New England Patriots thread (MOD WARNING - #4503)

Hazys

@adbrandt

Patriots will pay Sopoaga $529,000 this year and inherit two nonguaranteed 2014 and 2015 salaries of $3.75M and $3.5M.


The Eagles already paid him $3m this year.

j8wk2feszrnpao

It's a great deal for the Pats, a very cheap trade and we gain a player that we need. Good business by the Pats.

bruschi

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Tough to see a great guy like Mesko getting cut. Sometimes I think we forget to look at the human & emotional side to players. Mesko had such strong connections and a huge community role in the NE area. It often makes you wonder, how much the business end of the NFL can affect a players performance. Statistically speaking Allen is ranked 12th in the league right now for punting average. Mesko was ranked 31st.

feel bad for Mesko, really likeable guy. And to be cut the week he was going to be playing against New England too, lousy.

me89

Tommy Kelly back at practice today.
Shane Vareen was also back for the first time since week 1.

Son Of A Vidic

I was just about to post the same thing , nice to have some good news for a change.

j8wk2feszrnpao

Two important players to have back at training.
Kelly was playing well before injury and was big against the run.
Vereen adds something special from the back-field that none of the other RB's can bring to the offense.
Doesn't mean much for the game on Sun, esp when you consider that Talib was practicing last week, but it's a good sign with the bye week coming up.
Hoping for a win, improvement from the offense, and no further injuries!!

Son Of A Vidic

Just wondering what the craic is with Josh Boyce? I see he was one of the practice players of the week. I think he's only played about 24 offensive snaps this season. And considering the rebuild that's going on, I'd like to see him get more reps. He's actually the fastest WR we have, so if he gets space he has lighting speed. I just hope they're not holding him back until next year as developmental prospect.

j8wk2feszrnpao

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Just wondering what the craic is with Josh Boyce?

I'd like to see him take a few kickoff returns.
Blount has been steady, but I'd like to see Boyce get a chance with ball in hand.

Hazys

A couple of weeks ago:

Hazys wrote: »

Injuries
Offense:
Gronk
Amendola
Connolly
Vereen

Defense:
Kelly
Wilfork
Talib
Mayo

Special Teams:
Slater

Today:

All 53 players on the roster practiced today, first time this season. So it seems the current roster is getting healthy and hopeful with the bye week after the Steelers we will be at full strength.

But it still doesn't make up for the fact that 3 Pro Bowlers are on IR.

Son Of A Vidic

Great shot here of Bill before the team's fancy dress party.:D



Tom arriving as the lion from the Wizard of Oz, and there's his supermodel wife with those legs that just won't quit.:eek:

davyjose

She should have dressed up as Welker.

Son Of A Vidic

davyjose wrote: »

She should have dressed up as Welker.

Who? The woman with Bill?

davyjose

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Who? The woman with Bill?

Lol. No, Brady's missus. Y'know, as she's an expert on catching balls.

Son Of A Vidic

davyjose wrote: »

Lol. No, Brady's missus. Y'know, as she's an expert on catching balls.

Well I guess Tom reckoned he was better off throwing his balls at her, rather than Wes. :pac:

davyjose

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Well I guess Tom reckoned he was better off throwing his balls at her, rather than Wes. :pac:

Welker's only the second best ballhandler Brady has known.

BKWDR

me89 wrote: »

Tommy Kelly back at practice today.
Shane Vareen was also back for the first time since week 1.

(kelly) Absent from todays practice i'm reading...

eagle eye

davyjose wrote: »

Welker's only the second best ballhandler Brady has known.

Third best, don't forget Lawfirm who never fumbled as a Patriot!

me89

BKWDR wrote: »

(kelly) Absent from todays practice i'm reading...

Officially out now.

I have a feeling they wont risk Talib tomorrow and give him the bye week to fully recover.

Son Of A Vidic

Ya I agree, better to rest Talib now and give him that extra time with the bye week coming up.

Masked Man

Tommy Kelly on IR, season is over for him. It just gets better and better.

davyjose

eagle eye wrote: »

Third best, don't forget Lawfirm who never fumbled as a Patriot!

That's a seriously impressive stat.

me89

Masked Man wrote: »

Tommy Kelly on IR, season is over for him. It just gets better and better.

Ah balls!!

Hazys

Bollox...there goes run defense for the rest of the year

Son Of A Vidic

Can a week actually go by this season, where we don't have some bad news on the injury front.

me89

No Thompkins today for some reason

me89

Patriots inactives: CB Talib, WR Thompkins, DE Bequette, WR Boyce, RB Washington, LB Beauharnais, G Barker.

Son Of A Vidic

me89 wrote: »

No Thompkins today for some reason

He only played 14 snaps last week and I don't think he's carrying any knocks. I feared this would happen when the likes of Gronk & Amendola came back. I'd much prefer to keep the rookies getting a lot of reps. They were already thrown into the deep end and sidelining them now slows down their progress imo. Boyce is another mystery, he's the fastest WR we have and he's got virtually no opportunity all season.

BKWDR

Gronk really showing that he's back and in business!

j8wk2feszrnpao

Gronk (119 yrds and one TD) is back, and what a difference it makes to the offense and to Tom who is 13/18 for 252yrds and two TD's in one half.

If Talib doesn't come back after the bye, we will be in serious trouble against the elite teams. Teams appear to like targeting Arrington.

j8wk2feszrnpao

And we stop targeting Gronk in the first two possessions of the second half?