Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Bring on the Colts!

Courtesy of the New England Patriots

COACH BELICHICK
Press Conference

October 31, 2007

BB: Good morning, everybody. We have a nice turnout today. [We’ve] been watching a lot of the Colts the last couple of days, of course, and they do so many things well, but I would say the most impressive thing that I’ve seen is defensively they just don’t give up any big plays, really. They don’t give many long runs. They don’t give many long passes. They don’t have many defensive penalties, and the same thing is true on the offensive side of the ball. They don’t have any sacks. They don’t have turnovers. They don’t fumble. They don’t have very many penalties and they don’t have very many negative runs. They’re right at the top of the league in all of those categories. They make you earn everything and it’s hard to get. I think all of the exemplary statistics that they have speak for themselves, starting with wins, all of their rankings and all of their production and everything. It’s very, very impressive what they’ve done. They really take care of the ball well. They don’t have any bad plays, really, on offense and they don’t have any on defense. For the amount of football they’ve played and the level they’ve played it at, that’s pretty impressive. It’s a big week for us - a lot to get ready for, a lot of work to do. We’ll get started on it today, but we’ll certainly need all of the preparation time we can get for the Colts. They just do an outstanding job all the way around, every phase of the game, every aspect of it. They’re tough. They’re playing extremely well right now. It will be a big challenge for us to go out there and try to be competitive.

Q: Are they doing anything different with Dallas Clark this year?

BB: I wouldn’t say so. I do not think they… They don’t do anything different, fundamentally. I think they do what gets them the most production. They can run the ball, they can play-action and throw deep, they can throw short, they throw to the tight ends, they throw to the receivers, they throw to the backs, they run inside, they run outside. Wherever you are, they’re probably going somewhere else. Wherever you aren’t, that’s where they’re going to be. Everybody that plays them, of course, is concerned about [Reggie] Wayne and [Marvin] Harrison. They create space inside. Once you start coming inside for the running game and Clark and [Ben] Utecht and those guys or try to pressure Peyton [Manning], then you’ve got problems outside. So, you’ve pretty much got problems everywhere and it’s just a question of where they think you’re most vulnerable, and that’s usually where they hit - and they hit hard.

Q: Have you noticed a constant - Are defenses going sub against them or staying with their base?

BB: They’ve seen the whole spectrum. It depends on what they’re in. They use some different personnel groups. They use a lot of two tight ends and one back, but they do use some three-receivers with [Anthony] Gonzales. They’ve been banged up a little bit at receiver. Harrison has missed a little bit, so that might have limited a little bit of their three-receiver offense. It’s clear they can play pretty much in any grouping. They’ve made plays in short yardage when they’re in their two tight ends and two back groupings. They move the ball and make plays in everything. It doesn’t matter - run, pass, play-action, inside, outside, short, deep, catch-and-run, over the top. We could put a highlight tape up here and find plays in all of those areas. They’re good at everything.

Q: Their defense is very good overall, obviously, but how important in Bob Sanders to their defense?

BB: Oh, he’s important but, again, they play good team defense. They’re very fast, they’re athletic up front. They get a lot of penetration in the running game. They can run, rush the passer. They’re fast. We talked about Washington being fast, but I think they’re faster up front, with [Robert] Mathis and [Raheem] Brock and, of course, [Dwight] Freeney. They get on the edges a lot in the pass rush and in the running game. Other times the linemen can’t really get in front of them, get them covered up and they penetrate up the field and then usually something bad happens after that - the quarterback gets pressured, [the] runner has to cut back into the pursuit. They do a good job. Sanders is outstanding - great range, terrific tackler, a hard-hitting guy who causes a lot of fumbles and turnovers. He gets in on a lot of plays, if the other guys don’t get there first, which a lot of times they do. They’re good. They’re good all the way around. [They have] a lot of team speed. Sanders has quite a bit of it.

Q: How do they approach three-receiver sets defensively? Is Tim Jennings the guy who comes in?

BB: When they go to their sub-defense, then Jennings would come in and Marlin Jackson would go in to play the nickel corner.

Q: But Jennings goes outside? And Jackson goes in to the slot?

BB: That’s generally the way they do it, yes.

Q: How have the personnel changes on both teams altered the way you go against them?

BB: I guess we’ll be talking about that on Sunday. They don’t have a lot of changes. Offensively, the two main people that are new are [Tony] Ugoh and Gonzalez. Defensively, they’ve got a couple of changes at linebacker [and] the corners, but fundamentally they play the same. When you watch last year’s tapes and cut-ups with this year’s plays, it’s hard to tell, “this is this year, this is last year.” If you look and say, “OK, there’s Terry Glenn, OK, there’s Ugoh.” But you watch the plays, you watch the execution. You don’t see [Cato] June in there. You see [Tyjuan] Hagler in there. It’s hard to tell. It really is. It’s hard to tell. The corners, [Kelvin] Haden, Jackson - Jackson played last year, but not as much. He played more in the slot. It’s hard to tell. It really is hard to tell.

Q: Phil Simms said yesterday that some of your coaching style is based on fear, that players need to understand that the job could always be at stake. Do you agree with that assessment of yourself?

BB: I think whatever Phil says, you can ask him about that. We’re just trying to win games, that’s all. [I’m] just trying to coach the team and hope I can help the team play better [and] hope we can win some games. That’s all I’m trying to do. Let all of the other experts talk about style points - I don’t know.

Q: How impressed are you with what your team has done up to this point?

BB: I’m not too worried about what happened in the past. I’m looking forward to the Indianapolis game. That’s what we’re focused on. All of our attention is on Indianapolis, not what happened in the past or some other game a week down the road.

Q: You have an appreciation for history of the league. This is the latest two undefeated teams have played in the history of the NFL. Do you take any—

BB: I’m glad we’re one of them. I’ll say that - I’m glad we’re one of them. But, again, I don’t think last week or two weeks ago has a lot to do with this game. It will come down to the preparation that the two teams have and how the two teams perform on Sunday. We’ve had some great games with Indianapolis through the years. They’re an outstanding organization from top to bottom, a great football team. They’ve certainly gotten the better of us the last few times, so I hope we can be more competitive with them than we’ve been in the past.

Q: How did the way the AFC Championship game played out last year influence your off-season, in terms of player acquisition?

BB: [We] do the same thing every year - just try to look at our options and improve the team. We’ve done the same thing since 2000.

Q: Their run defense last year obviously had a lot of problems stopping the run.

BB: Not in the playoffs, they didn’t.

Q: Right. What has been the change?

BB: They’ve played good. It’s team defense. It’s not one guy. One guy can’t stop the running game. One guy can’t stop anything. You need 11 guys out there, and they play good team defense. They cause a lot of negative plays. They don’t give up very many big plays. They get you in long yardage. They don’t commit a lot of penalties. They hustle. They tackle well. They do a good job, and they’ve been doing a good job.

Q: Is your personal preparation for this game any more intense or consuming for you than any other week’s game, or are all games consuming?

BB: I tried to prepare hard for last week’s game and the week before that. You always try to do the best you can. There’s always room for improvement. I’m not saying that. I make a lot of mistakes every week and you try to correct those the following week and get it better. There’s things I would look back on in previous weeks and do differently and try to improve those, but we’ll just try to put everything we have into this game and hope that I can do something to help our team play better than we played out there last time. That wasn’t good enough.

Q: Obviously Dallas Clark is a tight end by trade, but he lines up in slot a lot. Do you treat him as a receiver?

BB: Yeah, they move him around. It’s hard to - You don’t know exactly where he’s going to be. A lot of times he is flexed out, there’s no doubt about that. He’s kind of like a slot receiver, but he does line up in tight and sometimes he lines up in the back side of a formation, a three-by-one formation or they put Harrison and Wayne on one side and split him out on the back side. So they give you some different looks on that. He’s a very versatile player. He’s smart, he’s fast, he catches the ball very well, [he] runs good routes. He’s a good receiver out as a split-guy. He’s good coming off the line of scrimmage in the normal tight end position. He’s an effective blocker for them in the running game and they do a great job of creating mismatches and taking advantage of them. Most of the time when they throw it to him, he’s open. Part of that is the recognition by Peyton, part of it is him doing a good job running routes and beating the coverage or a combination of both. He’s a tough guy to match up on, like a lot of the tight ends that we’ve seen this year. He’s faster than most linebackers he plays, he’s bigger than most defensive backs he plays, plus he’s a good receiver. No matter who you have on him, they have trouble covering him. He’s a hard guy to match up on - and he can block in the running game. It’s a tough match-up.

Q: Usually when you go to a dome you don’t have to worry about the elements. Last year in the title game it was very hot in there and players complained about cramping up.

BB: I don’t think it will be any hotter than it was in Miami two weeks ago. But, whatever the conditions are, we have to play in them just like they do. I don’t think it favors either team. You just have to deal with it. It can’t be any warmer than it was in Miami.

Q: Did that surprise you last year and do you have to factor that into your preparation?

BB: No, I think that’s the way it is in most domes. You get a full crowd in there and it’s a lot of body heat.

Q: Are these Colts better than a year ago?

BB: They’ve won 13 in a row. They’re pretty good.

Q: Do you think these two teams are pretty even?

BB: [We’ll] find out on Sunday.

Q: Any thoughts on Ugoh, their rookie left tackle? I know he’s been in and out…

BB: He missed last week and half of what would be the previous game, but [he’s a] real athletic guy. [He has] quick feet, long arms, big frame, kind of similar to [Jason] Ferguson. Real athletic. I think he’s got plenty of talent out there. I mean, Terry Glenn was one of the best tackles in the league, no doubt about it. He was a big, much bulkier guy. Ugoh is kind of a leaner frame, but very athletic. Long arms. He’s a good player.

Q: Do you have any time to trick or treat tonight?

BB: That’d be a game-time decision.

Q: Can you comment on the two quarterbacks, maybe some of the best to ever play the game?

BB: Yeah, they’re pretty good. I think they’re both at the top of their game - great players, great leaders, smart guys. They make a lot of plays. [They] know how to manage the game. [They’ve] won a lot of games.

Q: What makes this rivalry special?

BB: It hasn’t been that special the last three times we’ve played them.

 

PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

October 31, 2007

Q: Discuss this matchup with the two undefeated teams and yourself against Peyton Manning.

TB: Yeah, I’m sure this week is going to be long, in a sense, to get to the game, but it’s going to go fast as well. We’re playing a great team, I think, in every phase of the game. We know them just as well as we know any opponent, probably, that we play. They do so many things well and are very well coached. They play extremely hard. They play great in the second half; they’re a clutch team so we’ve got to play our best game. I think everybody’s excited.

Q: I know when you look at a defense to prepare for a game each one is different. How much of a factor is Bob Sanders in preparing for the Colts?

TB: He’s a great playmaker for that team. I think he brings a great level of consistency and dependability for that defense. He tackles so well. He’s obviously a leader. When he’s not in the game, I think he’s able to make up for a lot of things that happen on defense and he doesn’t bite on play-action. We always talk about players that guess and he’s one of those guys that is always guessing right. It’s not that he’s guessing, but he’s very instinctive and he’s always in the right place. He’s a great player. He’s one of the best strong safeties that we play. He’s a great tackler and I think they’ve got a group full of guys and I think they really all feed off of Bob.

Q: Is Coach Bill Belichick the same before every game or do you detect any difference in him leading up to this game?

TB: He’s very consistent. That’s one great aspect of his coaching is he’s very black and white. He always kind of speaks exactly what he sees. He know the challenges we face this week and we had a squad meeting this morning and he’s always on top of things. I wish as players we would be as on top of things as he is always. He knows how important this game is for this team and any time you match up against of the best teams in pro football it’s always great to see where you stand. They’re proven over the last bunch of years that they’re really the team to beat so we’ve got to go out and perform certainly a lot better than the last three times that we’ve played them.

Q: What impresses you most about Peyton Manning?

TB: What’s not to be impressed by? He does everything well. He throws the short stuff. He throws the deep stuff. He’s a leader. I mean, once again, he’s a clutch performer. He’s always in command of the team and the offense. Um… he’s a great actor. He can do it all.

Q: What is it about Belichick that makes players still believe in him that maybe the public isn’t able to see?

TB: Like I said, he’s very consistent in the way he approaches each week and he’s able to break down teams and understands what gets you beat and he also understands the way you need to play the game in order for you to play your best. I think there are some coaches that say, “All right. We need to stop the run, the pass, the draw, the screen, the trap,” and give you 25 things so you’re going out there saying, ‘What the hell am I going to stop?” He breaks it down to a couple things and usually… I’ve been playing for him for eight years and he’s never wrong and, usually, we come in Monday morning and look at the evaluations and if we do the things that he really talked about, usually we come out ahead. He’s a great leader and he’s a great coach to play for. We all believe in him and we trust him. He always says that he makes decisions based on the best interest of the team. He truly means that. 

Q: Of all the characteristics you applied to Peyton Manning, which of those do you see in yourself? Can you act?

TB: Can I act? You guys tell me. Probably not. No, that’s definitely not like him. I try to just drop back and throw the ball to the guys that are open. He’s probably got a better arm. He’s faster. He’s bigger. He’s probably smarter. He’s proven over the years how consistent he is. I’ve always looked up to Peyton and the way he plays. He’s gotten the best of us the last three times we’ve played them. We’ve got a great challenge and, hopefully, we’re all up for it. When you play the Colts, it’s a team effort. It’s not this offense against their defense, it’s their defense versus our offense. You really have to play a complimentary game. It’s just all phases of the game have to be clicking. There’s just no letdown. Coach always talks about playing for 60 minutes and I think there’s no better example of a team that you have to play 60 minutes against because if you play for 59 minutes and 30 seconds they’ve got a chance to beat you and you just can’t let down against them.

Q: A lot has been made of the way you guys have been playing. How much of a factor is Josh McDaniels in his game plans and the play calling?

TB: Josh has done a great job all year. I think he’s done a great job since he took over the role as a play-caller. I think he has the respect of all the players and all the coaches. I think he’s a great leader for us. He always brings energy. He always brings excitement and enthusiasm. He’s extremely smart. It’s great that he started on defense early in his career under Coach Belichick so when he evaluates defenses, he looks at them through really a defensive perspective, which allows you to find the strengths and the weaknesses of what that team does. Very much like our offense does, that’s what we try to do. We don’t try to just bang our heads against the wall for 60 minutes. You try to find mismatches and try to exploit them the best that you can. What Josh does, I don’t think there’s anybody else who does as good a job as Josh in doing that. 

Q: When you evaluate your play or that of another quarterback, how much does passer rating come into play?

TB: I think statistics in general for a quarterback don’t mean a whole lot in that you can tell a guy’s playing pretty good or not. You can tell that when you look at the film, but like I said [last week] after the Miami game, I threw a 3-yard pass and Donte’ [Stallworth] runs for 30 yards. I mean, how great of a play is that by the quarterback? It’s just you can throw an 8-yard completion and it’s not run in for a touchdown and you have a lesser passing rating. It just doesn’t mean a whole lot. Touchdowns, to me, those are very much team goals and scoring goals. I think that’s really something that the team strives to be able to do each year - score points. That’s really why, as Coach always says, he puts us out there. But in terms of… probably, I think the most important thing - and Drew Bledsoe gave me this advice early in my career - I think it was the first game we were sitting on the bench, a Tampa Bay game. He said, “You know, Tom, the thing about [winning in] the NFL is it’s usually the teams where the quarterback makes [fewer] bad plays. If your bad plays are incompletions, great.” I don’t think you can be a great quarterback if you can look great on one play and then throw an interception on the next play, or take a sack, or call the wrong play, or hold on to the ball too long and get strip-sacked. You really want to develop a consistent level of play by making good play after good play, even if the good play is throwing the ball away on third-and-15. I think that’s what the team looks for is a very dependable player that, hey, if the guy is open, you’ve got to throw it and complete it. You can’t miss open receivers, especially against the Colts. You can’t miss your opportunities, whether it be down the field or on third down because usually when you punt the ball to these guys, they’re going to take it and go the other way with it whether it’s their own 5-yard line or they’re getting it on or your 5-yard line. 

Q: I know how much you enjoy playing the game. Could you comment specifically on how much you’re looking forward to playing with this receiving corps?

TB: Like I’ve said, I enjoy playing every year. We’ve had great receivers here for a long time. I think I’ve been fortunate enough to play with all of them from David Patten to David Givens, to Deion [Branch] and Troy [Brown] and this group has worked extremely hard. The new guys have really worked hard to learn the offense, understand what this team is about and what makes it successful. They just do what they’re asked and everybody appreciates that. It’s a very unselfish group that works hard and puts the team first. They rank right up there with the other great receiving tandems we’ve had here. I mean, it’s hard to rank. We’ve had pretty good years around here. We’re only eight games into it.

Q: Each team has had its share of negative press this year and now there’s talk of you guys piling it on. Is this a rallying point for this team to some degree?

TB: I think we just, like Coach says, look at every play on the field as a chance to get better and to improve. We play [until] the clock says zero-zero. That’s an interesting question of scoring too many points or I don’t know if that’s ever been a problem here in the past. I think you just try to do the best you can do. As an offense, that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to let other teams tee off on us, or let them get the best of us. If you call a play, we want to make it a great play and I don’t think we want to come off the field saying, “That was great. I hope they feel good about themselves. Because, you know, we just got the crap knocked out of us.” I don’t think that’s really the approach an offensive football team should take. I don’t think that’s an approach any team takes to tell you the truth.

Q: Tom, does this matchup deserve the hype that it’s been given?

TB: I hope so. I hope it’s a blowout, actually. I’m sure nobody else would like that. They’re a great football team and I think we’ve proven over the last eight weeks that we can play at a pretty high level ourselves. It’s two undefeated teams and, obviously with the history with these teams, it makes for a great matchup. Like I said, it’s going to be a long week, but it’s going to be a short week, too. I think you look back on games always throughout your career and you look at the ones that probably stand out and any time you play the Colts it’s always an exciting game for all the players and all the coaches because you know when you’re playing them you’re playing the best.

Q: What one player that doesn’t attract a lot of media attention do you feel could have a large impact on Sunday’s game?

TB: Uh. Wow. Randy Moss? No, he gets too much. I don’t know. That’s a great question.

 

Monday, October 29, 2007

World Series Postseries thoughts

by: Frank Carpano

Lasting images from our coverage of the World Series

· The atmosphere at Fenway Park during a regular season game is always festive. But during the playoffs, and especially the World Series it is downright intense. Many of the fans in the stands work hard to will their team to win

· This was the first time I have been in the clubhouse (or lockeroom) for a championship celebration. I’ve seen plenty of them on TV and really felt like I was missing something by not being in there. We had the appropriate passes to be in there after Game 4 and let me tell you it is as wild as it looks on television. The room is so crowded that when you hear the pop of the cork you’re not sure what direction it;’s coming from. I didn’t get sprayed too bad, but the same cannot be said about several other TV photographers. Dustin Pedroia had a photographer shooting him when he opened a bottom of the bubbly. Dustin then turned and blsasted it into the camera lens. The entire bottle. That’s probably the end of that camera.

· You should have seen the crowd of Japanese media following Dicekay’s every move on the field during the postgame celebration. They all moved together like a giant wave.
· Speaking of which when Dicekay came out to the field and then retreated to the clubhouse, he didn’t acknowledge the fans cheers with a wave, but with the traditional Japanese bow. What was funny was watching the fans trying to return the gesture. Very Cool

· No dancing for Jonathan Pabelbon. He said he’s saving it for Boston

· The thousands of fans who would not leave Coor’s field desperately wanted to get doused by champagne. And Mike Timlin obliged them. The fans were truly a part of the celebration.

· We were live for about 15 minutes of the postgame celebration on the field. Can’t say I remember much of it. It was incredibly hectic. A competing TV reporter came up to me afterwards and apologized for getting in my shot at one point. Honestly, I told him, I can’t remember him doing it. It was live TV, with all the pans, zooms and moving shots. Nothing was scripted which, I think is what makes it fun to watch. I remember watching NESN’s coverage of the Sox clinching the AL East and thinking, just turn the camera on. I don’t need to hear any reporters talking, I just want to be a fly on the wall.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

world series game 3

by Frank Carpano

It’s a beautiful night in Denver as await the first pitch of World Series game number 3.

At 6pm tonight I referenced a newspaper article that mentioned they believed the crowd tonight would be 65% Red Sox fans. Based on the cheers during the team introdcutions, I don’t believe it. There are alot of Sox fans here, but not anywhere near the number of Rocky’s fans.

Carrie Underwood just sang the National Anthem.

I’m sitting on the second level of the rightfield seats, almost even with the rightfield foul pole.

Ready for some baseball!

pre world series game # 3

By: Frank Carpano

We’re getting ready to head to the ballpark to prepare for tonight’s reports on NBC 10 at 6.

Couple of things I wanted to let you know before we go.

The weather folks are calling for temperatures in the 40’s to start the game and by the 9th inning they expect the temperatures to dip to 30 degrees. I can’t wait!

The local Rocky Mountain news is about 3 times as big as usual.

Think about it. This is the first ever World Series game to be played in Colorado. The first World Series game in Boston was 1903!

If there is a Game 5 Monday, the Rockies will have some local competition. The Bronco’s play the Packers in Monday Night Football right down the street. Local authorities are bracing for a traffic nightmare.

The locals here are also getting ready for an influx of Red Sox fans. A local newspaper estimates that tonight the stadium will be comprised of 65 % Boston fans and 35% Rockies fans. Scalpers and on-line ticket sales makes it all possible.

The Rocky Mountain News reports that on Stubhub.com on Wednesday night, tickets to Thursday’s game at Fenway ranged from $800-$7500. Tickets for tonight’s game at Coors Field, meanwhile, started at $352 and topped out at $4900. What a bargain!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Greetings from Denver

by: Frank Carpano

Greetings from the Mile High City. After very little sleep after game 2 at Fenway, we have arrived in
Colorado for the next 3 games of the series. I am with NBC 10 photographer Scott Santos and technician John Watson.

We wil be bringing you reports from Coors Field starting tomorrow night (Saturday) at 6.

Alittle update on what’s going on with the Sox and Roxs. They both worked out today at Coors field.

Sox manager Terry Francona confirmed that David Ortiz will start at first base. Kevin Youkillis is the oddman out.

That necessitates a change in the batting order. Apparently Francona is leaning toward leading off with jacoby Ellsbury and batting Dustin Pedroia second.

It snowed here last weekend (forcing the Rockies to find indoor practice facilities) but there is no sign of snow today. May have something to do witht he fact that the temperature has hovered around 70 degrees the last 3 days.

I hope that holds up, I hate the cold!!!

We’re headed out to explore the city and figure out of Rockies fever has gripped the Mile High City.

No Rocky Mountain Oysters for me!!!!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

World Series Game 1 –schedule

by: Frank Carpano

WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE AND RESULTS (All Games Televised by FOX)

Game   Date                           Location       Probables                                   Time (EDT)

  1     Wednesday, October 24         Fenway Park   Jeff Francis vs. Josh Beckett                   8:35 p.m.

  2     Thursday, October 25           Fenway Park   Ubaldo Jimenez vs. Curt Schilling               8:29 p.m.     

  3     Saturday, October 27           Coors Field     Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Josh Fogg               8:35 p.m.

  4     Sunday, October 28             Coors Field     TBA vs. Aaron Cook                             8:29 p.m.

*5     Monday, October 29             Coors Field                                                     8:40 p.m.

*6     Wednesday, October 31         Fenway Park                                                   8:29 p.m.

*7     Thursday, November 1           Fenway Park                                                   8:29 p.m.     

Radio:  Games 1 and 6 on WEEI and SBN…All other games on WRKO and SBN     *If Necessary

We will have live coverage on NBC 10 from Fenway Park tonight starting at 5pm. I’ll be handling the story’s inside the park, NBC 10’s Brian Crandall will be outside the park.

Here’s what’s planned for the players

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24

4:45 p.m.—Red Sox Interview Room—Curt Schilling and Terry Francona—PLAYERS CLUB

5:40-6:40 p.m.—Red Sox Batting Practice

5:30 p.m.—Rockies Interview Room—Clint Hurdle and Ubaldo Jimenez—PLAYERS CLUB

6:40-7:30 p.m.—Rockies Batting Practice

8:12 p.m.—Player Introductions

8:18 p.m.—National Anthem: John Williams conducts the Boston Pops

8:24 p.m.—Ceremonial First Pitch—Carl Yastrzemski and 1967 Red Sox

8:35 p.m.—First Pitch, 2007 World Series

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Wakefield responds

by: Frank Carpano

Tim Wakefield addressed the media this afternoon.

He said the decision to leave him off the World Series roster was reached after discussions with the Red Sox team doctors and management.
Wakefield admitted his shoulder has been hurting for 2 months and he said his recovery keeps taking longer and longer.

Wakefield said he tried to throw the day after his last start and could barely throw 75%.

Wakefield said he has thought about the future. He said that Doctors advise him that if he continues pitching this season, he could injure himself for life. He admits that there is serious inflammation in his shoulder and back.

No word on who would take Wakefield’s place on the roster, Francona said he will not release that information until tomorrow.

Jon Lester pitched a long bullpen session today and could be the game 4 starter

Wakefield Out

by: Frank Carpano

Boston dot com is reporting that Tim Wakefield is off the Red Sox World Series Roster due to a shoulder injury. More to come…

Sox World Series Pitching rotation set

By: Frank Carpano

Red Sox manager Terry Francona has confirmed that Tim Wakefield will not be on the team’s World Series Roster.

Francona also confirmed his pitching rotation for games 1-3. Josh Beckett opens the series, Curt Schilling takes the ball in Game 2 and then Daisuke Matsuzaka in game 3.

Francona didn’t enlighten us at all regarding what he plans to do with his lineup when the series shifts to Denver. There is no DH in the national league park. I’ve been listening to sports talk radio today and there are plenty of callers suggesting taking Julio Lugo (shortstop) out of the lineup. Then realligning the infield with Ortiz at first, Lowell at second, Pedroia at short and Youkillis at third.

Francona confirmed his outfielders for Game 1. Manny will be in left, Jacoby Ellsbury in Center and J.D. Drew in right.

On the Eve of World Series Game 1

By: Frank Carpano

Here’s the schedule for today’s workouts prior to Game 1 of the World Series

These events are all closed to the public

SCHEDULE:
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.—Red Sox Clubhouse Opened
1:00-3:00 p.m.—Red Sox workout
2:00 p.m. Rockies Interview Room—Francis and Hurdle
1:30-2:30 p.m.—Rockies Clubhouse Opened
3:00 p.m.—Red Sox Interview Room—Beckett and Francona
3:00-5:00 p.m.—Rockies Workout

You can see a live stream of the press conferences elsewhere on this web site.

+ The Rockies are selling World Series Tickets on-line only. They ran into a problem yesterday when they were bombarded with over 8 milllion hits in the first 90 minutes of the sale. Consequently, only about 500 tickets were sold before they shut the system down. Apparently scalpers who have sofisticated computer software caused the malfunction. I’m curious why the Rockies waited until yesterday to see tickets. They have known for a week that they were in the World Series. Not that selling them sooner would have averted the problem. But…

+ What would a big event be without a Rhode Island connection. And there is one for the 2007 World Series. Besides all the Red Sox players who have come through Pawtucket, Providence’s Chris Ianetta is the Rockies backup catcher. We’ll be catching up witht he St. Raphael’s grad later this week.

+ Josh Beckett is Boston’s starting pitcher in Game 1. His first loss of the season was to…(drumroll), The Colorado Rockies. Which, I’m guessing will mean absolutely nothing come Wednesday night.

more to come…........

Monday, October 22, 2007

On to the World Series

By Frank Carpano

Some Thoughts after Game 7 of the ALCS:

· Most media honestly thought the Red Sox were done after losing game 4. How can a team that looked so bad (games 2,3,4), look so good (games 5,6,7)?

· Two unlikely offensive stars in the final 3 games. Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkillis. In the final 3 games of the ALCS, they combined for 15 hits, 13 runs and 11 RBI, incluing 3 homeruns

· Was there any doubt regarding the MVP of the ALCS? Josh Beckett went 2-0 and had a 1.93 ERA. Can you say; Series saver!

· Lost in the euphoria of the Game 7 win, Big Papi was 0-5 with 2 strikeouts.

· When I went into the Red Sox clubhouse after game 5 (7-1 Red Sox win), the team was predictably loose. So loose that Ortiz grabbed my microphone and started interviewing Manny Ramirez. Ramirez had a purple tie on and Papi had one question: “Hey, Manny, when’s the funeral!” (not for the red sox in this series)

· The media went overboard with its reaction to Manny’s comments prior to Game 5. Myself included.

· I loved the weather in Cleveland (in the 70’s every day). Can we order someof that up for Denver. By the way, they got 4 inches of snow there Sunday. (Break out the Hot Chili’s)

· I knew the Red Sox were going to win Game 7 after my wife put my suitcase away before the game.

· Sox fans showing Class: When I left the field after game 7, under the grandstands Red Sox fans formed a gauntlet from the visitors clubhouse (at 3rd base) all the way to 1st base. The Indians had to make that walk to their waiting bus. The Red Sox fans clapped for each guy as they walked by. (what are the chances that would have happened if the Sox lost???)

Monday, October 15, 2007

Pats beat the Cowboys post game notes

Courtesy of the New England Patriots

GAME NOTES—PATRIOTS at DALLAS COWBOYS

Week 6 – October 14, 2007

HIGHEST POINT TOTAL IN 23 YEARS

The Patriots scored 48 points today, marking their highest point total since 1984. The last time the Patriots scored 48 points or more was on Nov. 18, 1984, when they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 50-17. The 48 points are tied for the sixth-highest single-game total in franchise history.

BRADY SETS CAREER-HIGH WITH FIVE TOUCHDOWN PASSES, TYING FRANCHISE RECORD

In his 100th career start, Tom Brady set a career high with five touchdown passes today, tying the Patriots single-game franchise record and becoming the first New England player to achieve the feat since Steve Grogan on Sept. 9, 1979. Vito “Babe” Parilli also threw five touchdowns in a game for the Patriots on two occasions – on Oct. 15, 1967 and on Nov. 15, 1964. Brady had previously thrown four touchdown passes in a game on six occasions, most recently on Sept. 23, 2007 against Buffalo.

BRADY SETS NFL RECORD WITH THREE OR MORE TOUCHDOWNS IN FIRST SIX GAMES

By virtue of his five touchdown passes today, Tom Brady has set a new NFL record by becoming the first player in league history to throw for three or more touchdowns in each of a season’s first six games. The previous record was set by San Francisco’s Steve Young, when he threw for three or more touchdowns in each of the first five games of the 1998 season. Brady has totaled 21 touchdown passes through six games in 2007. Brady has now thrown for three or more touchdowns 25 times in his regular season career and his six three-touchdown games in 2007 set a new career-high, besting his five three-touchdown games in 2002. Last season, Brady threw for three or more touchdowns in a game on two occasions.

BRADY’S 388 YARDS ARE HIGHEST NON-OVERTIME TOTAL OF CAREER

Tom Brady totaled 388 passing yards today, marking the second highest total of his career. His yardage total against the Cowboys trails only his career-high 410 yards in an overtime game against Kansas City on Sept. 22, 2002. Brady’s 388 yards against Dallas stand as the highest non-overtime total of his career. Brady was 31-for-46 on the day, and his 31 completions are his highest in more than a year, dating back to when he also completed 31 passes against Denver on Sept. 24, 2006.

BRADY: 21 TOUCHDOWN PASSES THIS SEASON, 167 FOR HIS CAREER

Tom Brady’s career-high five touchdown passes raised his season total to 21 touchdown passes and his career total to 168 touchdown passes. With his fourth touchdown of the day – a 1-yarder to Kyle Brady in the third quarter – Tom Brady passed Drew Bledsoe (166 touchdown passes) for second place on the Patriots’ all-time list. Steve Grogan is the Patriots’ all-time leader with 184 touchdown passes. Brady’s 21 touchdown passes this season mark the sixth consecutive season he has exceeded 20 touchdown passes. Brady’s six straight seasons with 20 or more touchdown passes is the longest streak in Patriots history, topping Drew Bledsoe’s three straight years with 20 or more touchdown passes from 1996-98. Brady’s single-season career high is 28 touchdown passes, achieved in 2002 and 2004. Last season, Brady totaled 24 touchdown passes.

STALLWORTH HAULS IN 69-YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS

Donte’ Stallworth caught a 69-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter to give the Patriots a 38-24 lead. The touchdown was the longest touchdown completion for the Patriots in nearly four years. The last time New England had a touchdown catch that long was on Oct. 19, 2003, when Troy Brown hauled in an 82-yard touchdown from Brady in overtime at Miami. Stallworth’s 69-yard play was the longest play from scrimmage for the Patriots this season and was the longest play from scrimmage for New England since Sept. 18, 2005, when Troy Brown caught a 71-yard pass from Brady in a game at Carolina. The 69-yard touchdown catch was Stallworth’s second of the season and the 30th of his career.

STALLWORTH TOTALS SECOND-HIGHEST YARDAGE TOTAL OF CAREER

Donte’ Stallworth recorded his first 100-yard game in a Patriots uniform, totaling 136 yards on seven catches (19.4 avg.). The yardage total is the second highest of Stallworth’s six-year career, trailing only his career-high 139 receiving yards (on six catches), for Philadelphia on Nov. 12, 2006 against Washington.

SEAU SETS CAREER HIGH FOR INTERCEPTIONS

With his fourth-quarter interception of Tony Romo, Junior Seau set a new single-season career high with his third interception of the season. Seau’s previous single-season high in his 18-year career was two interceptions, achieved six times, most recently in 2000. Last week against Cleveland, Seau tied his single-game career high with two interceptions.

WELKER SCORES TWO TOUCHDOWNS

Wes Welker set a career high with two touchdown receptions today, doubling his career total heading into the game. He hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the first quarter to give the Patriots a 14-0 lead and then grabbed a 12-yard scoring pass to give the Patriots a 21-10 lead in the second quarter. The touchdown catches were the second and third of the season for Welker, who also snared an 11-yard scoring reception to cap off the Patriots’ opening drive of the season against the New York Jets on Sept. 9. Welker’s touchdown catches against the Cowboys raised his career receiving touchdown total to four. He also scored a touchdown on a kickoff return with the Miami Dolphins in 2004.

WELKER SETS CAREER HIGHS FOR RECEPTIONS AND RECEIVING YARDS

Wes Welker had a career-high 11 receptions for a career-high 124 yards, recording his first career 100-yard receiving game. His previous career high was 97 yards (on three receptions), achieved on Oct. 16, 2005 with the Miami Dolphins in a game at Tampa Bay. Welker’s 11 receptions are tied for the sixth-highest single-game total in Patriots history and are the most by a Patriot since Troy Brown caught 11 passes on Nov. 10, 2002 against the Chicago Bears at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Welker’s previous single-game career high for receptions was nine, acheived with the Dolphins against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 8, 2006.

FAULK MOVES INTO TOP TEN ON FRANCHISE RUSHING LIST

With his 50 rushing yards today, Kevin Faulk moved into 10th place on the Patriots’ all-time rushing list, passing Craig James’s total of 2,469 yards from 1984-88. Faulk finished the game with 2,498 rushing yards for the Patriots.

MOSS SCORES EIGHTH TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON

Randy Moss gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady on the Patriots’ opening drive of the game. The touchdown was Moss’s eighth of the season, making him the first Patriot since Ben Coates in 1997 to have eight or more scoring catches in a single season. The score was the 109th receiving touchdown of Moss’s career, a total that ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time list. Moss has now caught a touchdown pass in five of New England’s six games this season.

BRADY-TO-BRADY TOUCHDOWN

Kyle Brady hauled in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 28-24 lead with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown pass was Tom Brady’s fourth of the day (tying his single-game career high) and was his 20th of the season. For Kyle Brady, the touchdown was his first of the season and his first in a New England uniform after joining the team as a free agent in the offseason. Kyle Brady’s last touchdown came on Nov. 20, 2005 while playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee. The score raised Kyle Brady’s career touchdown total to 23, achieved with the New York Jets (1995-98), Jaguars (1999-2006) and Patriots (2007).

HARRISON IS ALL-TIME DEFENSIVE BACK SACK LEADER

Rodney Harrison sacked Tony Romo for an 11-yard loss on third down in the first quarter, moving the Cowboys back to their own 8-yard line and forcing a punt on the next play. The sack raised Harrison’s career total to 29.5 sacks, a mark that is the highest in NFL history for a defensive back dating to when sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Carnell Lake ranks second among NFL defensive backs with 25.0 career sacks. Harrison, who has also recorded 32 career interceptions, is the only player in NFL history to total at least 25 career sacks and at least 30 career interceptions.

QUICK HITS

Ø Fullback Kyle Eckel scored his first career touchdown, on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter that made the score 48-24.

Ø The Patriots converted 11-of-17 third-down chances, totaling a 65 percent conversion rate.

Ø The Patriots converted four-of-four third-down attempts on their opening drive of the game as they went 74 yards in 14 plays, ending in a 6-yard touchdown catch by Randy Moss on third down.

Ø Vince Wilfork tackled Julius Jones in the backfield for a 1-yard loss on first down in the first quarter.

Ø The Patriots have outscored their opponents 58-7 in the first quarter through six games this season, including their 14-0 performance against the Cowboys today.

GOSTKOWSKI’S SUCCESS STREAK

Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter to give the Patriots a 31-24 lead. He has hit eight of his nine field goal attempts this season (88.9 percent) and has nailed 29 of his last 32 attempts (90.6 percent) dating back to Nov. 5, 2006, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance in last season’s playoffs.

STARTING STRONG

The Patriots scored first, taking a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown reception by Randy Moss in the first quarter. New England has scored on its opening drive in each game this season. New England has scored first in each of its six games this season and has achieved the feat in nine straight regular season and playoff games dating back to Jan. 7, 2007.

 

TWO-SCORE RECEIVER FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME

With Wes Welker’s two-touchdown performance today, the Patriots have had a receiver catch a pair of touchdowns in five consecutive games. Last season, the Patriots did not have a player with two or more scoring catches in a game. Randy Moss caught two touchdowns on Sept. 16, Sept. 23 and Oct. 1. Benjamin Watson set a career high with two touchdown receptions last week against Cleveland. Before Moss’s two-score performance on Sept. 16, the last Patriot to catch two or more touchdowns in a game was linebacker Mike Vrabel, who hailed in two scores against the New York Jets on Dec. 26, 2005.

SIXTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH A 100-YARD RECEIVER

With 100-yard receiving days for Donte’ Stallworth and Wes Welker against the Cowboys, the Patriots had a 100-yard receiver for the sixth consecutive game, adding to a team record. The previous team record was four straight games with a 100-yard receiver — from Nov. 23 to Dec. 21, 1975, when Russ Francis, Randy Vataha, Don Calhoun and Andy Johnson each broke the 100-yard mark one time in a four-game span. In addition to Welker’s 100-yard game against the Cowboys, Randy Moss exceeded the 100-yard mark in each of the first four games of the 2007 season and Benjamin Watson achieved the feat last week against Cleveland.

 

 

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Tom Brady Interview Previewing the Dallas game

Courtesy of the New England Patriots

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

LOCKER ROOM INTERVIEW

October 10, 2007

Q:  How much are you looking forward to this matchup of the unbeatens?

TB:  It should be a good game.  We’ve been studying hard for the last few days.  They present some different challenges and they’re a very talented team so we need to play our best.  They’re good in all facets and anyone who watched that game [on Monday Night] knows that they’re never out of it.  We’ve got our work cut out for us so it should be fun. 

Q:  What kind of challenge does their defense present for you?

TB:  They’re very active. They’ve got a great front seven.  They have playmakers in the secondary; I think they lead the league in turnovers.  They do a lot of things really well. They strip the ball.  They intercept balls.  They rush the passer.  They stop the run.  We’re playing on the road so that’s always a factor with the crowd noise. 

Q:  Is this your first time playing in Texas Stadium?

TB:  Yes.

Q:  How much better do you feel you’re playing this year?

TB:  I don’t know. I think this offense… the longer we work together, hopefully, the better we play.  We’re still getting to know each other.  I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

Q:  You’ve had four-interception games before yourself.  How do you bounce back from a game like Tony Romo had on Monday?  What do you have to do to put that behind yourself, quickly?

TB:  I don’t know. I don’t know. You just try to play the best you can. I think that I’ve always approached it like that. You never try to go out there and do that.  You just have confidence in yourself that you’ll go out and play better.

Q:  Sunday’s game would mark your 100th career start.  Is that amazing to you?

TB:  Yeah, that is. I was hoping to get 10 games, but a 100, that’s good.  I didn’t know that.  That’s very exciting.  That doesn’t include playoff games though does it?  Regular season?   

Q:  Coach Belichick said that one of the most important things about you is that regardless of how you were playing, you were always trying to get better.  What in particular has been a focus for you this season?

TB:  I think everyone is trying to do things better each week.  You take the things that you learned from last year.  I think all of us try to protect the ball, it’s something that quarterbacks can always try to do a better job of, protecting the ball in the pocket and trying to make better decisions.  But I think, overall, that we hopefully can continue to run the ball like we’ve been running and cause problems for defenses in that we can run it and pass it.  You don’t want to become one-dimensional.  I think more so than anything what this offense has done is we’ve been a threat when we run it and we’ve been a threat when we throw it. So if they want to play heavy pass coverage, we’ll try to run the ball and that’s great for a quarterback. 

Q:  How similar are these defenses? Say of the Cowboys this year and the Chargers last year when you look at them on film.

TB:  How similar are they?  I think it’s a similar scheme, obviously it’s the same coach and the same coach is calling the defense, and they’re very talented players.  This team has very talented linebackers, a lot like San Diego does, a big front, their three down guys are big guys.  It’s a one-gap defense that penetrates the line of scrimmage and the guys in the secondary can make plays so I hope I play better than the last time I played against them out in San Diego.  I’m hoping for that.

Q:  What do you take from the last time you played the Cowboys in 2003 [a 12-0 Patriots’ win]?

TB:  I don’t remember that so well.  That was the Tuna Bowl with [Coach Bill] Parcells. That’s all I remember.

Q:  Did that game at all spur to become better as the season went on? 

TB:  Any time you score 12 points, I hope you would’ve done better.  But I think we kicked a bunch of field goals that game.  I’m glad our defense played really well. 

Q:  With both teams being 5-0, obviously the fans are going to pay a lot of attention to two teams being 5-0.  Do you get caught up in that at all?

TB:  Not really.  It’s another regular season game for us and there have been a lot of big games around here.  They’re a very talented team and we need to play our best game.  I think that’s what it comes down to.  It’s a great defense that attacks the quarterback, attacks the football and they’re very good at what they do.  I don’t think we’re building this to anything more than it really is, which is another game on our schedule.  It’s another game that we’re hoping to play our best and make improvements. 

 

 

Belichick Interview Previewing Dallas Game

Courtesy of the New England Patriots

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HEAD COACH BILL BELICHICK
PRESS CONFERENCE

October 10, 2007

BB: We’ve spent the last couple of days here working on Dallas.  They’re a very, very impressive football team.  I think they really do everything well.  They’re very physical on both sides of the line of scrimmage.  Statistically just about any stat that you want, they have.  They can run it.  They can throw it.  They make big plays.  They turn the ball over.  They sack the quarterback.  The have the most interceptions in the league.  You could just go right down the line.  They have a lot of great players.  Defensively, they’re outstanding up front.  They’re physical.  The linebackers run well.  They have a bunch of playmakers in the secondary of course headed by [Terrence] Newman, who they got back last week, and [Roy] Williams.  Offensively, that offensive line is as big and powerful and explosive as I’ve seen in a long time with [Flozell] Adams and [Keith] Davis and [Andre] Gurode there.  They’re very powerful.  The tight ends are great.  [Jason] Whitten is a great player, probably the best all around tight end that I’ve seen in a quite a while.  [Tony] Romo is a very athletic quarterback.  The play that he made against St. Louis where they snapped the ball over his head and he’s running around 35 yards behind the line of scrimmage and still scrambles and picks up a first down kind of epitomizes his playmaking ability.  Both backs are outstanding.  [Marion] Barber is having a terrific year.  He’s really a hard guy to tackle.  Both of them are good in the passing game.  Of course they have a lot of big play receivers.  You can’t underestimate guys like [Patrick] Crayton and [Sam] Hurd just because they have T.O. [Terrell Owens] and Whitten.  [Anthony] Fasano.  They all get involved.  They’re good in the kicking game.  We saw that Monday night.  A couple of big kicks there at the end.  They cover well.  [Leonard] Davis and [Patrick] Watkins and those guys are hard to handle in coverage and they return the ball well.  They’re a complete team.  They’re solid all the way around.  They’re well coached.  Wade [Phillips] has a very fundamentally sound defensive football team, but they don’t give you much.  You have to earn it and they haven’t given up much.  It will be a big challenge ahead of us this week.  We don’t know these guys very well.  Haven’t played them in several years and they have a lot of new players since then, a lot of young players who have developed, especially guys on the defensive line and linebacker group.  They’re a very athletic team.  They’re a very tough team. They’re a physical team and they’re hard to score against and they score a lot of points.  Those second half numbers are pretty impressive - what they’ve done in terms of outscoring their opponents in the second half.  They’re a team that kind of looks like they wear people down and they just keep coming at you.  They’re pretty good.

Q: Will [Tom Brady] see action this week after being on the injury report this week?

BB: Brady?  We’ll give you the injury report after practice today.

Q: Does it help that Dallas just played your division opponent?  Is that helpful in any way?

BB: Not really.  We’ve talked about it before.  Buffalo, I thought they played an outstanding game Monday night, I’m not taking anything away from them, but their style of play is so different from ours, especially defensively.  They play a different style of defense and they’re good at it and they’re fast and they’re quick and they stunt a lot and that’s just not something that we do a lot of.  They would play them a lot differently than we would play them. Their style of defense is more like what St. Louis plays.  That being said, there are certainly things that we can take from the game, I’m not saying that, but I think Buffalo’s style of play and our style of play, they’re not really that close, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  Offensively, they’re a four-wide receiver team on third down.  They mix the personnel groups up on early downs.  There is some carryover, but we’re not really a four wideout team like they are sometimes on third down.

Q: You mentioned Dallas’ second half coring.  They haven’t really scored in the first quarter.  Does that affect your planning at all?

BB: No, but look at the Giants game.  They took the ball up and down the field against them.  I don’t know.  Did they score on the opening drive?  They took it right down the field and hit Whitten for a touchdown.  I don’t know if that was the first drive or not, but it was early in the game.  They can move the ball.  I think that may be a statistical abnormality, but I’m sure that over the course of the season, that will work itself out.  They’re just too good on offense.  They score running, throwing, tight ends, receivers, running backs, quarterbacks, they all score and they score a lot.

Q: Defensively, is last year’s film a little irrelevant with Wade coming in?

BB: Well, it’s a lot of the same players.  I think structurally there are a lot of similarities, but it’s definitely different.  Wade has had a great deal of success wherever he’s coached defense, whether it be as a head coach or a coordinator.  His teams are very sound.  They pressure quite a bit and they don’t make many mistakes.  They haven’t given up many big plays, not nearly as many as they gave up last year.  I think their secondary play, especially [Ken] Hamlin and Williams, the safeties, they’ve prevented a lot…they’ve given up fewer big plays than they gave up last year.  Getting Newman back certainly helps.  [Anthony] Henry, [Jacques] Reeves, the corner situation, but they’ve always had a couple of good guys out there.  [Nathan] Jones has helped them out a little bit there in the sub situations.  They’re solid.  On third down, they are such a good first and second down defense that a lot of those third down situations are long yardage and then they tee off on the pass rush with [DeMarcus] Ware and [Anthony] Spencer and [Greg] Ellis and all of those guys, so it’s hard to hold the ball and get the ball down the field for the yardage you need.

Q: Do you see them using Ware the same way Wade used [Shawne] Merriman?

BB: Yeah, I’d say it’s similar, but I really see Ware playing about the way he played last year.  He plays outside on the 3-4 and he plays end on a 4-3, or in their 4-2 or sub package.  He’s tough off the edge.  He’s tough in pursuit.  He’s a very instinctive guy – reads screens, like the interception he had against Atlanta last year on [Michael] Vick where he batted the ball up in the air and caught it on a bootleg and stuff like that.  He’s strong.  He’s fast.  He’s athletic and you don’t want to run at him.  You don’t want to run away from him.  It’s a problem.  It’s the same thing with the rest of those guys.  You don’t want to run at [Marcus] Spears.  You don’t want to run at [Chris] Canty either.  You don’t want to run away from them.  I think they’re good all the way around.  They’re a very good pursuit team.

Q: Ho much better is Tom Brady this year than he was last year?

BB: I think Tom has been a pretty good player for us now.  Each game every year there are good plays and there are a couple of plays that he’d like to have back, but he has a lot more good ones than not so good ones and that’s the way it’s been for a while here.  It’s hard to criticize his play overall.  Again, there’s always some things he can work on and get better at and Tom works very hard at that.  I’d say overall his play…he’s a pretty good quarterback.

Q: Do you think nationally he’s been under appreciated?

BB: I don’t know.  He’s appreciated here, I can tell you that.  I don’t know what somebody else thinks.  You’d have to ask somebody else that.

Q: Has he become a better self-evaluator?

BB: He’s always been pretty good at that.  I think Tom has always been pretty good at that even going back to the 2000 season.  You give Tom something to work at, he’s going to work at it and try to get better at it and do what he has to do.  That’s just not on the field, it’s doing extra work, doing extra drills, spending extra time on things, whether it be physically or mechanically or just understanding overall, whether it’s our system or what the defenses are doing.  He works very hard to get everything right. Everything is important to him and I think those little things show up sometimes when you least expect them, but usually in a positive way.  He’s always done that.  He’s always working to get better.  He’s done it through his entire career.  He’s certainly doing it this year.  I think that’s a great example for all of us, that even a guy who is playing really good football is still always looking to do little things to get better and improve and that’s one of the reasons why he’s so successful.

Q: In last week’s game where both teams didn’t play their best football, as a coach, are you concerned about the breakdowns or are you encouraged that you didn’t play your best football and still won the game?

BB: I think every week, there are always plays that you need to correct and improve on.  That was no different last week or the Cincinnati game or the Buffalo game or the San Diego game or the Jets game.  There were things in every one of those games that we needed to talk about, improve and get straightened out.  I think it’s going to be that way every week.  I’m not really too concerned about those games, other than you want to try to learn from the mistakes and make improvements.  All of that stuff is in the past, our game and their games and last year and everything else.  The most important thing is these next four or five days to maximize our preparation for this game and be in the best position we can be Sunday afternoon to face them.

Q: How has Tom’s performance this season been influenced by the infusion of new receivers around him?

BB: Again, I think Tom has been a good player for us.  If you look at the second half of the season last year, we threw the ball pretty well, about as well as anybody in the league.  I think there are games where we’re throwing it.  There are games where we’re running it.  There are some times we’re throwing it deep.  Sometimes we’re throwing it short, screen passes, things like that.  You do what you need to do offensively to move the ball and score points and that’s what we try to do on offense.  It’s not about stats.  It’s not about getting the ball to one player ‘x’ number of times or getting so many yards rushing or passing or whatever.  It’s about moving the ball and scoring points and winning the game.  As long as we’re scoring points and winning, we’re efficient offensively.  When we’re not doing that, then that’s not good.

Q: What is the origin of your sweatshirt?

BB: The origin of it?  I don’t know.  It’s comfortable.  I can carry my stuff in my pouch here, whatever I need.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Pats vs. Brown Post Game Notes

Courtesy of the New England Patriots

GAME NOTES—PATRIOTS vs. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Week 5 - October 7, 2007

FIVE STRAIGHT WINS BY 17+ POINTS
According to Elias Sports Bureau, the 2007 Patriots are the fourth team in NFL history to win each of its first five games by a margin of 17 points or more. The Patriots have won by 24, 24, 31, 21 and 17 points in their five games this season. The other teams to achieve the feat are the 1999 St. Louis Rams, the 1968 Dallas Cowboys and the 1921 Buffalo All-Americans.

TEAM-RECORD FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH A 100-YARD RECEIVER

With Benjamin Watson’s 107-yard receiving day against the Browns, the Patriots had a 100-yard receiver for the fifth consecutive game, setting a new team record. The previous team record was four straight games with a 100-yard receiver - from Nov. 23 to Dec. 21, 1975, when Russ Francis, Randy Vataha, Don Calhoun and Andy Johnson each broke the 100-yard mark one time in a four-game span. In addition to Watson’s 100-yard game against the Browns, Randy Moss exceeded the 100-yard mark in each of the first four games of the 2007 season.

FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH 34+ POINTS; 182 TOTAL POINTS

The Patriots have scored 34 or more points in each of the season’s first five games, marking the first time in team history that they have scored at least 30 points in as many as five consecutive games. The Patriots have totaled 182 points through five games, marking the second highest five-game point total in team history, trailing only the 187 points scored by the Boston Patriots in the first five games of the 1962 season. The Patriots have outscored their opponents 182-65 so far in 2007, with their +117 point differential marking the best total for any five-game span in team history.

MORRIS IS THIRD STRAIGHT 100-YARD RUSHER FOR THE PATRIOTS

With Sammy Morris’ 102-yard effort, the Patriots had a 100-yard rusher for the third consecutive game, marking the first time since 1995 that the Patriots have achieved that feat. Curtis Martin broke the 100-yard mark in four straight games from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16, 1995. Morris’ 100-yard game against Cleveland marked the Patriots’ third consecutive game with a 100-yard rusher - Laurence Maroney totaled 103 yards on 19 carries on Sept. 23 against Buffalo. Against Cleveland, Morris gained 102 yards on 21 carries (4.9 avg.), marking his second consecutive 100-yard game and the third 100-yard game of his eight-year career. Morris had 117 yards on 21 carries on Oct. 1 at Cincinnati. Morris also exceeded the 100-yard mark on Dec. 10, 2006 while playing for Miami in a game against the Patriots.

BRADY TIES NFL RECORD WITH THREE OR MORE TOUCHDOWNS IN FIRST FIVE GAMES

By throwing three touchdown passes today, Tom Brady tied an NFL record by throwing for three or more touchdowns in each of the season’s first five games. The only other player in league history to achieve the feat was San Francisco’s Steve Young in 1998. Brady has totaled 16 touchdown passes through five games in 2007. Brady has now thrown for three or more touchdowns 24 times in his regular season career and his five three-touchdown games in 2007 tie his career-high, also achieved in 2002. Last season, Brady threw for three or more touchdowns in a game on two occasions.

SCORING STREAK

Prior to being shut out in the third quarter against Cleveland, the Patriots scored points in each of their first 18 quarters of play this season and scored in 37 consecutive quarters dating back to last season (including regular season and playoff games). The Patriots’ streak of scoring points in 18 consecutive quarters to begin the season is the longest to begin an NFL season since the 2000 St. Louis Rams scored in their first 24 quarters of the year. Since being shut out 21-0 against the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 10, 2006, the Patriots scored in 41 of 42 quarters, with that streak ending in the third quarter against the Browns.

WATSON SETS CAREER MARKS FOR TOUCHDOWNS, RECEIVING YARDS

Benjamin Watson totaled a career-high 107 receiving yards, marking his the first 100-yard game of his career. He also caught two touchdown passes today, recording the second multiple-touchdown game of his career and bringing his 2007 total to a career-high five touchdown receptions. His previous season-best was four touchdowns, achieved in the 2005 season. Watson has scored touchdowns in four of the Patriots’ five games this season and has reached the end zone seven times in his last nine regular-season games dating back to November 2006. His two touchdowns against the Browns raised Watson’s career touchdown total to 12, marking the highest total in a Patriots uniform by a member of the team’s active roster (Kevin Faulk, 10). In addition to today, he also scored a pair of touchdowns at Miami on Nov. 13, 2005. Watson caught six passes for a career-high 107 yards, marking the first 100-yard receiving game of his career. His previous career high was 95 yards, achieved on seven receptions on Oct. 30, 2006 at Minnesota.

TWO INTERCEPTIONS FOR SEAU

Junior Seau intercepted two passes in the first half - picking off a Derek Anderson pass in the end zone in the first quarter that was deflected by Asante Samuel and snaring an Anderson pass in the second quarter that had been tipped by Mike Vrabel. The interceptions were the 16th and 17th of Seau’s 18-year career and marked his first interceptions since Sept. 15, 2002, when he picked off a pass by Houston’s David Carr while playing for the San Diego Chargers. The interceptions marked Seau’s third career multiple-interception game and his first in 11 seasons. He also picked off a pair of passes on Sept. 19, 1993 against the Houston Oilers and on Sept. 29, 1996 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

INTERCEPTION IN THREE STRAIGHT GAMES FOR SAMUEL

Asante Samuel intercepted a Derek Anderson pass in the first quarter, picking off a ball that was deflected by Adalius Thomas. The interception was Samuel’s team-leading third of the season and was his third in as many weeks. Samuel has now recorded 12 interceptions in his last 14 regular-season and playoff games, dating back to a three-pick performance against Chicago on Nov. 26, 2006. Samuel’s interception against Cleveland set up a 34-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Donte’ Stallworth on the next play, giving the Patriots a 10-0 lead. It was the 19th interception of his regular-season career. He also has recorded four career playoff interceptions, giving him a total of 23 interceptions since entering the NFL with the Patriots in 2003.

FUMBLE RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN BY RANDALL GAY

Randall Gay stripped Cleveland’s Kellen Winslow, recovered the fumble and ran 15 yards to the end zone for his second career fumble return for a touchdown. The play came on the first forced fumble of Gay’s career and was his third career fumble recovery. The only other touchdown of Gay’s career also came against Cleveland, when he scooped up a William Green fumble caused by Richard Seymour and raced 41 yards to the end zone on Dec. 5, 2004 in Cleveland.

TWO SACKS FOR BRUSCHI

Tedy Bruschi tied his career high with two sacks against Cleveland, raising his career sack total to 30.5 sacks. He is the 13th player in Patriots history to record 30 or more sacks in a New England uniform. His two sacks tie his single-game career-high with 2.0 sacks, tying his totals on Dec. 17, 2005 against Tampa Bay and Oct. 6, 1996 at Baltimore. He also had 2.0 sacks in Super Bowl XXXI against Green Bay on Jan. 26, 1997. Against Cleveland, Bruschi sacked Derek Anderson for a 10-yard loss in the final minute of the first half and dropped him for a 6-yard loss in the third quarter. Entering today’s game, the Patriots are 23-2 when Bruschi totals at least one sack.

QUICK HITS

Ø    Today’s game was the 142nd consecutive home sellout for the Patriots, a streak that includes every preseason, regular-season and playoff game since the 1994 regular-season opener.

Ø    Ellis Hobbs batted down a Derek Anderson pass intended for Joe Jurevicius in end zone in the first quarter.

Ø    Vince Wilfork sacked Anderson for a 10-yard loss in the fourth quarter, recording his first sack of the season and raising his career total to 4.5 sacks.

STALLWORTH SCORES

Donte’ Stallworth hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the first quarter to give the Patriots a 10-0 lead. The touchdown catch was Stallworth’s first in a Patriots uniform and was the 29th scoring grab of his regular-season career with New Orleans (2002-05), Philadelphia (2006) and New England (2007). Stallworth became the sixth different player to catch a touchdown from Brady in 2007.

STARTING STRONG

The Patriots scored first, taking a 3-0 lead on a 20-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski in the first quarter. New England has scored first in each of its five games this season and has achieved the feat in eight straight regular season and playoff games dating back to Jan. 7, 2007.

GOSTKOWSKI’S SUCCESS STREAK

Stephen Gostkowski nailed two first-half field goals - a 20-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and a 25-yarder to give the Patriots a 13-0 second-quarter advantage. He has hit seven of his eight field goal attempts this season (87.5 percent) and has nailed 28 of his last 31 attempts (90.3 percent) dating back to Nov. 5, 2006, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance in last season’s playoffs.

PATRIOTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Eric Alexander, Willie Andrews, Ellis Hobbs and Ty Warren will participate in the NFL’s Hometown Huddle event on Tuesday, October 9 at the Jordan Boys & Girls Club in Chelsea from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. To underscore the Patriots’ commitment to youth health and fitness, the players will show the youth Club members how to make healthy snacks and then take them through some football skills drills. Hometown Huddle is a league-wide day of service during which all 32 teams partner with their local United Way chapter to perform a community service project.