Not Your Christmas Ham
Apparently Brandon Meriweather should have had a sit-down with Chad Jackson. Both New England Patriots suffer from hamstring injuries. Jackson started last year on the physically-unable-to-perform list. And now our Miami Meriweather is not so merry, missing out on the three-day minicamp last week. The injury is not so severe as to keep him from working out, but Pats coaches are looking back on Jackson’s rushed return, deciding to take it easy with Meriweather. Preserving Meriweather is even more important now that the Pats may need to slot him for stubborn Samuel.
Meriweather’s ultra promising senior year with the Hurricanes has Belichick grimacing at what he might miss out on in this multi-position power unit. But what are you going to do? This is NFL football action we’re talking about here. Like Laurence Maroney said, “Injuries can affect anybody’s season…But one thing you got to do is just continue to work hard, because you really can’t worry about it. All you got to do is just work hard, get better, and try to get back out there.” Come on boys, throw on a little Bengay and get back in the gridiron. Don’t miss the fellas tear it up this season. Get your New England Patriots tickets from StubHub.com.
Maroney Taking on Multiple Star Roles
New England Patriots rookie running back Laurence Maroney had his first major advertising experience recently. Maroney starred in a commercial for Reebok and Modell’s Sporting Goods at Madison Park High School in Roxbury. “I just wanted to go with it and see how it would be,” Maroney said. “I always told myself I wanted to go to Hollywood someday. This is my first shot at it. “Well, it’s always good to have dreams, and to set them high. However, let’s just hope Maroney still maintains focus on shooting for a stellar performance for the Patriots.
Let’s also hope his off-season shoulder surgery isn’t making him gun-shy, prompting him to prefer cushy actors chairs instead of the aluminum players benches (although today’s sports benches often offer more luxurious amenities than those of Hollywood). But Maroney confidently stated, “We’ve got a lot of good players on this team and I still don’t feel like with Corey being gone and me moving up to the starting running back that the pressure is going to be on me because we still have 10 other people on this [offense] that are going to have to carry their load. I’m going to have to carry my part and we’re all going to come together and put it together as a team effort.” Alright, we all know the importance of teamwork, but we also know that individual efforts do shine in the NFL. Here’s to hoping Maroney can shoulder any unexpected increases in responsibility. Be sure to get your New England Patriots tickets from StubHub.com to watch our Pats on their road to victory.
Hall of Fame Coates of Arms
Okay, so Stanley Morgan is a really good choice for the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. But as you obviously know, our Pats are just a little too awesome to easily settle on one favorite. Ben Coates, Stanley Morgan, and Ron Burton are the three potential inductees narrowed down by a committee of 27 members. Coates secured his spot in the semifinals of induction because of his high-standing achievements for the New England club, and for truly owning and applying his own elements to his position at tight end.
During his career, Coates went to five consecutive Pro Bowls. “The guys I played against, everybody was like, ‘We have to figure out a way to stop this guy,’” Coates noted. “My mindset going in was that I was not going to be stopped. That was my whole mentality, no matter the situation. If there were three guys on me but Drew still feels I’m open, if he throws it, I’m going to come down with it. Once you get into a zone, nothing they try to do to stop you is going to work.” Make sure you vote for your pick online by August 1st. Stay up on the action and get your New England Patriots Tickets today at StubHub.com.
Hall of Fame to Take on Another Great One
The New England Patriots Hall of Fame opened not too long ago, sporting its NFL grandeur. And with the grand opening of the Hall comes another opening of the annals of the great ones. Currently, there are only three nominees for this momentous occasion. They are running back Ron Burton, tight end Ben Coates, and wide receiver Stanley Morgan. We know that Drew Bledsoe would probably choose Morgan. And it’s looking as though he’s a likely target for more than just Bledsoe. But it’s still up to the fans to make the induction decision. Online-voting opened up to the public last week on the New England Patriots website.
Voting ends August 1st, so make sure to get your votes in. The site discourages ballot stuffing by only allowing one vote per e-mail address. But ballot stuffing shouldn’t be a concern, as Morgan’s stats and contributions to the Pats make him a hard favorite. His accomplishments are definitely worthy of this first induction in six years, which would make him the 12th player to be admitted to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Be sure to get your New England Patriots tickets to watch for future Hall of Famers.
Pats Player Returns from Trip to Iraq
Benjamin Watson, tight end for the New England Patriots, has returned from a 12-day USO trip to Iraq. Watson spent time during the off-season with the troops overseas fighting in the Middle East, and was deeply affected by what he saw in his time there. Watson, one of four players to participate in the Iraq visit, weighs in not just on his time overseas but also on his past and future with the Patriots in an article for the Providence Journal.
Watson has a big year ahead of him, with Daniel Graham leaving New England to sign with the Patriots in the off-season. Watson will not be the Patriots #1 tight end. He and Graham have been splitting up the position over the past few seasons. Even with more weapons for Tom Brady to utilize after all the Patriots’ wide receiver acquissitions in the off-season, Watson should still play an important role within the New England offense.
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Brady Finally Talks
Tom Brady spoke to the press for the first time this season, but according to espn.com, he was reluctant to discuss any off the field antics that may have landed his name in the headlines during the off season. Luckily for Brady, the Patriots made a ton of really interesting off season moves that he could talk about. He deflected questions about his new baby on the way and his supermodel girlfriend, choosing to discuss new receivers and the upcoming season.
He’s got to be kidding, right? If Brady makes it through this whole year, then the Boston media has officially lost all its teeth. You can’t (allegedly) knock a chick up, then start dating some other mega-babe, and just shrug it off, can you? I mean, if this was T.O., or even Brady’s new teammate, Randy Moss, do you really think the media would be content to just let him get away with it? Brady has a baby on the way, an alleged illegitimate child that he seems remiss to even speak about, and when he does, he doesn’t sound excited about fatherhood. This is a great story. Someone just needs to have the guts to really call him out on it. Here’s hoping this doesn’t totally blow up the Patriot’s season.
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Where You at Samuel?
Samuel is still moping on the sidelines. Actually, he’s not even on the sidelines, or the negotiations table either for that matter. Samuel’s still not satisfied with the $7.79 million collecting dust on the table. And what does Bill Belichick say about all this? Well, not a whole lot. Apparently, Belichick is declining any comments regarding Samuel right now. However, Belichick did say, “I’m just coaching the guys that are here. That’s all I’m focused on.” Alright, fair enough Bill. It’s definitely a smart play to concentrate on the players he knows he definitely has. Why waste time on players that feel “unappreciated” despite offers of millions?
Belichick explained further, “My philosophy is to coach the team that’s here.” The important issue here is to make sure our Pats always treat their players well (the ones who deserve it), making it easier to objectively analyze such situations with expediency and fairness. If the Pats do this, then Belichick will most certainly be able to keep his full attention on the workhorses on the field. Don’t miss out on the action, get your New England Patriots tickets today.
Samuel Missing Minicamp
Alright boys, minicamp is no longer optional, so saddle up and let’s ride. But not you Samuel. Asante Samuel won’t be attending minicamp in Foxboro today due to his discontent with contract negotiations, blatantly stating “I’m not coming to camp.” Samuel went on to say, “I’m not showing up until the 10th week [of the season]. I feel unappreciated. The way they’re treating me is just wrong.”
“He’s not coming to camp until a contract resolution can be reached,” reported Samuel’s agent Alonzo Shavers. But since Samuel’s not under contract, he can’t be fined for missing mandatory minicamp. Samuel is apparently displeased with the one-year franchise tag tender offer of $7.79 million for this season, even though it just about quadruples the $2 million he earned for his first four seasons. Patriots teammates expressed that they’d like to have Samuel around, but they also recognize that it all comes down to business. Will Samuel swallow some pride? Will Belichick swallow some pride? We’ll all just have to wait a few weeks to find out. Get your New England Patriots tickets and join the crowd at Foxboro.
All-Around Adalius
When it comes to veteran players, mini camp is sometimes viewed as an unnecessary step towards regular season. But players for the New England Patriots have shown up to play, and are still grinding away in mini camp. This camp is just as important for the coaches too. Right now, one of the main questions facing coaches is where they’ll play two-time Pro Bowler Adalius Thomas.
Thomas was originally signed on just this past March with the intention of putting him on the linebacker squad. But seven NFL seasons, bearing 261 solo tackles, 38.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, and six interceptions have made it apparent that this guy can play several positions beyond linebacker. Although the Patriots have a few options with Thomas, they’re most likely to play him at inside linebacker, using his eye for the game and his 270 pounds of versatile muscle. Be sure to keep an eye on Thomas’ position rotation in these upcoming practices for a hint at where he’ll begin the season. Get your New England Patriots tickets today.
Patriots Re-Sign Another Cornerback
According to the New England Patriots’ homepage, the Pats have re-signed yet another young defensive player, this time cornerback Antwainn Spann. Spann had some productive minutes for the Patriots last year, and the Pats felt strongly enough about his progress to bring him back into the fold for another year. Spann looks to see even more action in the 2007 season.
This signing marks another in what has been a busy week for the Pats, who have apparently moved into the “re-signing” period of their off-season. The Patriots have spent this week bolstering their defense from within, offering new contracts to young players who have paid their dues on the practice squads and have shown the capacity to do much more.
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