Archives for December 2011

‘"Around the league a lot of tight ends are catching a lot of balls, a lot of touchdowns and everything," Gronkowski said. "I think the tight ends are a big position in the game. I mean, if it’s a check-down the QB can go right to the tight end or something. If the tight end is bigger than the linebackers, bigger than safeties and stuff, [there’s an] advantage there, using your own body size to get open and everything. If you have a tight end it’s definitely, I think, a big [advantage] to the game, to the offense and everything."’

‘”We just weren’t making those plays that we normallywould make,” Bills back C.J. Spiller said. “We really haven’t changed too much else so it’s the same ting that we were doing at the beginning of the season that helped us be successful (last week). We had that little seven-game skid where we just weren’t making those plays that we were normally making.”‘

Thomas has become next in line for Patriots (Boston Globe)

Brady listed as probable (Boston Globe)

Pats’ Wes Welker finds his voice (Boston Herald)

Don’t worry, Brady ready (Boston Herald)

Is it worth the risk to start Brady on Sunday? (Providence Journal)

Bills game is like any other (Providence Journal)

Brady’s status remains the question (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Bill Belichick offers no updates on Tom Brady’s injured shoulder (Springfield Republican)

For Pats corner McCourty, the whole season has been a turn for the worse (Brockton Enterprise)

Business as usual for backup Hoyer as he’s preparing to play; Brady probable (Brockton Enterprise)

Patriots: Tom Brady ‘probable,’ Logan Mankins out (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

AFC’s top seed on line for Pats (Nashua Telegraph)

Buffalo trying to regroup (Nashua Telegraph)

Patriots want this one badly (ESPN)

Tom Brady again limited at practice (ESPN)

Where’s the buzz over the Patriots? (ESPN)

Patriots QB Brady probable for finale versus Bills (AP)

Patriots Hosted NFL’s Three Highest-Priced Games During 2011 Regular Season (NESN)

Report: Tom Brady Has Sprained Left Shoulder, Still Expected to Start Against Bills (NESN)

Devin McCourty Hoping for Opportunity to Play Twin Brother in Playoffs (NESN)

Tom Brady Listed As Probable, Logan Mankins Ruled Out for Sunday (NESN)

Tom Brady’s Injury Hasn’t Changed How Brian Hoyer Prepares For Bills Game (NESN)

Wes Welker Enjoys Being a ‘Goofball’ With New Twitter Account (NESN)

Ihedigbo proving worth in many ways (CSN New England)

Update: Brady listed as ‘probable’ for Sunday (CSN New England)

Bills Friday Six-Pack (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript (Patriots.com)

‘Patriots 31, Bills 20.’

‘”You gotta try to mix up your coverages, try to get some hands on them, try to jam them and throw some of the timing off in their passing game,” says Safety George Wilson. “But you gotta be technique-sound going against those guys, and when you have a chance to make them pound the ball, you gotta take advantage of it.”‘

‘Chan Gailey must stop pampering C.J. Spiller and ride him for all he’s worth. The second-year running back will have an entire off-season to recuperate.’

‘The Bills won the first meeting in large part because of four Tom Brady interceptions. That’s unlikely to be repeated so Buffalo must rely on their resurgent rushing attack to move the chains and extend drives thereby reducing the number of possessions in the game for New England’s offense.’

‘The Bills finally beat the Patriots. Buffalo hadn’t defeated New England since 2003, so a win over the Patriots on Sept. 25 was the highlight of the Bills’ season. The Bills fell behind, 21-0, but Rian Lindell kicked a 28-yard field goal on the last play of the game to wrap up a 34-31 win.’

‘The catch total isn’t bad. But the Bills’ yards-per-catch total — 9.7 — is the lowest in the league from the Z position.’

‘Brady landed hard on his left shoulder with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against Miami when he was tackled by Kevin Burnett on a scramble in a 27-24 win over the Dolphins. Brady also scored on two 1-yard keepers.’

‘The Patriots do everything better than the Bills, and nowhere is that more obvious than at the tight end position. The Patriots have Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The Bills have, well … let’s not even get into that.’

‘”Defensively, (they’re) a turnover team, a team that takes the ball away a lot,” he went on. “They did it against us, did it against Denver.”‘

‘”We got embarrassed out there,” special teams captain Matthew Slater said. “They outplayed us. … They put it on us good.”‘

‘”They have some very skilled players,” Brady said, “guys that if you make a mistake, they’re ready to capitalize, especially the guys in the secondary. Hopefully there’s no repeat performance.” Through the first five weeks of the year, the Bills had the top-ranked red-zone offense. During the losing streak, they were just 8-19 in the red zone and even in the victory over the Broncos were only 1-6 inside the 20. You have to score touchdowns in this league,” Gailey said. “You can’t just go out and kick field goals. We were fortunate last week to get by with that, but normally you can’t.”‘

‘”Those guys, we owe them one,” defensive lineman Vince Wilfork said. “They beat us earlier this season. I’m pretty sure they’re riding high coming in. They haven’t beaten us a lot lately, but I’m pretty sure it’ll feel good for them to come in and sweep us.”‘