‘”I’m not saying I came in here and changed (the culture). It’s the guys they brought in last year, and the guys they brought in this year like Shawne (Merriman) and Marcell (Dareus). It’s the attitude change and culture change that we have to go through,” said Barnett in an exclusive interview with Sportsnet.ca.’

‘”We’ve approached them, and it’s not gone the way we would’ve liked it to,” Jackson told The Associated Press prior to practice Wednesday. “I’m annoyed by it. I’ve been playing at a high level for three straight years now. I would like something to be done about it this year. I want something done that’s fair for myself and the team.”‘

‘Prior to practice Wednesday, Johnson said the injury, which has been bothering him for a month, feels good and that it’s responding to treatment. Despite a noticeable limp, Johnson continued to play through a 38-35 win over Oakland last weekend.’

‘”I love playing here and I know my family loves living here,” he said. “That’s something I’m not going to be involved with during the season. My agent, the Bills — they’ll be involved with it. But for me, I’ve got to focus on playing every week. I feel like if I play well everything will take care of itself.”‘