Archives for November 2012

‘The bottom line is the Buffalo roster just doesn’t measure up. And the clear-cut proof is that in a league where parity reigns supreme, and it’s increasingly easier to turn fortunes around quickly (look at the 6-3 Colts, who were 2-14 last season, as the latest example), the Bills haven’t been able to do it. Year after year after year.’

‘”Well, I don’t know,” Belichick responded shrewdly when asked if he was surprised by Spiller’s lack of inactivity. “I’m sure he is being used. Even when he doesn’t get the ball, he’s still a guy you’ve got to defend.”‘

‘”They’ve obviously had our number,” said Bills’ quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the former Harvard standout. “We’re kind of down right now. We don’t think we’re out. I think there’s still a positive vibe in the locker room. I think you have to have that, otherwise you’re beat before you go play.”‘

Brady’s work is never done (Boston Globe)

Aaron Hernandez not expected to play vs. Buffalo (Boston Globe)

Patriots activate tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (Boston Globe)

Scouting report for Sunday’s Bills-Patriots game (Boston Globe)

O-line lays foundation for Pats’ success (Boston Herald)

Patriots wield a double-edge sword (Boston Herald)

Visanthe Shiancoe activated (Boston Herald)

Family tragedy molds Chandler Jones (Boston Herald)

5 keys to the game (Boston Herald)

Kraft gesture was ‘life-altering’ gift (Boston Herald)

New England Patriots look to build momentum in Sunday’s game against Bills (Springfield Republican)

What to watch for when the Patriots host the Bills Sunday (Springfield Republican)

Report: Aaron Hernandez to sit against Bills (Springfield Republican)

New England Patriots activate Visanthe Shiancoe (Springfield Republican)

Belichick expects some different twists in rematch with Bills (Providence Journal)

What to expect from Patriots over final 8 games (Providence Journal)

Patriots are the ultimate second-half team (Providence Journal)

Two weeks later, Patriots return to action (Brockton Enterprise)

New England Patriots’ stretch run looking Super (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Second-half surge (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

C.J. Spiller is key to Bills’ success vs. Patriots (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Marquice Cole’s special skills often overlooked by Patriots fans (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Buffalo having a hard time solving Patriots (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Sizing ’em Up: Patriots vs. Bills (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Patriots will say bye-bye to Bills (Nashua Telegraph)

Post-Halloween Pats a fright in their own secondary (Portland Press Herald)

Buffalo Bills (3-5) at New England Patriots (5-3) (Portland Press Herald)

Patriots must pay Bills heed (Manchester Union Leader)

Bills should be easy pickings for well-rested Pats (Lowell Sun)

Patriots add TE Visanthe Shiancoe (ESPN)

Patriots-Bills Week 10 Predictions (WBZ-TV)

Patriots activate TE Shiancoe (The Sports Network)

Report: Aaron Hernandez Not Expected to Play Sunday Against Bills Due to Ankle Injury (NESN)

Visanthe Shiancoe Activated by Patriots From Injured Reserve (NESN)

Patriots-Bills preview (CSN New England)

Kraft and Jacobs: From one extreme to the other (CSN New England)

Hernandez won’t play Sunday vs. Bills (CSN New England)

Patriots activate Visanthe Shiancoe from IR (CSN New England)

Wendell at the center of it all for Patriots (CSN New England)

Patriots activate TE Visanthe Shiancoe to the 53-man roster (Patriots.com)

‘Too much fire power for the New England Patriots on offense and too little amount of ways to help limit them for the Buffalo Bills on defense will ultimately be the undoing of the Bills in this one.’

‘”I feel comfortable myself,” Graham said. “Week One you could ask me a couple of plays and I’d be confused. Now it’s probably second nature. I can take you back to the Texans game that was pretty loud so I could hear just part of the formation and then understand what play it is. I think I’m coming along where we can probably start to exercise more extravagant play calls.”‘

‘Years ago, before their local bars got the NFL Sunday Ticket, Poisson and the Budapest Backers founder, Dennis Lynch, even flew from Budapest to London every gameday because there was no easier way for them to watch the games.’

‘It is offensive to disparage the people and the great city of Buffalo with cheap shots like this. That’s why Cleveland exists.’

‘Beebe thinks Tasker has “got a shot at the next level,” and not just because Tasker shared a baby shower with Beebe’s daughter, Amanda, in 1991.’

‘With the defensive shortcomings foremost in mind, here’s a position-by-position assessment of the Bills at midseason as they head into Sunday’s game against mighty New England.’

‘”It’s not major but I don’t know if he can get ready for this week,” coach Chan Gailey said of Kelsay’s injury. “We’ve got to wait and see how the treatment goes.”‘

‘The flip side is that, when Fitzpatrick is on, he can be one of the best QBs in the league.’

‘”It happened like that the year before in the last game of the season when we were up and New England came back,” he said. “It was just more of, we have to finish. If you do not finish, this is what happens. It has been proven I believe three straight games now.”‘

‘”For whatever reason, when we’ve played them, they’ve been able to string together runs where they score a lot of unanswered points,” Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater said. “They’ve done a good job of that, of just having strong surges within the game, so that’s something we have to try to minimize this game.”‘

NFL suspends Brandon Bolden 4 games (Boston Globe)

Patriots use extra time to prepare for Bills (Boston Globe)

Dont’a Hightower offers higher versatility (Boston Herald)

Brandon Bolden suspended (Boston Herald)

Rob Ninkovich has become the unlikely star of the New England Patriots’ defense (Springfield Republican)

Brandon Bolden suspended for using PEDs (Springfield Republican)

Tracy White, Trevor Scott only New England Patriots players ruled out for Sunday against Buffalo (Springfield Republican)

Bills always a wildcard for Patriots (Providence Journal)

Bolden suspended for PED use (Providence Journal)

Fast starts, faster turnarounds in Patriots-Bills matchups (Brockton Enterprise)

NFL suspends Patriots’ Bolden for four games (Brockton Enterprise)

Bolden barred for 4 games (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Wilfork, defense can’t look past Bills (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Buffalo’s Johnson poses big threat (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Patriots’ rush renaissance paying off (ESPN)

Brandon Bolden suspended 4 games (ESPN)

How good does Tom Brady have to be? (WEEI-AM)

Patriots Look To Continue Post-Bye Success (WBZ-TV)

What To Watch For As Patriots Host Bills At Gillette Stadium (WBZ-TV)

Fun Facts For Bills-Patriots (WBZ-TV)

Rookie Jones enjoys charmed life with Patriots (AP)

Patriots rookie RB Bolden suspended four games (AP)

Patriots’ Bolden suspended 4 games (The Sports Network)

Patriots Brandon Bolden Suspended (WGR-AM)

Brandon Bolden Suspended Four Games by NFL Without Pay for Performance Enhancing Substances (NESN)

Brandon Lloyd Jumps Over Car in Commercial to Help Friend (NESN)

Patriots Unveil Permanently Empty Seat in Honor of MIA/POW Soldiers (NESN)

Patriots play-action opportunities arise with strong run game (CSN New England)

Belichick excited to get back on the field after long wait (CSN New England)

Patriots-Bills injury report: Bolden, Scott, White out (CSN New England)

Ninkovich, Jones ready for Bills offensive line (CSN New England)

Patriots play-action opportunities arise with strong run game (CSN New England)

Hernandez practices third straight day; three missing (CSN New England)

Patriots dedicate black seat to honor POW/MIAs (CSN New England)

Friday Six-Pack: Bills Edition (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript (Patriots.com)