Archives for September 27, 2012

‘Patriots 38, Bills 17.’

‘Powell said the Bills contacted him on Monday afternoon and informed him that they wanted to fly him to Buffalo for a workout in front of team officials. Less than 24 hours later, he was in Buffalo, doing what he does best: Punting the football. Needless to say, the Bills were impressed with what they saw. After the workout, Powell said he was told by the Buffalo officials to “go ahead and call your agent, and tell him that you’ll be here (in Buffalo).”‘

‘After he was cut at the close of the preseason by Buffalo he was told to lose some weight and keep improving his consistency.’

‘The last time the New England Patriots lost three straight football games, Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore was a 12-year-old sixth-grader.’

‘It took all of one day for Brian Moorman to find another job in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys confirmed Wednesday evening that they reached a contract agreement with the 36-year-old punter, released by the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday.’

‘The Bills had their reasons, no doubt, for cutting punter Brian Moorman, a two-time former Pro Bowler and a team captain, and replacing him with a rookie who has never kicked in a regular-season NFL game.’

‘New Buffalo Bills punter Shawn Powell said after practice Wednesday his predecessor, Brian Moorman, helped him make the adjustment to the NFL during training camp and preseason.’

‘”It’s an opportunity, that’s what it is,” Powell said Wednesday after his first practice. “Everybody knows how good Moorman did these past 12 years, so now I’m just trying to get out there and make the best of the situation that I have.”‘

“There were welcome signs Wednesday that the Buffalo Bills might soon take the field under the eye of professional referees, rather than the subs.’

‘”I definitely think with high caliber quarterbacks like that, we’ve just got to get out there and make them feel pressure and the heat and keep them moving,” Williams said yesterday during a conference call with the New England media. “I’ve seen games where that’s happened to (Brady), and they didn’t come out on top. So what we have to do is the thing he doesn’t like, and that’s pressure.”‘

‘On where the Bills are at with the running back position: Fred (Jackson) is ahead of C.J. (Spiller) right now and we did not know that it would be the case going into last week’s game. When C.J. got hurt, Fred was making good progress. I think Fred is going to practice today and then we will see if we can get C.J. onto the practice field by the end of the week. They have both recovered a lot faster than we thought they would.’

Patriots must improve at finishing the job (Boston Globe)

Bill Belichick fined $50,000 by NFL (Boston Globe)

Tom Brady (right shoulder) limited in practice (Boston Globe)

Pats look to find finishing touch (Boston Herald)

Pats must decide what to do with Devin McCourty (Boston Herald)

Mario Williams gonna bring it (Boston Herald)

Bill Belichick hit with $50k fine, apologizes (Boston Herald)

Gronk’s OK with his changing role in Pats’ offense (Providence Journal)

League fines Belichick $50,000 for grabbing ref (Providence Journal)

What’s worse? Pats’ ‘D’ or calls? (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Bill Belichick fined, but not suspended (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

NFL gives Belichick $50K smackdown (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Gronk not making hometown news (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

NFL got this call right on Patriots’ Belichick (Brockton Enterprise)

Pats looking to dig themselves out of a hole (Brockton Enterprise)

Big bill for Patriots’ Belichick after grabbing ref (Metro West Daily News)

Tom Brady, New England Patriots still looking for killer instinct (Springfield Republican)

Bill Belichick fined $50,000 for grabbing official (Springfield Republican)

Patriots sign DL Terrell McClain (Springfield Republican)

Tom Brady limited during Wednesday’s practice with right shoulder injury (Springfield Republican)

Pats’ main focus is beating Bills (Nashua Telegraph)

Ref problem? Next game matters more (Portland Press Herald)

Improving in crunch time (Lowell Sun)

Belichick, Pats set to move on, brace for Bills (AP)

Belichick fined 50K, Kyle Shanahan 25K by NFL (AP)

Patriots’ Belichick fined for contact with official (The Sports Network)

Patriots coach Belichick fined $50,000 for referee grab (Reuters)

Patriots in unfamiliar place under .500 (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy And Personnel (The Sports Xchange)

McDaniels defines criticized play-calling (The Sports Xchange)

Tom Brady frustrated with 1-2 start (ESPN)

Pats’ Bill Belichick fined $50K (ESPN)

Was Bill Belichick’s $50,000 Fine Too Harsh? (NESN)

Terrell McClain’s Size, Agility Should Help Patriots’ Run Defense, Add Depth up Front (NESN)

Bill Belichick’s Punishment Was Warranted but Too Severe Compared to Penalties for More Egregious Actions (NESN)

Tom Brady’s Doesn’t Think Patriots Have Earned Better Record, Remains Focused on ‘Winning’ (NESN)

Bill Belichick Fined $50,000 for Grabbing Official’s Arm After Patriots’ Loss to Ravens (NESN)

Onus on offense to end games when it can (CSN New England)

Lloyd has earned Brady’s confidence (CSN New England)

Brady: You can’t sit around and mourn (CSN New England)

Belichick on fine: ‘I accept the discipline’ (CSN New England)

Patriots hope to take game out of officials’ hands (CSN New England)

Patriots aren’t panicking with losing record (CSN New England)

Edelman, Mankins missing from Wednesday practice (CSN New England)

Trying to figure out the drop in Rob Gronkowski’s numbers against the Ravens (WEEI-AM)

Confidence key this week in Buffalo; Wed. notes (CSN New England)

Patriots Sign DL Terrell McClain; Release DL Marcus Forston (CSN New England)

Statement from Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Conference Call Transcript (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript (Patriots.com)

Tom Brady Press Conference Transcript (Patriots.com)

Rob Gronkowski Conference Call Transcript (Patriots.com)

Buffalo Bills Head Coach Chan Gailey Conference Call Transcript (Patriots.com)

Cowboys agree to terms with former veteran Buffalo punter Brian Moorman (Dallas Morning News)

Cowboys sign former Bills P Brian Moorman (AP)

Former Bills Punter Brian Moorman To Sign With Cowboys (DallasCowboys.com)

”’It’s a tough situation,” Fitzpatrick said. ”I definitely think the whole locker room was shocked in terms of that going down after three games and him being here for 12 years.”’

”’I felt OK about practice today. That was good,” Jackson said. ”I think what’s going to determine more than anything is how I’m feeling like the next day. If I can come out here and continue to work, that’ll help get me better. But if I wake up tomorrow and it’s swollen or too sore to do anything, then that’s going to set me back.”’