Boston Sports Fan Blog

Is this the year that the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl after being defeated by the team from New York? No it is not the team most Patriots fans hate, the New York Jets but it’s the New York Giants. Patriots seem like they cannot get away from the New Yorkers but this year seems like they can get the job done. This off-season many key moves done by the Patriots were to help the defense. All except for one player drafted by the Patriots are defensive players. Something needed to be done to help their 31st ranked pass defense. They also picked up three defensive players in free agency. It seems like they were playing a game at partybingo.com and trying to correctly line up there players for a winning season. . Improving their defensive and offensive running game is also a key to success for the Patriots. Once they can land in the top 15 in each of those categories on top on being ranked 2nd in the league for pass offense can take them to the ultimate prize and bragging rights to both New York teams. The main key is that Tom Brady stays health and has the support of his receivers Deion Branch, Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski. Plus a boost up from how the defense played last year and the Lombardi trophy is theirs for the taking.

Quarterback Tom Brady reiterated Wednesday that he thought last year’s New England Patriots team was not mentally tough and, looking back, indicated there was a “lack of trust, lack of confidence” within the team.

The Patriots’ struggles in the second half of games in 2009 were well chronicled. Of their six losses, they were leading at the half in four of them and tied in another. The Patriots were outscored 94-38 in the second half of their six losses. In addition to their second-half struggles, the Patriots were just 2-6 on the road.

“When it comes down to it, games that we lose in the fourth quarter, games that we lose in the second half, or losing on the road like we did, that can be lack of trust, lack of confidence,” Brady said in an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI on Wednesday morning. “There are a lot of issues you have when that repeats itself time and time again over the course of the season.”

The Patriots’ up-and-down 2009 season was punctuated by a 33-14 blowout loss to the Ravens in the divisional playoffs. Brady threw four interceptions in the game and the Patriots fell behind 24-0 in the first quarter.

Click here to read the full article – By Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com

New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker scheduled surgery for next week to repair the knee he blew out in the final regular-season game against the Houston Texans.

A league source told The Boston Globe that Welker will undergo the procedure next Tuesday at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Welker tore both the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee making a cut after catching a pass. The MCL did not need surgery, so he let that heal before having a procedure on the ACL.

“We’re just taking our time right now,” Welker told Jim Traber during a radio interview in Oklahoma City, Welker’s hometown, last week. “That’s one thing — we’ve got a little bit of time right now to wait on that to heal and just kind of get ready and make sure that we exhaust all the options and find out the best one for myself to give me the best chance to get back out there on the field.”

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Monday that the team used Joey Porter’s trash talk as a spark leading up to Sunday’s 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

“It’s really motivating for our team throughout the course of the week and into the game when you hear that kind of stuff,” Brady said on his weekly appearance on the “Dennis & Callahan” show on Boston radio station WEEI. “I think the guys take it to heart and the coaches take it to heart.”

Last week, Porter said there was “no question” that Brady is getting favorable calls from officials this season. Brady missed most of the 2008 season with a knee injury suffered when he was hit by a player on the ground. In March, the NFL clarified a rule, making it a personal foul for a player on the ground to lunge and hit a quarterback below the knee unless he’s blocked or fouled. Some have referred to it as the “Brady Rule.”

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

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Tom Brady threw for an NFL record five touchdowns in the second quarter as the Patriots humiliated the Titans 59-0 in snowy Foxborough, Mass.

Brady had six touchdown passes overall, matching his team record, and threw for 380 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter. The Patriots set team records for points and yards (619). We can move past wondering whether Brady will ever look like his pre-injury self.

A week after a shaky showing in a loss at Denver, it was 2007 all over again against the hapless and helpless Titans. … Quite a turnaround for the Jets, who started 3-0 but fell to 3-3 with an overtime loss to the Bills. Rex Ryan will probably be roasted this week on WFAN by the same callers who were calling him a genius and talking Super Bowl three weeks ago.

Click here to read the full article – By MIKE ANTHONY of The Hartford Courant

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It looks like the Patriots are going to bring linebacker Junior Seau back for a third go-round. They are going to insert the old buck into their young linebacking corps.

Why?

Certainly not for his bull-dodging skills.

On many levels, a Seau return, which could happen as soon as today, doesn’t make much sense. Injured linebacker Jerod Mayo, who made an appearance at practice last week, could be back this week. Gary Guyton, meanwhile, has looked better with each game filling in at middle linebacker.

So why the rush for Seau, who preferred coming back closer to the end of the season? Why bring him back now, when he might only have a half-dozen or so games left in him?


Click here to read the full article – By KAREN GUREGIAN of BOSTON HERALD

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There will be pink all over the field on Sunday at Gillette Stadium as part of Breast Cancer Awareness day. Moss wore his pink gloves at practice yesterday, while other players such as running back Laurence Maroney [stats] were waiting for their pairs to arrive.

“Cancer affects everybody in some way,” Moss said in a press release. “If I can do something to help people out, to raise awareness and help raise money – well, that’s what it’s all about. I want to make a difference.”

Cutters Gloves began giving away pink football gloves last season, and it caught on with the players. This year, Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens wideout Kelley Washington and others will join Moss.

The NFL gave special permission for the players to wear the equipment, which will eventually be auctioned off to raise money for cancer research.


Click here to read the full article – By Ian R. Rapoport of BostonHerald.com

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The Patriots might still be planning to go with a running back by committee, but Fred Taylor has established himself as the chairman of that committee following his 21-carry, 105-yard performance Sunday in a 26-10 win over the Falcons.


Taylor’s 21 carries were four more than he had in the first two games of the season combined. The 33-year-old joked yesterday that the Advil and Tylenol had worn off, but he said it’s fun to get into a groove on the ground like he did Sunday.

“Yeah, honestly,’’ Taylor said. “I think more importantly the win is always the best part of it, but as a running back you definitely want the carries, you want the touches, and I guess bottom line you want to be able to help the team win.’’

Taylor, the Patriots’ leading rusher on the season with 38 carries for 176 yards (4.6 yards per carry average), was asked whether he could handle 20 to 25 carries per game over the course of a season. Taylor averaged 14.9 carries a game in 2007, when he made the Pro Bowl, and 11 carries per game last season.


Click here to read the full article – By Christopher L. Gasper of boston.com

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