Touchdown Patriots!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Testaverde in town

Vinny Testaverde is at the Patriots passing camp (being held four days this week) which appears like a good sign that he may be returning this year to be the Pats 3d QB. He has never won a Super Bowl before (like Junior Seau), and with the Patriots looking as good as they do now, finally getting to the big game may be a strong motivator driving him to return.

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Monday, May 21, 2007

It's Official

The Patriots have resigned Seau.

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

He's Here...

Junior Seau is in town

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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Highlights

Some of the media outlets have written pieces on Patriots rookies. Links below.

QB Matt Gutierrez, (Boston Herald)
DB Denny Poland
DT Kareem Brown (Boston Globe)
OL Clint Oldenburg (Patriots.com)
CB Mike Richardson (Patriots.com)
RB Justise Hairston (BH)
OL Corey Hilliard (BH)
OL Corey Hilliard (Patriots.com)
LB Oscar Lua (BH)

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Patriots cut Warren & Other Rookie News

The Patriots released former Texas A&M linebacker, rookie mini camp invite, Justin Warren today. In the Patriots mini camp he couldn't get off the exercise bike and apprently failed a physical for the Patriots. Out of all of the rookie free agents that the Patriots brought in I had thought that Warren had the next to best shot (Matt Gutierrez has the best chance) of making the team.

The Patriots signed two other rookie free agents Georgia Tech wide receiver Chris Dunlap and Air Force defensive back Denny Poland. Poland sounds like an intelligent player and Dunlap played next to you know who (Calvin Johnson) .

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Monday, May 14, 2007

Will Seau Return?

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Junior Seau may soon be returning to the Patriots. When asked about Seau, coach Bill Belichick gave the same response (I'll talk about the players that are here") as he did for the pre-trade Randy Moss deal questions... I guess thats as good a sign as anything else that the rumors be have substance behind them.

Another reason why the deal makes sense is the lack of depth in the Patriots middle linebacker position. Right now, the Patriots have no clear quality backup for either starter Mike Vrabel or Tedy Bruschi. I realize that Adalius Thomas can play inside linebacker in a situation where the team needs him to (along with safety, cornerback, defensive end or nose tackle....), much like Vrabel. But, Thomas is so effective as a outside LB that moving him inside seems like a waste. How does Seau fit into all of this? Last season, Seau played in 11 games and made 10 starts at MLB for the Patriots until he broke his arm while making a tackle in the week 12 Pats victory over the Chicago Bears. During those 11 games that he played in however, Seau was very effective (69 tackles and had one sack) as a run-stopper and team leader. His importance to the Patriots was seen best though through his absence. After Seau was injured, the Patriots defense struggled to shut down opposing offenses rushing attacks. In the weeks following Seau's injury,the Patriots let three opposing running backs rush for over 100 yards. Houston's Ron Dayne just missed the century mark with 91 yards and a touchdown.

Point? The Patriots lost an important element of their defense when Seau left the field. That's why I think a Seau return for 07 makes since. The Patriots have been beautifully rebuilding their team this offseason and Junior flying around in a Patriots uniform again would make this team, that is so good already, so much better.

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Sunday, May 13, 2007

Patriots Rookie Mini Camp Day 2

Recaps of the Pats day two action
Boston Globe
Boston Herald
Patriots.com

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Saturday, May 12, 2007

Patriots Rookie Mini Camp Day 1

The Patriots finished the first day of their rookie mini camp today. From what I gathered from reports (Patriots.com/Boston Globe) some players impressed - and some depressed

[edit - here's the transcript of the Belichick press conference]

Impressed

Mike Elgin, G/C/T, Iowa - Sounds like he preformed well in the drills.

Justin Rogers, LB, Southern Methodist University - Patriots.com's report said that he looked comfortable in his linebacker position.

Matt Gutierrez, QB, Idaho State - didn't hurt his reputation as a good prospect for the practice squad and apparently threw the ball well.

Depressed

Justin Warren, LB, Texas A&M - nothing really depressing here except Warren just sat on a exercise bike the whole time.

Corey Hilliard, OL, Oklahoma State - had to leave practice early due to inadequate conditioning (might have been feeling sick also). Belichick isn't afraid to cut draft picks so Hilliard is going to have to get in shape fast or risk having to find a job in the CFL soon.

Justise Hairston, RB, Central Connecticut State - dropped too many passes.

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Friday, May 11, 2007

The newest "Patriots" rule

The league is reforming the way teams do their injury reports.

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Meriweather Meets the Press

The Patriots 2007 first round pick, (Miami) free safety Brandon Meriweather, officially met the New England media today for the first time. In a 15 minute press (link) conference he answered questions ranging from his path to the draft to his former Hurricane and now Patriot defensive teammate Vince Wilfork. He may have slipped up a little bit in the middle of his press conference when he said when asked the question by a reporter "What were your impressions about the Patriots before this whole [draft] process started?"

Meriweather, apparently not yet quite fully brainwashed by the Belichick regime answered, "I would say that they are a dynasty."... Not a typical Patriots answer.... We'll see how many times he ever mentions the D word again - but regardless - the Patriots are glad that he's going to be wearing white, red and blue for some time down the road. The Boston Globe had a really good article on the Meriweather character situation that presents a different view then most of what I had heard leading up to the draft.

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Randy Moss trade: An ingenius move or a retarded mistake?

The most prevailing question swirling around in Patriot Nation today is quite simple: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PATRIOT'S STANDARDS?!?!?!?!?

With New England's recent acquisition of former Viking and Raider wide receiver Randy Moss, many Patriot fans are concerned that the Pats are turning into the Yankees. The Moss deal in the last in a long line of free agent pick-ups, and many believe that Bill Belichick & co are straying from what won them 3 Super Bowls.

On the contrary, I would like to contend that the 'standards' is NOT what won the Patriots 3 Super Bowls, and that their standards are still being held strong.

There is a major point that I would like to make before I go any further on Moss. That point is that the Patriots' standards were never as high as people think they were.

After the 2002 season, the Pats went out and got Ted Washington and Rodney Harrison to help them win a Super Bowl. These moves proved to be a smashing success, which is probably why people ignore the so-called 'breach of standards' there. In Washington's days with the Bears, he got called on the carpet too many times to count for using vile words where he wasn't supposed to, and many complained that he was nothing but a nuisance in the clubhouse. Washington definitely did not have the cleanest record when the Pats signed him. As for Harrison, he was known to be a Curt Schilling type... saying whatever is on his mind, no matter how pointed, accusatory or abrasive. And besides that, Harrison, only a 9 year vet, was already the most heavily fined player in NFL history for dirty hits and unsportsmanlike conduct. These two acquisitions were clearly worthwhile, yet they did not meet the 'angel' standard that fans fantasized the Patriots to have. Clearly, the Patriots felt that these acquisitions did not breach their standards, and thus, the Patriots' standards were never as high as given credit for.

This hypothesis is further evidenced in 2004, which prompts me to elevate it to a theory. After letting go of Antowain Smith, the Patriots were in need of a runningback. They consequently shipped a second round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the disgruntled and aging-but-capable runningback Corey Dillon. In his years in Cincy, Dillon was known for being a rude and impatient person who was anything but encouraging. Even in the media, Dillon was always talking about how he was sick of the Bengals and the losing and continually tore his team down. He had also gotten into multiple legal issues. Dillon was a known character issue. Yet, Dillon wanted to win, and was excited about becoming a Patriot, and so the Pats picked him up. We have a similar situation with Moss now.

Moss has always been a wayward and unstable character type, but he truly has a desire to win. He will most definitely straighten out in order to win a Super Bowl. As was evidenced in all 3 cases that I proposed earlier (Washington, Harrison, Dillon), the Patriots have a way of silences motormouths. For one, the peer pressure helps achieve that goal. Secondly, Bill Belichick is a hard-line coach. If you don't follow his rules, he'll boot you without thinking twice, as was evidenced with Deion Branch. Thirdly, if a player really does want to win like Dillon did and Moss does, then they will avoid being a distraction at all costs in order to win the Super Bowl. Moss's desire is definitely genuine, and because of these three reasons, I see no reason to worry about another Moss Mishap. I see reason to be psyched and optimistic about the 2007 Patriot offense. At 6'4 and 210 pounds, Moss will no doubt be the big target that Tom Brady has lacked for his entire career, as well as becoming Brady's first future Hall of Fame receiver. In my eyes, Moss makes the Patriots the shoo-in pick to be the champions of Super Bowl XLII.












Tom Brady+Randy Moss= Super Bowl Championship!

© Touchdown Patriots! 2007

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Thursday, May 10, 2007

The Next Richard Seymour?

He might not have been picked as high as Seymour but could Patriots rookie defensive tackle Kareem Brown have the potential to be just as good? His coach thinks he's the steal of the draft... Read the Boston Harald article here.


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Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Davis named assisant coach

Don Davis was named today as a Patriots assistant strength and conditioning coach. He was a backup linebacker and stud special teams player for the Patriots the last few years and was considered a prime candidate for a couching position after his retirement from the NFL. After he ended last season on the injury reserve list with a knee injury, Davis decided to retire at the completion of the 2006 season. I think it's kind of ironic that a guy can go stright from the injury reserve list to conditioning coach but I guess he'll know where everything is...

Interesting note - Davis played and started at outside linebacker on the 2000 Saint Louis Rams team that played and lost to the Patriots first Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl
XXXVI.

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Undrafted but still Patriots

The Patriots have signed and invited seven undrafted free agents as of today as they head into their first mini camp of this year (starting saterday)

DB Larry Anam (5-11, 197) Boston College
LB Kyle Bissinger (6-3, 255) Alabama-Birmingham
QB Matt Gutierrez (6-4, 231) Idaho State
TE Jake Nordin (6-3, 262) Northern Illinois
RB Quinton Smith (5-11, 195) Rice
LB Justin Warren (6-3, 237) Texas A&M
DL Zach West (6-5, 295) Texas-El Paso

The guys with the best chance of making the practice squad or even the team from this group have to be Matt Gutierrez (college stats) and Justin Warren (college stats). Gutierrez might be a perfect fit on the Patriots practice squad and if Warren impresses the Pats, a team can't have to many linebackers and the Pats are willing to overload the position.

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