Archives for September 6, 2013

‘I believe the youthful Bills may be hard-pressed to match last year’s 6-10 won-lost record, but I think they are moving in the right direction.’

‘”I think the biggest thing with this defense is everybody’s going to be able to mix it up a little bit and get after it,” Williams said after Thursday’s practice. “Obviously our mentality is to be aggressive. So I think most of our guys, especially up front, that’s what we want to do. It’s not a hold-back scheme. We’re definitely going to get after it and see what’s going on.”‘

‘Of course, while rejoicing over Manuel’s availability for New England, it’s wise to remember that he’s a rookie who will be playing in his first regular-season NFL game. This isn’t, say, Tom Brady returning for the ’09 opener after recovering from major knee surgery.’

‘On one hand, the season-ticket total is respectable considering the Bills have not made the playoffs in 13 years and have started over again with a new regime this season. However, the total is believed to be in the bottom quarter of the NFL. (The league doesn’t release season-ticket rankings.)’

‘”There’s less information to go on in an NFL situation,” Belichick said. “We’ve certainly seen things coach Marrone did at Syracuse (University the past four years) or Mike did with the Jets or Danny did at Detroit on special teams.’

‘If Byrd does wish to create a real trade market for himself, he’ll need to be on the field. Safeties don’t fetch first-round draft picks in the world of NFL trades, and a second-rounder is probably a stretch too. The Bills are under no obligation to trade him, though they are best-served to have him on the field given the fact that their secondary is considered one of the weak links of the team (Cornerback Stephon Gilmore is out for up to eight weeks with a broken wrist).’

‘”I don’t watch NFL Network or read the newspapers during the season,” Talib said Thursday after practice. “I’m a basketball fan, so my TV pretty much stays on NBA TV.”‘

‘”I definitely feel ready. Mentally, physically my mind feels good. I just tried to stay in everything when I wasn’t playing in those last two preseason games and those practice reps I missed I made sure I made them up, still got mental reps. When I felt good enough with my knee I just made sure I stuck around and got some extra work in so I’d be ready.”’

‘Now that he’s aware of what has been said, Talib admitted that the trash-talk could provide a little extra motivation Sunday when the Pats travel to Buffalo. “Of course,” he said. “But I didn’t hear it so I didn’t really read into it. I guess it is what it is.”‘

‘”He definitely demands a lot from a defense. He’s a good receiver,” he said. “He’s sharp in his routes. He’s really good in his releases off the line. You’ve got to prepare for him.”‘

‘”He has a lot of skills,” Belichick said. “He doesn’t just do one thing. He has good vision, he has good speed, good balance. He can run inside, run outside. He’s an excellent receiver. He can take a short pass, a screen pass, and go a long way, or he can line up and run a post pattern or a go pattern. He’s one of the most explosive players in the league.”‘

‘”We knew going into this draft we’d be going in this direction, taking a young quarterback,” Marrone said. “So we put in a lot of time on how we want to develop him and get him ready.”‘

The resilience of the Patriots’ brand (Boston Globe)

Patriots receivers in the Bill Belichick era (Boston Globe)

Are the Patriots realistic Super Bowl contenders? (Boston Globe)

Patriots’ popularity unharmed by rocky offseason (Boston Globe)

‘Fragile’ label doesn’t really fit Danny Amendola (Boston Globe)

Aqib Talib offers only praise for Bills’ Stevie Johnson (Boston Globe)

Patriots cut Braxston Cave, Matthew Mulligan (Boston Globe)

How tough is it to be a Patriots receiver? (Boston Globe)

Earning Tom Brady’s trust is no easy feat (Boston Globe)

Tom Brady wanted early bonding time with rookie WRs (Boston Globe)

Can Aaron Dobson be the one for Patriots? (Boston Globe)

Alfonzo Dennard’s court hearing postponed (Boston Globe)

Why the Patriots offense is so dominant (Boston Globe)

How wide receivers have evolved in the NFL (Boston Globe)

Rob Gronkowski mum on when he’ll play (Boston Globe)

Pats ‘D’ has a complex (Boston Herald)

Aaron Dobson not in dark on film work (Boston Herald)

EJ Manuel faces tough 1st test in Bill Belichick (Boston Herald)

Source: James Develin to re-sign with Patriots following Matthew Mulligan release (Springfield Republican)

Danny Amendola, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Dobson once again limited in practice (Springfield Republican)

New England Patriots CB Aqib Talib avoids war of words with Bills WR Stevie Johnson (Springfield Republican)

Tommy Kelly is willing to play all 3 downs for the New England Patriots (Springfield Republican)

New England Patriots defensive line says there are no communication issues in meeting room (Springfield Republican)

It’s time for Patriots defense to show its mettle (Providence Journal)

Talib declines to take Johnson’s bait (Providence Journal)

Recalling firsts from the Patriots’ pasts (Brockton Enterprise)

Kelly realizes he’s a long way from Oakland (Brockton Enterprise)

Bills’ C.J. Spiller will test Patriots’ improved run defense (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

New court date clears way for Alfonzo Dennard (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

DT Kelly looking on the bright side (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Not a long wait for Cole (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Bills hopeful they can begin anew against Patriots (Nashua Telegraph)

Just like that, Mulligan’s cut (Portland Press Herald)

Enfield’s Matt Mulligan released by Patriots (Bangor Daily News)

Patriots defense all too familiar with rookie QBs (AP)

Bills a mystery (ESPN Boston)

Amendola, Gronkowski Limited Again At Patriots Practice (WBZ-FM)

Court Date For Patriots’ Dennard Pushed Back To September 16 (WBZ-FM)

Report: Patriots Re-Sign Fullback James Develin After Cutting Tight End, Center (NESN)

Patriots Release Tight End Matthew Mulligan, Center Braxston Cave (NESN)

Patriots, Seahawks, Falcons Among Super Bowl Favorites in 2013 NFL Predictions (NESN)

Tommy Kelly, Michael Buchanan Among Patriots Who Could Serve Role As Interior Pass Rusher (NESN)

Chandler Jones, Aqib Talib Have Patriots’ Defense Looking at Top 10 Ceiling If Starters Can Stay Healthy (NESN)

Patriots Have Impressive Track Record Against Rookies, But EJ Manuel Could Cause Trouble Like Russell Wilson (NESN)

Danny Amendola Does Not Look Hindered by Groin Injury During Patriots Practice (NESN)

Patriots release OL Braxston Cave and TE Matthew Mulligan (Patriots.com)

”’There’s a lot of different scenarios that can come up,” Marrone said. ”A lot of it is going to be how Dan performs and how he plays.”’

‘”My focus is really just on football right now honestly. My teammates they mean the world to me. I don’t want to be any distraction to them like we have a big game coming up and we need to be 100 percent focused on New England and that’s that.”‘