Archives for January 2012

‘Still, that acquaintance will likely not be forgotten as Johnson enters free agency in the offseason looking for a significant raise over his rookie contract. After being selected in the seventh round out of Kentucky and posting two ineffective seasons, Johnson broke out for 1,073 yards last season, meshing well with Bills’ quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.’

‘”The coach told me I was out of the game. He said for the rest of the game and I have to respect his decision. He made it and that is what it is. I can’t complain about it or whine or pout. He made his decision and I am going with it. It really doesn’t matter why or how it happened at the end of the day, what I did hurt my teammates and I have to take that and I will.”‘

‘”I got tired of it the first time it happened, but you hope people learn from situations,” Gailey said. “You know, there isn’t anybody who hasn’t made mistakes, but you’ve got to learn from your mistakes. And everybody falls in that category, me too. And I have said this a hundred times — [Johnson] is not a bad guy. He’s not. He’s a good guy, but he uses some bad judgment at times, and if you do that enough and it hurts the team, you’ve got to do something.”‘

‘Well, what we said after we had an issue earlier in the season was ‘If anybody got a penalty that hurt our football team for any kind of demonstration, that he was out that game and then we would decide about the next game.’ And so, if I say that, then I am going to do it, so he was out.’

Exclamation points (Boston Globe)

Last catch snags record for Gronkowski (Boston Globe)

On this day, decision to man up a good match (Boston Globe)

Hernandez helps get Patriots’ offense clicking (Boston Globe)

This QB a marksman (Boston Globe)

Difficult to have faith in these Patriots (Boston Globe)

O’Brien draws interest (Boston Globe)

Photo gallery (Boston Globe)

Finishing flourish (Boston Herald)

A happy ending (Boston Herald)

Chung a big hit in return to ‘D’ (Boston Herald)

Moore than meets eye (Boston Herald)

Record-setter (Boston Herald)

Uneasy confidence (Boston Herald)

A Sterling performance (Boston Herald)

Gronk’s numbers spike (Boston Herald)

Reports link O’Brien with Penn St. job (Boston Herald)

The best & the worst of yesterday’s game (Boston Herald)

Player of the game (Boston Herald)

Photo gallery (Boston Herald)

Pats turn tables on Buffalo with 49 unanswered points (Providence Journal)

When it comes to Gronkowski, Pats show that records do matter (Providence Journal)

Patriots’ Bill O’Brien headed for Penn State? (Providence Journal)

Patriots season one of big comebacks, and many drawbacks (Providence Journal)

Chung happy to be back in action at last (Providence Journal)

Photo gallery (Providence Journal)

Reaping the rewards (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Dynamic duo (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Unhappy response to Johnson’s greeting (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Switch sparks McCourty (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Brady joins NFL’s 5,000-yard club (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

‘Icing on the cake’ (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Top seed, but what’s next? (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Despite scoring 49 unanswered points against the Bills, the Patriots are still concerned over slow starts (Springfield Republican)

Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson explains celebration penalty (Springfield Republican)

Patrick Chung deems his return from a foot injury a success (Springfield Republican)

Devin McCourty is the latest Patriots player to try his hand at safety (Springfield Republican)

Rob Gronkowski sets tight end yardage mark (Springfield Republican)

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien rumored to be heading to Penn State (Springfield Republican)

Heat’s about to be cranked up on Patriots (Brockton Enterprise)

Pats’ list of 2012 regular-season foes is complete (Brockton Enterprise)

‘I love winning,’ says Brady after engineering brilliant Patriots comeback (Quincy Patriot Ledger)

Pats’ win has familiar ring to it (Metro West Daily News)

Moore steals show with two picks (Metro West Daily News)

Patriots comebacks never get old (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Rob Gronkowski sets tight ends receiving record (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Finally, Patriots running backs contribute (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Patrick Chung, Patriots safety, a big hit in return (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Should Bill Belichick’s defense get a pass? (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback, finishes best season (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Ups and downs led Pats to No. 1 seed (New Bedford Standard Times)

5 Things We Learned (New Bedford Standard Times)

Pitiful AFC East will have Pats in prime playoff spot indefinitely (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Chung back with a bang (literally) (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Waters is the unsung MVP for Pats (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Hector Longo’s Two-Minute Drill (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Pats gain top seed after scaling 21-0 deficit (Nashua Telegraph)

For now, at least, it’s all good (Nashua Telegraph)

Gronkowski wins personal battle (Nashua Telegraph)

A case for the defense? (Manchester Union Leader)

Patriots stampede Buffalo in regular-season finale (Lynn Daily Item)

Records fall in Patriots’ win over Bills (Lynn Daily Item)

Patriots’ come-from-behind act may not cut it in the playoffs (Lowell Sun)

New England seals up top seed with come from behind victory over Buffalo (Taunton Daily Gazette)

Are Patriots on top of their game? (ESPN)

Patriots Happy With AFC’s Top Seed, Know They Must Play Better to Advance in Playoffs (NESN)

Steve Johnson’s Touchdown Celebration Earns Game-Turning Benching During Loss to Patriots (NESN)

Devin McCourty Has Talent, Tools to Play Safety, Though It’s Unclear If He’ll Remain At New Position (NESN)

Tom Brady, Patriots Developing Unstoppable Formula on Offense (NESN)

Rob Gronkowski Thankful for Opportunity to Set NFL Record During Sunday’s Victory Against Bills (NESN)

Report: Patriots Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien Top Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Position (NESN)

Pats clinch home-field advantage with 49-21 rout of Bills (CSN New England)

Pats playing with fire with bad starts (CSN New England)

Pats ‘D’ takes on new look, better results (CSN New England)

Patriots tight ends pile up accolades (CSN New England)

Chung thrilled to return to action (CSN New England)

Patriots-Bills Preview Review (CSN New England)

Best & Worst (CSN New England)

Ten Things We Learned Sunday (WEEI-AM)

Analysis/reaction: Bills-Patriots (Patriots.com)

Game Notes: Patriots vs. Bills (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Postgame Press Conference Transcript (Patriots.com)

Tom Brady Postgame Press Conference Transcript (Patriots.com)

Patriots Postgame Quotes (Patriots.com)

Bills Postgame Quotes (Patriots.com)

Photo gallery (Patriots.com)

Photo gallery (BuffaloBills.com)

Photo gallery (AP)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

Photo gallery (WGRZ-TV)

Photo gallery (WIVB-TV)

‘They beat the Miami Dolphins 27-24 after trailing 17-0 at halftime then rallied after the Bills (6-10) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, drawing boos from the home fans.’

‘Gailey said he had warned his players that anyone who draws a penalty that hurts the team would be benched.’

‘Starting offensive linemen Demetrius Bell (knee/ankle) and Kraig Urbik (right knee) are inactive for Buffalo. The other inactive Bills are defensive back Josh Nesbitt, defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, wide receiver Kamar Aiken, tight end Fendi Onobun and quarterback-wide receiver Brad Smith.’

‘Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 29-of-46 passes for 307 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions for the Bills (6-10), who fell apart after starting the season with a 4-1 mark.’

‘Stevie Johnson was benched after his touchdown catch due to celebrating a touchdown and costing his team a penalty. This resulted in Derek Hagan leading the team with seven catches for 89 yards. C.J. Spiller lead the team on the ground with 60 yards on 12 carries.’

‘The way Ryan Fitzpatrick started this game, you’d have thought the Bills were well on their way to not only a win, but a season-sweep of New England. At one point, he completed 16-of-20 passes for over 260 yards with a pair of touchdown passes. He had the accuracy, the zip, the decision-making — everything was on point for Fitzpatrick at the beginning of the game for Buffalo. Then, the second half happened. Four interceptions later and we’re sitting here with the shine of the early-game performance now displaying a prominent patch of rust. Where do the Bills go from here?’

‘The 49 points given up in three quarters once again shows us that George Edwards should be cleaning out his office Monday. The Bills Defensive Coordinator just has no idea how to prepare or call a defense. In his two seasons at the helm of the D Buffalo has had its second and third worst seasons at points against.’

‘Before Sunday’s game, I was all for trying to re-sign him. Now, I’m not so sure.’

‘Fact of the matter is I think the rule is a silly one. Johnson can’t write on his undershirt but Aaron Hernandez can show up the Bills defense with a goose-step into the end zone and Sterling Moore (?!?) celebrated his pick-six for approximately two hours. He may have been recreating “Fantasia.”‘

‘This game was different, I never really expected them to win even with the big early lead. They played the best team in the conference tough for three quarters, which is about two more quarters than I thought they would.’