Patriot rookie waiting in the wings?

The Patriots surprised a few people by selecting San Diego State quarterback Kevin O’Connell in the third round (94th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. This was clearly an investment for the future, and not necessarily the present. Now O'Connell could be one snap away from being a starting QB in the NFL.

In last weeks 38-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins, O'Connell replaced Matt Cassel with 6:05 remaining. He was in for only two series, but looked surprisingly comfortable and in command, completing 3 of 4 passes for 25 yards. "It has kind of been talked about that they want to try to get me in," said O'Connell, "hopefully, when we're up by a lot, just because every snap I can get in there is a plus for me as far as learning and continuing to grow."

It's easy to see why any NFL team would like O'Connell. He is 6 feet 5 inches, 225 pounds, with a rocket arm and natural running ability. The 23-year-old also carries an air of quiet confidence.

It is the intangibles that the Patriots like about O'Connell. According to Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels "you notice late in games when they [San Diego State] trailed, and they trailed quite a few times, this guy was playing hard and really trying to be a leader and brought his team back a few times and kept them in the game quite a few times. You liked a lot of the intangibles you saw with him."

According to O'Connell, being one heartbeat away from quarterbacking a team that many picked to be a Super Bowl contender hasn't changed his season. "My preparation hasn't changed too much, but just my mentality of being one snap away.You got to prepare like you're going to play every week, and if you don't, it's a blessing because Matt was able to go the whole time."

If the opportunity comes, O'Connell will be ready!

Patriots by the Numbers

When you look at the Stats of the Patriots over the last three games, fans should feel fortunate that the Patriots are 2-1! You just cannot point the finger at Cassel alone.

Points scored: # 26th (16.3 per game)

Points allowed: # tied-11th (19.3 per game)

Third-down offense: # 13th (17-of-42, 40.5 percent)

Third-down defense: # 31st (18 of 37, 48.6 percent)

Turnover differential: # tied-24th (minus-2, with 2 take-aways and 4 give-aways)

Red-zone offense(based on TDs scored when inside the 20-yard line): # 27th (4-of-11, 36.4 percent)

Red-zone defense(based on TDs allowed when inside the 20-yard line): # 29th (6 of 9, 66.7 percent)

Patriots QB Cassel working on mechanics during bye week: QB Matt Cassel is using the bye week to work on his mechanics and how defenses are approaching the Patriots with him at quarterback. He is taking the advice of Tom Brady and remaining upbeat despite a lackluster performance last Sunday. "We have had conversations since last week. A lot of them just came down to, 'Look, it happens and there are going to be times when you lose. You just have to stay positive and know that you are going to come out and continue to work hard and get better.'"

It's Official: Troy Brown Retires.

Troy Brown's last route as a Patriot is taking him to retirement. The popular wide receiver announced this morning that he's ending his playing career after 15 seasons with the New England Patriots during which he set a team record for receptions while building a reputation as one of the most dependable and versatile players in franchise history.

Robert Kraft revealed that team's game Nov. 13, against the Jets before a nationally televised audience, will be Troy Brown Night. Troy Brown confirmed he had passed up chances to play for the rival Jets. "I probably had the opportunity to do it but it just wasn’t the right color. I didn’t think I looked good in green and white," Brown joked, before talking about how much it meant to him to be a lifetime Patriot.

"The only colors you'll ever see on my back are the red, white and blue of the New England Patriots. I'm proud to say it. It's a wonderful ride. I can't think of anything better in life than enjoying a Sunday afternoon playing football. Now I enjoy Sunday afternoons watching football and saying in my head 'I can make that play.'"

"It's hard to let go," said Brown, who will immediately join Comcast SportsNet as an analyst focusing on the Patriots. "But I know, at the end of the day, I played this game the way it supposed to be played."

Retirement in the cards for Brown?

A source close to Free Agent Wide Receiver Troy Brown said last week that it's likely the receiver will announce his retirement soon and take a media job, but cautioned "nothing is written in stone" and that Brown, New England's all-time leader in receptions with 557, would consider playing again if the Patriots came calling.

"It's always good to see Troy and have Troy around. He's been a great player for this organization and he's got great leadership and great character. He's done a lot here. It was really an honor for me to coach him. You can go back to '96 when I was first here - he's one of the all-timers." -- New England Coach Bill Belichick

It looks like Brown will be retiring than joining the Patriots organization though. The Patriots are scheduled to host a 10 a.m. press conference tomorrow at Gillette Stadium with Troy Brown, Robert Kraft, and Bill Belichick all present. It is assumed that Brown will announce his retirement from the NFL at the press conference.

Good Luck Troy, we wish you all the best!

Career Highlights:

Brown is the Patriots' Patriots all-time leading receiver with 557 career receptions. He places second on the franchise's receiving yardage list with 6,366 yards.

Brown is the Patriots all-time leading receiver in the postseason with 58 catches in 20 playoff games. His 694 career receiving yards in the playoffs also rank first in franchise history.

Brown set a franchise single-season record with 101 receptions in 2001. His 97 catches in 2002 stand as the second highest total in franchise history.

Brown became the only player in Patriots history to record a reception and an interception in the same game when he pulled the feat against Buffalo (11/14/04).

Brown accumulated 1,199 receiving yards in 2001, the second highest total in franchise history (1,491-Stanley Morgan, 1986).

Patriots vs. Dolphins: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Patriots Game 3: Patriots 13 – Dolphins 38

The Good:

Sorry, there is not much that can be said good about a 38 - 13 loss to the Dolphins, a team that was 1-15 last season. The only bright spot would be Cornerback Ellis Hobbs. Hobbs made a major impact in the return game, with 237 yards on six runbacks (39.5 avg.)

Stephen Gostkowski was two-for-two on field goals, connecting from 37 yards and 44 yards. These were Gostkowski’s 13th and 14th consecutive successful regular-season field goals, extending the longest success streak of his career, and tying the fourth-longest streak in Patriots history

The Bad:

Where to start?

Matt Cassel had a rough outing against the Dolphins, finishing 19 of 31 for 131 yards, with one touchdown, one interception, and one fumble. Linebacker Joey Porter said beating the Patriots without Brady "shouldn't be that hard." Then Porter made the play that would set the tone for the game when he sacked Cassel for a 5-yard loss on a first-and-goal play at the 7. Cassel was sacked three times (including two from Joey Porter) and faced pressure all day before being replaced late in the game by rookie Kevin O'Connell (3-of-4 for 25 yards).

Matthew Slater illegally touches a punt that negates the possibility of pinning the Dolphins close to their goal-line early in the third quarter

Randy Moss finished the game with four catches for 25 yards. A lot of this can be put on Cassel's play, but you could see the frustration building up for Moss in this game.

The Patriots kept getting fooled by the same trickery: six direct snaps resulting in four touchdowns after the Dolphins hadn't used the play in their previous two games.

The Patriots were just 4-of-15 on third-down conversions, including 0-for-2 in the red zone.

A key turning point in the first half of the game came on the Patriots’ second drive. The game was still scoreless at this point. On second-and-goal from the Dolphins’ 12, quarterback Matt Cassel was ruled to be in the grasp, although it appeared to be a quick whistle. Cassel had wiggled free for a 12-yard rushing touchdown.. On the next play, Cassel’s attempted screen pass was intercepted by defensive lineman Randy Starks.

The Ugly:

The Patriots could not even spell the word DEFENSE on Sunday, surrendering 461 yards total offense (216 rushing, 245 passing)

The loss ended the Patriots' NFL mark of 21 consecutive regular-season wins that began after a 21-0 loss to the Dolphins on Dec. 10, 2006. New England's 12-game home winning streak also came to an end.

Dolphins 38 - Patriots 13: That about says it all.


Final Thoughts:

"Well, there is not too much to say here. I thought that Miami played a real good football game. They did everything a lot better than we did. The outplayed us. They out coached us. They certainly dominated on offense and defense. I thought we were competitive in the kicking game but that was about it, not on the offensive or defensive sides of the ball. They obviously deserved to win. They were the better team and they did everything a lot better than we did today. Not too much to say." -- New England Head Coach Bill Belichick

"We definitely don’t live off the past and this is a new season, but this being our first loss of the season if definitely hurts. What makes matters worse is that it was in the division, so that’s really painful. They really came in and handed it to us in our house. As coach said, we’ve still got a lot of work to do. I think we’re going to use this week to try and rest and heal up but at the same time we’ve still got a lot of work to do. It [was] very disappointing out there today." -- New England Wide Receiver Randy Moss

"The big thing is we came out with a win. It's not really about me. I am happy that we went out there and did not give up a big play. I said all week if we don't give up the big play and spot somebody 14 to 17 points, we have a chance to win the game. Give us a chance to fight. That is all we ask for." -- Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter

"You really don't realize how good Tom Brady is until he's not out there. Not taking anything away from Matt Cassel, but those are tough shoes to fill." -- Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter

Ellis Hobbs totaled 237 yards on six kickoff returns, setting a Patriots record for most kickoff return yardage in a game. Hobbs topped the previous Patriots record of 220 kickoff return yards, set by Kevin Faulk against the New York Jets on Dec. 22, 2002.

The Patriots didn't have Quarterback Tom Brady to lead a winning comeback as he's done 28 times in the fourth quarter. The Patriots will need to get back to the drawing board during the bye week, as they prepare for the San Francisco 49ers.

Patriots vs. Dolphins: Game Day Notes

The Patriots released their Friday injury report, and it appears they could be a running back or two short Sunday against the Dolphins. LaMont Jordan, who ran for 62 yards on 11 carries in a 19-10 win over the Jets last Sunday, is listed as doubtful with an injured foot, while Laurence Maroney is questionable with a shoulder injury. Look for Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk to pick up the slack.

Tight end Benjamin Watson, who has missed the first two games with a right knee injury, looks primed for a return in this Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Jerod Mayo, The Patriots' first-round draft choice has been on the field for every snap through the team's first two games, the only defender to do so.

Second-round draft choice Terrence Wheatley was inactive in Sunday's win over the Jets, while third-round pick Shawn Crable has been inactive for both games. Belichick was asked if both players have hit roadblocks in the learning curve. "No," he replied. "I think this is a good rookie class. I think they all work hard. They're all attentive. They've been out there on a consistent basis and they're getting better. I'd say Terrence and Shawn are smart guys, they work hard, and they're picking things up at a good pace.

Dolphins in focus: The Dolphins look like one of the NFL's weaker teams at this time, but the organization is on the right track. It's going to take some time to add more talent throughout the roster. The Patriots figure to key on running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, looking to put the Dolphins into longer-yardage situations (Miami is just 6 of 25 on third down through two games). Bill Belichick believes Will Allen is one of the NFL's top corners, so it will be interesting to see how much the Patriots try to challenge him.

Dolphins Porter pours fuel on the Patriots fire!

Count linebacker Joey Porter among those unimpressed by Matt Cassel's performance last Sunday, when he started he first game since high school and led New England to a 19-10 victory over the New York Jets.

"It's not like they were putting up the crazy 40 points they did when they had Tom [Brady]. It's a different offense, a different team without Tom in there."

Asked how he would get ready to face Cassel, Porter said, "Treat him like you prepare for a backup. Throw the kitchen sink at him. We're going to come after the guy. It will be good to go out there and get our first victory."

Cassel didn't start a game at USC, sitting behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. That lack of experience is a killer, Porter said. "You've got to get game experience. He's been getting some, but pre-season's a whole different speed."

"He's a guy we'll prepare for, but that was his first start since high school. So you can take all the reps you want to. This is a totally different game, a totally different league. He's only had one start in the NFL. Take that for what it's worth. He won it, but if you compare him to Brady, there's no comparison."

"You can say whatever you want to put with it. Those are just the facts. That's what it is. It means what it means."

"I just know he's not a Tom Brady," Porter said. "So if it's not Tom Brady, it shouldn't be that hard."

The Patriots have won 21 straight regular-season games. The Dolphins have lost 20 of their past 21 games. The Patriots outscored the Dolphins last year by a combined score of 77-35.

Patriots Grade: New England vs. New York Jets

Week 2: New England vs. New York Jets

Grogan's Grade: Former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan provides weekly insights on the progress of the Patriots during the 2008 football season. Here are some snippets from week 2:

The Patriots in the role of the underdog: "Yeah, there was a sense of the unknown. I think coming into this weekend everybody kind of wondered how Matt Casell was going to handle things. Would the guys around him rally, would the defense play better. It was kind of a fun way to prepare for the game, as a fan, because we just weren't sure what to expect and I thought Matt Casell did a heck of a job playing within himself, doing everything the coaches asked him to do. The defense stepped up good against a good quarterback and they came out of there with a good victory."

Thoughts on the favorable schedule the next few weeks: "I think that's going to be a huge help to him. He's not having to play anyone of any real talent until later in the season after the bye, so it gives him time to sort of get comfortable. It's not only getting comfortable with what he's doing on the field, it's because he's been doing that in practice for the last four years. But it's also getting comfortable with the press conferences after practices, the press conferences after games, the call in radio things that he has to do before and after practice. People don't understand once you step into that quarterback role theres a lot more responsibility off the field than really on the field. That's where he's going to have to learn to adjust his time and make everything fit into the same day."

Belichick Coaching Strategy without Brady: "They got back to basics for yesterday's game and it was fun for me to watch because it was a controlled passing game, they ran the ball effectively. Defensively they bent, and bent, and bent, but they never really broke. That's the way he likes to play football, so I think this team's going to go a lot farther than a lot of the national media were giving them credit for when Tom Brady went down. This is a talented football team and he knows how to coach and they are going to play well throughout the season."

Grogan's Grade For Week 2:
Offense: B+
Defense: A-
Special Teams: A
Overall: A-

On the Offense: I thought the start of second half looked awful, and the Patriots offense really needed to convert and score touchdowns in the Red Zone. Otherwise they did a good job controlling the football and keeping Favre off the field.

On the Defense: The Patriots defense played well. They gave up a couple of big plays that could have been prevented, and I thought the goal line stand was terrific.

On the Special Teams: Stephen Gostkowski's kickoffs into the end zone made the Jets have a 'long field' on nearly all of their possessions. Kevin Faulk had a couple of nice put returns to give the Pats a 'short field', which pays off in points.

On the Overall Performance: It was a solid game for the Patriots, but there is room for improvement on both offense and defense.

Note: Grogan's Grade Airs On "The Morning Buzz" every Monday at 7:30am, and appears on PatsFans.com every Tuesday Morning. Grogan played in 149 games with the Patriots from 1975-1990, and was named to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1995.

Patriots vs. Jets: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Patriots Game 2: Patriots 19 – Jets 10

Quarterback Matt Cassel was efficient running the offense in his first NFL start, leading the Patriots to a 19 - 10 win over Brett Favre and the New York Jets on Sunday.

The Good:

Quarterback Matt Cassel made his first career start completing 16-of-23 passes (69.6 percent) for 165 yards and a passer rating of 89.9.

Brandon Meriweather recorded his first career interception, picking off a Brett Favre pass at the Jets’ 44-yard line in the third quarter and returning it 13 yards to give the Patriots possession at the New York 31-yard line.

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski nailed all four of his field goals (21, 37, 28 and 27 yards) improving to a perfect 5-for-5 on the season. He tied his career high for field goals in a game, matching his 4-for-4 performance against Houston as a rookie on Dec. 17, 2006.

The Patriots defense held the Jets to a field goal after New York had gained a first-and-goal from the Patriots’ 3-yard line in the second quarter.

Adalius Thomas sacked Brett Favre for a loss of 20 yards in the fourth quarter, dragging Favre down at the Jets’ own seven-yard line.

Ellis Hobbs batted away a Brett Favre pass intended for Jerricho Cotchery at midfield in the first quarter to thwart what would have been a 30-yard gain.

All 11 of LaMont Jordan's carries came in the second half of the game. The formers Jet led five Patriots running backs with 62 yards, including some critical gains that allowed the team to control the time of possession battle (18:07 to 11:53) in the second half.

The Bad:

RB Laurence Maroney left early in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return until late in the fourth quarter. He finished 8 for 16 yards.

WR Randy Moss worked mostly against double coverage and was held to two catches for 22 yards

The Ugly:

Not everything was perfect for the Patriots. Brett Farve scrambled on third-and-9 from their 21, stepped up and threw across his body, finding Coles down the right sideline for 54 yards.

With the Jets facing a third-and-22 from their 11, Favre ran out of the pocket to his left and flung a pass to Chansi Stuckey for 28 yards.

Final Thoughts:

"A lot of people didn’t expect us to do much today, but these guys came in here today with a lot of determination. I thought they played a good solid game. Not perfect. There are still a lot of things we need to work on, but I was happy with the way they played." -- New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick

"At the end of the day, you've got to have more points than the other team and that's what we did, so I'm satisfied.” -- New England Quarterback Matt Cassel

“I thought Matt took care of the ball. It wasn’t perfect. He had some rough spots in there, but he did a good job making good decisions and didn’t put us in any bad situations, and made some good, positive players by managing the game well.” -- New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick

"To come in here, to this hostile environment, and win when everyone picked you to lose, is great. With all the stuff we had to go through and endure last week with Tom, this is a great victory." -- New England Patriots Safety Rodney Harrison

New England won its 21st straight regular-season game, and beat the Jets for the eighth straight time at the Meadowlands.

And then there were three! plus other news

Roster Moves: As expected, the Patriots have promoted quarterback Matt Gutierrez from the practice squad for Sunday's game against the Jets. If the Patriots didn't make the move, they would have entered with just Matt Cassel and Kevin O'Connell at quarterback. To make room for him on the roster, the team released WR C.J. Jones.

The Patriots have downgraded tight end Benjamin Watson (knee), wide receiver Sam Aiken (knee) and linebacker Eric Alexander (calf) from questionable to out for today's game against the New York Jets.

Wide Receiver Randy Moss, who had limited participation in practice Wednesday and Thursday, was not listed on the injury report.

Notable Quotes:

"I’d like to see a few games before I predict the rest of the year based on the injury to Tom Brady. But it’s amazing what this does especially for the short term. It intensifies the divisional rivalries like the Jets and New England Patriots. You know that the New England players and the coaches were hearing, ‘Well your season is over…The only reason you ever won was because of Tom Brady and it wasn’t about defensive play, or strategy, or coaching or nothing.’ So that’s what I’m going to look at in this game. Does it heighten what they want to prove to the world? You know football players always want to win, but sometimes there is nothing wrong with extra motivation. Like from the way you were treated by a team a year before and how they played against you. But now it’s not even the Jets that have gotten the Patriots riled up. It’s the natural reaction to the fact that so many people think they can’t sustain or hold on without Tom Brady . . . The word for Sunday’s Jets and Patriots game is passionate. We are going to see some raw emotion this weekend." -- CBS color analyst Phil Simms

"The Patriots really have had the upper hand on everybody in this division for quite a while," the New York Jets quarterback said Wednesday. "They've really dominated everyone, not just in this division. We'd like to change that." -- New York Jets QB Brett Farve

"I think the Patriots are still the team to beat 'til proven otherwise. We won one game, and we barely beat Miami ... One game doesn't make us the team to beat. I sure hope people don't feel that way." -- New York Jets QB Brett Farve

"Regardless of what you see and hear, Coach Belichick, our organization and our team are behind Matt Cassel. He's our quarterback now and we're going to go out there and try to make things happen. That's the best thing we can do." -- New England Patriots WR Randy Moss

Does Lighting Strike Twice for the Patriots?

For New England, it's time to finally learn if there's Life After Brady. I am sure the same question was raised about Bledsoe back in Week 3 of the 2001 season. Although much of the media has dropped the Patriots down in various rankings, this will only become more fuel to ignite the Patriots fire. The Patriots always play well when they have a chip on their shoulder, and the media is creating that chip! Brady is a definite loss to the Patriots, but that does not mean the Patriots season is over.

So can Cassel be successful in the Patriots system? The answer is yes!

•Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will spend as many extra hours as necessary getting Cassel ready from week to week. Cassel's downfall will not be a lack of preparation.

• Belichick will craft game plans around Cassel that will minimize his inexperience as much as possible. Expect to see the running game of Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan carry the offensive workload. It won't be Cassel's job to win games as much as not to lose them on turnovers or mistakes.

• Compared to the team Brady inherited from Bledsoe, Cassel will benefit from taking over a much more evolved offense. Cassel has had much more time to study and learn New England's offense compared to Brady's first starting experience. This is Cassel's fourth season compared to Brady who was only in his second year in New England's system when his starting opportunity arrived.

• Cassel is taking over the reins of the most prolific offense in NFL history, and he's doing it in a season in which the Patriots have the league's easiest schedule on paper. New England plays some really poor teams this year, facing the 49ers, Rams, Raiders, as well as two games against a Dolphins team that while improved, still has some work to do coming off that dreadful 1-15 finish of last year. Players like Moss and Welker will make Cassel shine.

• Cassel will still have access to Tom Brady, and his knowledge of the game. The biggest thing Brady can do for Cassel is to help him with maintaining the emotional equilibrium you need to play quarterback in this league. Nobody does that better than Brady, and he can help Cassel deal with the enormity of the job, and coping with the whole situation he has been thrust into. This is different from Bledsoe who was still fighting to regain his starting job back from Brady.

The Cassel era starts Sunday at the Meadowlands against the Jets...does lightning strike twice for the New England Patriots? Tune in and see...

Patriots Grade: New England vs. Kansas City

Week 1: New England vs. Kansas City

Grogan's Grade: Former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan provides weekly insights on the progress of the Patriots during the 2008 football season. Here are some snippets from week 1:

Was it a dirty hit [on Tom Brady]?

"No, I don't think so, he just kind of got knocked down and was trying to crawl towards Tom Brady to grab his legs, wrap him up and pull him down and unfortunately about that time Tom stepped forward and it was just an accident."

How will the Patriots offense work now that Tom Brady is hurt?

"Well, I think they won't change much on offense. I think they'll continue to do what they do well. Cassel's been practicing this offense for four years now so he knows what he has to do. I think the Jets will give a guy that hasn't played much a lot of different looks. They'll probably try to stop the run, they'll give him some strange exotic blitzes. Mangini's been around that offense. He knows what they try to do and how they'll try to do it, so there going to give him a lot of different looks and try to confuse him."

"They played a good football game, and they needed to. If Brady's out for the season, it is going to be far more challenging than it would have been without him. But this is still a team with a lot of talented football players and they're going to win their share of games and I think they can probably still be a playoff contender."

Patriots biggest weakness from week 1?

"I thought offensively they did a lot of nice things, [but] they turned the ball over twice early in the game when they could have really buried Kansas City and got them down quick."

"Defensively I was really disappointed in that big play at the end of the game. You just can't give up big plays to a mediocre offense at the end of a game. They came with a blitz and the safety overran a little bit. They're going to have to get that worked out. That secondary is still a work in progress."

Grogan’s Grade For Week 1:

OFFENSE: B-
DEFENSE: B+
SPECIAL TEAMS: A-
OVERALL: B+
GAME BALL: Matt Cassel

Note: Grogan's Grade Airs On "The Morning Buzz" every Monday at 7:30am, and appears on PatsFans.com every Tuesday Morning. Grogan played in 149 games with the Patriots from 1975-1990, and was named to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1995.

Let us not forget 911

They Were Our Neighbors

They were our neighbors,
Someone to whom we'd just say "hi."
Never did we ever think
The next day they would die.

We never took one last long look
Or gave an extra smile.
The attacks on September 11
Taught us to go that extra mile.

We'll never be able to hug them again
But now we can hug others.
And say an extra "I love you"
To our children, friends and mothers.

We miss our neighbors every day
And wish they were not gone.
But we'll cherish those that are still here
While we will move on.

--Copyright 2003 by Dawn Colclasure

Brady tore both ACL and MCL

After coach Bill Belichick announced Monday that Brady would miss the rest of the season, the team released a statement that did not provide details of Brady's injury. Speculation and educated guesses pointed toward an ACL tear, considering the ACL is the most commonly injured knee ligament.

NFL sources have now confirmed that Brady suffered a torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee last Sunday. Athletes typically sustain damage to the ACL and MCL when there is a direct hit to the outside of the knee, as there was when Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard hit Brady during the first quarter of the Patriots' 17-10 win at Gillette Stadium.

When Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer suffered a left knee injury in a similar manner to Brady during an AFC playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006, he tore the ACL and MCL, damaged cartilage, and dislocated his kneecap. Surgery was performed on Palmer's knee Jan. 10, two days after he was injured. He returned to action in an exhibition game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 28, 2006.

Without any setbacks or unexpected complications, Brady will be ready to return to the field next preseason. Quarterbacks typically respond well after ACL surgery, in time regaining the muscle strength and agility to perform as effectively as before the injury. The Patriot Nation wishes Tom Brady a speedy recovery!

Notes:

The Patriots signed QB Matt Gutierrez to their practice squad. His knowledge of the team's system made his a strong candidate to be resigned.

Former Patriots QB Doug Flutie's cell phone was a bit busier than normal after Tom Brady went down. "I had a bunch of friends call and say, 'Did they call? What's going on?' I said, 'Stick a fork in me, I'm done.' I think the last year I spent with the Patriots [in 2005] was kind of pushing it because my back is getting tight. I play old-man baseball now and have fun doing that."

Notable Quotes:

"He's still upbeat. You'd expect a guy to be down . . . he was more down on Sunday. We had a few conversations, a few texts. But he's the same old Tom Brady. It's uplifting, seeing him with a positive attitude, and that goes a long way." -- New England Patriots WR Randy Moss

"People sometimes lose sight that we're brothers, we're fathers, sons. They look at us like machines. A lot of times, people really don't consider that we're human-beings, we have feelings, it hurts." -- New Engand Patriots S Rodney Harrison

"The media has it correct that there never has been one injury, so early in the season, that has affected football and a team’s chance of winning more than the Tom Brady injury." -- Bodog sportsbook manager Richard Gardner

"Obviously, things are going to change in terms of his [Cassel] style versus Tom's style. You can't really replace a player of Tom's caliber, but I think that that offensive system is really loaded and very efficient." -- NY Jets Coach Eric Mangini

"You can't replace Tom. It's not going to happen. The guy has been outstanding, but you can overcome, and that was really my professional reaction. It's a shame, it's unfortunate but they'll be fine [the Patriots]. They've always been fine. When he comes back he'll be as good as ever." -- NY Jets QB Brett Farve

Farve vs Cassel just does not have the same ring as Farve vs Brady. In Bill we Trust...

Patriots in No Hurry to Sign a Quarterback

Quarterback Matt Cassel will start Sunday at the Meadowlands against the Jets. Rookie third-round pick Kevin O'Connell is the lone backup on the Patriots roster. And the mystery regarding whether the franchise will add a third quarterback continues to grow.

On a conference call, Belichick was asked if he could elaborate on reports that the team had free agent quarterbacks Chris Simms and Tim Rattay in for visits yesterday, but told them the situation changed and the visits weren't necessary. "They visited, but we didn't give them a physical, we didn't work them out," Belichick said. "I didn't even see them when they were here. But they did visit, they did come in, but we didn't end up doing anything with them. We sent them back." Well it looks like QB Chris Simm will be signing with Tennessee, so that will be another QB off the market for the Patriots.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen speculated on "Monday Night Countdown" that Patriots receiver Randy Moss may have put in a word for his former Vikings teammate, three-time Pro Bowler Daunte Culpepper, who retired Sept. 4 after no team made him an offer he deemed suitable as a free agent. But that also remains speculation.

With four starting Quarterbacks hurt this weekend, the list of available Quarterbacks is getting shorter and shorter. It would be nice to have some sort of Veteran quarterback presence to help Cassel, so maybe the Patriots will still bring one in.

But for the time being, the starting New England Patriot quarterback is now a guy that hasn't started a football game since before he went to his senior prom in High School.

In Bill We Trust...

Patriots: A Tale of Two Hits…

The NFL's officiating department has reviewed the Bernard Pollard hit that injured the left knee of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and has deemed it within the rules. NFL rules state, "no defensive player who has an unrestricted path to the quarterback may hit him flagrantly in the area of the knee(s) or below when approaching in any direction". However, the Pollard hit was deemed legal because "the defensive player was coming off and affected by a block by the offense", according to a league representative.

Many felt that this hit by Pollard was reminiscent to a hit by Nose tackle Vince Wilfork last season. Unlike Pollard though, Wilfork was fined $12,500 for the low hit to the left knee of Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman.

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork spoke passionately today about the Bernard Pollard hit that knocked Tom Brady out for the season:

“Last year, I was there, I was tripped up and falling and I still got fined and flagged for the same exact thing. But I was tripped up. I didn’t dive at anyone’s legs, I didn’t cut a running back getting to a quarterback. And when I got fined last year, they said I got flagged because you’re not allowed to hit a quarterback below the waist.”

“You saw what I had to go through, hitting the quarterback below the waist last year. It wasn’t my fault … but I got flagged, a 15-yard unsportsmanlike for hitting the quarterback and I got fined, no if’s, and’s or but’s about it. Like I said, it’s very interesting to see what the NFL is going to do. They know they got me last year. I’m going to be on this one.”

“Fair should be fair. They got me, point blank. I don’t want to get singled out. Don’t make me feel like I’m getting singled out. If you’re going to do a job, be consistent at what you do. This falls into the same category as mine, no if’s, and’s or but’s. He hit the quarterback below the waist. I hit a quarterback below the waist. I got fined. I got flagged. He wasn’t flagged. And from what I’m hearing, he didn’t get fined.”

When asked if he thought Pollard's hit on Brady was dirty, Belichick said, “Well, it doesn’t really matter what I think. The officials officiate the game. I’m sure they’ll handle it. We always taught our players that it’s their responsibility to hit the quarterback above the knees and below the shoulders.

Whether it was a clean or dirty hit does not change the end result: The Patriots will be without Tom Brady the entire 2008 season!

Patriots vs. Chiefs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Patriots Game 1: Patriots 17 – Chiefs 10

The Good:

In his first drive at quarterback in the first quarter, Matt Cassel directed a 10-play, 98-yard drive that ended in a 10-yard scoring strike to Randy Moss and a 7-0 Patriots lead.

Ellis Hobbs interception with 7:21 to play in the game came at the right time (stepped in front of a Damon Huard pass intended for Dwayne Bowe)

The defensive stand by the Patriots defense, coming up with four big plays around the five-yard line at the end of the game. Recently acquired DB Deltha O'Neal defended on Damon Huard's pass attempt to WR Dwayne Bowe on the final play of the game

Chris Hanson's 70-yard punt in the second quarter was the longest punt by a Patriot since 2001 and was his longest boot since 2005. Field position definitely helped in this game

With a 51-yard reception in the first quarter, WR Randy Moss upped his totals to four catches for 101 yards, and was a big factor in the passing attack

WR Randy Moss' TD was the 126th of his career, tying him with Jim Brown for eighth place for most TDs scored in NFL history.

New England has won 36 straight games at home when leading at the half.

The Bad:

Quarterback Tom Brady injured his left leg when Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard rolled into it during first-quarter action. Brady did not return to the game. He is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, September 8th. All speculation (according to Jay Glazer) is a torn ACL.

Fumble #1: The Patriots marched to the Kansas City 38 on their opening possession, but Patrick Surtain forced a Wes Welker fumble and safety Jarrad Page recovered for the Chiefs.

Fumble #2: Randy Moss corralled a 26-yard pass from Tom Brady, but in going to the ground on his own power, Moss fumbled the ball and Kansas City's Brandon Carr recovered at the Chiefs 16-yard line.

The Ugly:

Considering this was thought to be the mismatch of the week, and a Patriots blowout, the Patriots were lucky to walk away with 17 – 10 win. The New England Patriots are obviously a much different team without Tom Brady at the helm.

The Patriots have to shake the rust off and not turn the ball over so much.

Final Thoughts:

“I thought the team played well. I thought they played hard in all three phases of the game. We played hard in the kicking game, hard on defense and played tough on offense. It was not perfect. There were certainly many things we could have done better, but it was a little better than what Kansas City had, and Kansas City fought hard. They took us right down to the last play. Being able to make that stop there and get the last three points, which was big on the field goal kick by Stephen [Gostkowski]. The offense put us in a position to get a seven-point lead. That was huge too.” -- Coach Bill Belichick

"Any time you have a starter go down, no matter if it is your quarterback or anybody (else), I think it hurts. By being the face of the New England Patriots, and Tom being who he is, and the competitor that he is, it actually kind of hurts to be honest with you. I know the show must go on and hopefully Matt Cassel is ready to step in. From a team standpoint, we are ready to embrace him and let him lead us. -– Wide Receiver Randy Moss

“You never wish injury on anybody. Since I've been here and been around Tom, he's always popped back up. I didn't know what was going to go on. I just buckled my chinstrap and if that was what was going to be, then that's what it was going to be.” -– Backup Quarterback Matt Cassel


Heal Quickly Tom! Your Team needs you!!!

Patriots Nation in Shock: Brady Knocked Out of Game!

That whooshing sound heard from the direction of New England was the wind leaving the Patriot Nations sails. The cause: an injury to quarterback Tom Brady! Brady injured his left leg when Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard rolled into it early in the first quarter. Brady was attended to by members of the team's medical staff and then limped off the field. He then proceeded straight to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game.

This was Brady's 127th consecutive start, a streak which might end due to this injury. The extend of the injury is still unknown though, so there is a chance Brady could return next week. Getting information out of the Patriots organization though is like getting information out of the Pentagon. The Patriot Nation will just have to take a wait and see approach with regards to the injury.

So, while everyone speculates the extent of Brady's injury, the question that will be raised is if the play was dirty or not? The answer will depend on what side of the ball you are on.

“The play was not intentional. People can call me a dirty player, you can call me whatever you want to call me, it’s not a dirty play. When you have 230 pounds on your back, and you’re trying to go forward, things will happen. I saw the ball was still in his hands and I tried to get to him. I tried to get up and get to him. But I couldn’t get up, so I just tried to grab him. It was not an intentional play.” -- Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard

“I don’t really want to get into it, but me personally, I think it was dirty. Like I said, I didn’t really see anything; I was running down the field. When I came back in [and watched it], it looked dirty to me. I’ve never been a dirty player. I honestly don’t even know how to play dirty. I just play the game. Any time you see something like that, that looks foul, it looks dirty, it opens your eyes. So, me personally, it looked dirty.” -- Patriots Wide Receiver Randy Moss

"I talked to the ref and I don't think there was anything dirty about it. I think it's football. Things happen. You can't control what happened. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad." -- Patriots Center Dan Koppen

You make the call...

BTW, the Patriots did win the game 17 - 10 on the arm of backup QB Matt Cassel

Patriots: LET'S ROLL!

The Patriots 19 game regular season win streak meets the Chiefs nine game losing streak! If you believe Bill Belichick, then there is NO lingering effects felt from last seasons 18-1 hangover! This is a new season, and the Patriots are ready to roll. On paper, this is the mismatch of the week, even with the concerns regarding Tom Brady’s health.

You still have to like even an injured Tom Brady over Brodie Croyle, who is 0-6 as a starter. This game will be more about the Patriots stopping the KC running game lead by Larry Johnson, and exposing the Chiefs rookie secondary with a healthy dose of Moss and Welker. Maybe the Patriots will even establish a running game with of their own with Maroney, Jordan, and Morris just to eat up time off the clock!

Near the end of last season, many felt that the blueprint was laid out on how to beat the Patriots. You needed to have a speedy pass rushing attack. The Chiefs though do not have players like Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Michael Strahan. I am sure Tom Brady is happy that the Chiefs also traded away sack machine Jared Allen to the Vikings! Brady will still need to beware of former Louisiana State defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey though!

Brady will also most likely have one less weapon this weekend. Starting tight end Benjamin Watson's (knee injury) availability for Sunday's season opener looks bleak. He's been held out of practice this week. That would thrust third-year player David Thomas into a more prominent role. It will be interesting to see how well Thomas performs in the starting role.

It is hard to imagine the Patriots falling to the Chiefs week 1. Then again, no one had them falling to the Giants in the Super Bowl either! Heaven help the Patriots if they lose this one!

Point of Interest: Tom Brady's most important streak should remains alive this weekend: He has made 127 straight regular season and playoff starts, the third-longest among quarterbacks, trailing Brett Favre (272) and Peyton Manning (174).

Patriots: Oh Captain, My Captain!

The Patriots' 2008 captains were elected by their teammates this week:

Offense:

•QB Tom Brady
•LT Matt Light
•WR Randy Moss

Defense:

•LB Tedy Bruschi
•S Rodney Harrison
•LB Mike Vrabel
•NT Vince Wilfork

Special teams:

•LB Larry Izzo

This is Brady's seventh straight season as a captain. Light and Moss are first-time Patriots captains. Bruschi in his seventh season as a Patriots captain. Harrison will serve as a Patriots captain for the fifth time. Wilfork is a first-time captain. Izzo will serve as the Patriots’ special teams captain for the eighth straight season. -- Boston Globe

2005 Flashback: An injury report without Tom Brady!

It is hard to believe with all the stories surrounding Tom Brady and his health during the pre-season, that he is not listed on the Injury report. It must be a miracle!

For weeks it has been reported that Brady had a right foot injury, which in turn caused him to miss all four exhibition games. Yet again though, he is not on the injury report.

Yesterday's report stated Brady participated fully at practice, but still listed him with a shoulder and foot injury. Boy, what a difference a day makes.

Brady has had a shoulder injury listed since 2005. A 56-game span that he has been on the injury report, and yet started every game.

So what does this actually mean? Is Belichick up to his old injury report games?

LOOK OUT KC, TOM BRADY IS COMING!

Could be sloppy weather on Sunday in Foxboro

The National Weather Service today issued a hazardous weather outlook for this weekend, warning that the remnants of Hurricane Hanna could be passing through New England. Although the track of the storm is unclear, there is the possibility of gusty winds and heavy rainfall, and that could of course impact the conditions when the Patriots begin their regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs, on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. -- projo.com

Patriots Revolving TEs; Other Roster Moves

Tight end Tyson DeVree was released from the practice squad, tight end Stephen Spach has been signed to the 53-man roster, and tight end Jason Pociask has been released.

The Patriots also confirmed that punter Reggie Hodges was signed to the practice squad.

The Brady Question: To play or not to play?

Tom Brady declined to disclose what percentage healthy he is - "Coach hates percentages" - but he hopes it's good enough. He knows his team needs him and he knows better than to think the Patriots can just flip the switch when the games count for real. "I don't think we look at it like that," he said. "I know I don't look at it like that. I think the way you practice is usually the way you go out there and play."

Brady fully participated in the Patriots' practice on Wednesday, and coach Bill Belichick, speaking with Kansas City-based reporters, said "He's practicing and I expect he'll be ready to go." According to one reporter present on the call, Belichick was pressed further for more details about Brady, who did not take a snap in the preseason while suffering from what had been reported to be a deep bone bruise in his right foot. Belichick's response: "I expect him to be out there today and I expect he'll be out there the rest of the week."

Brady has been uncommonly durable since taking over for Drew Bledsoe during the 2001 season. He has started 126 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak in the NFL behind Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

"If it's up to me, I'm going to play," Brady said. "I'm always hoping I'm going to be out there. I'll be preparing the same way."

Another Patriots Perfect Season? Not Likely!

If you are a Patriots fan that thinks that New England will go 16-0 again, then this article is not for you. Last year was definitely something special, but there were some chinks in the amour by the end of the season that were exposed. I think the Super Bowl was a reflection of that. So how well will the Patriots do?

Sep 07 KC @ NE: KC is in a rebuilding year, and even with a rusty Brady, this one should be in the bag. The Patriots just do not lose the home opener.

Final Score: Patriots 28 - Chiefs 17

Sep 14 NE @ NYJ: Brett Farve is one of the greatest of the game, but it will not be enough to pull out a win over the Patriots. The Jets are definitely are a better team than past Jet teams, but it will not be enough, although Farve will test the Patriots secondary. Patriots win on the road.

Final Score: Patriots 27 - Jets 21

Sep 21 MIA @ NE: Tuna or no Tuna, the Fish are not beating the Patriots at home. Again, the Dolphins are a more improved team, but the Patriots are more than familiar with Pennington than to let him control this game.

Final Score: Patriots 35 - Dolphins 14

Bye Week: Early in the season, but this could be a good thing for Brady and his Ankle.

Oct 05 NE @ SF: Too bad the Patriots get an extra week to prepare for the 49ers. Why not teams like San Diego, Pittsburgh, or Indy? You just know Mike Martz is going to test the Patriots secondary early and often, and try to beat them though the air. Here is hoping that Belichick knew what he was doing when he let Samuel go.

Final Score: Patriots 31 49ers 14

Oct 12 NE @ SD: Two good teams; two good offenses; two good defenses. The Patriots play there second straight game on the road though while the Chargers have a chip on their shoulder concerning the playoffs last year. I do not think you will just see LT sitting there this time around. You have to go with the home team here, in an OT win.

Final Score: Patriots 21 - Chargers 24

Oct 20 DEN @ NE: The Broncos always seems to have the Patriots number whether it is at home or on the road. Not this time though. The Patriots rebound from their first loss of the season, and grind down the game clock with the running game to keep Cutler and company off the field.

Final Score: Patriots 26 – Broncos 10

Oct 26 STL @ NE: Second home game in a row. St Louis is far from being the greatest show on turf. Running Back Steve Jackson will have a good game, but Bulger will have a key turnover.

Final Score: Patriots 28 – Rams 17

Nov 02 NE @ IND: The Patriots go on the road again to the new Indy Stadium. A motivated Colts team comes out to play with Addia, Manning, and Wayne having a stellar game for the home crowd.

Final Score: Colts 24 – Patriots 17

Nov 09 BUF @ NE: Starting to get cold in New England and the running game is warming up. An improved Buffalo defense tries to control the game by controlling Brady, but the Patriots offense outscores the Buffalo Offense easily.

Final Score: Patriots 31 – Buffalo 14

Nov 13 NYJ @ NE: Different game, same result as the Patriots roll over Farve and company. Thomas Jones tests the Patriots defense, but the defense holds strong.

Final Score: Patriots 24 – Jets 14

Nov 23 NE @ MIA: There was a time when the Patriots could not win in Miami. Those days are long gone though. Miami starts QB Chad Henne.

Final Score: Patriots 28 – Dolphins 10

Nov 30 PIT @ NE: If this was a home game for the Steelers, I might lean towards a Steelers win. The Steelers are going to put the Patriot secondary to the test. Look for both teams to air it out, November or not!

Final Score: Patriots 31 – Steelers 28

Dec 07 NE @ SEA: Do not overlook the Seahawks at home with the Patriots traveling across country.

Final Score: Patriots 24 – Seahawks 21

Dec 14 NE @ OAK: Oakland continues to struggle, the Patriots roll on.

Final Score: Patriots 31 – Raiders 13

Dec 21 ARI @ NE: Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow. Whether it is Warner or Leinart, it should not matter at Gillette Stadium in December. Patriots win it on the ground.

Final Score: Patriots 23 – Arizona 14

Dec 28 NE @ BUF: Two cold weather teams battling it out on the last game of the regular season. With no records to set, and a first round bye already locked, the Patriots rest most of their starters.

Final Score: Patriots 10 – Buffalo 17 (Note: Coach B might want to go perfect in the division, and end the season on a winning note, thus playing the starters the entire game!)

On paper, the Patriots look to have a favorable schedule, especially playing in the AFC East and drawing the NFC West. Of course it could be very possible for the Patriots to go 16 – 0 again, but not likely. The secondary still has a big question mark, and teams will put it to the test. A record of 13 – 3 seems to be more than doable with their schedule though.

If Brady gets hurt at all this season, then all bets are off though!

Patriots QB Brady Is Ready To Play Vs. Chiefs

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady is ready to play in the opener but stopped short Monday of saying he would. "If it's up to me, there's no question" Brady said. "I've been getting progressively better over the past couple of weeks. I'm excited. I'm excited to start the year." Brady stretched and did agility drills with his teammates during the first 15 minutes of practice.

Patriots still making Roster Moves!

You just knew that the Patriots needed to address the CB position. They did this by signing free-agent cornerback Deltha O'Neal. O'Neal, 31, is a two-time Pro Bowler in his ninth NFL season, having played in 116 games with 75 starts for the Denver Broncos (2000-03) and Cincinnati Bengals (2004-07). The 5-foot-11-inch, 194-pound cornerback has recorded 358 career tackles (289 solo), one sack, 31 interceptions for 403 yards and three touchdowns, 106 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. As a returner, he has totaled 57 kickoff returns for 1,274 yards (22.4 avg.) and a touchdown, and 136 punt returns for 1,368 yards (10.1 avg.) and two touchdowns. Last season with Cincinnati, O'Neal played in 16 games with eight starts and totaled 56 tackles (43 solo), one interception, 16 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. This is a good singing for the Patriots.

To make room for O'Neal, the team released tight end Stephen Spach (just knew they would not carry four tight ends).

The Patriots also announced the signing of guard Jacob Bender and tight end Tyson DeVree to the practice squad, and confirmed that tight end Jason Pociask and offensive tackle Mark LeVoir were claimed on waivers. Pociask and LeVoir are now on the 53-man active roster.

More Patriot Roster Moves...

The Patriots have released veteran safety John Lynch. This move might not be permanent though. This could be a situation where Lynch is not kept on the Patriots' roster for the opening week when salaries for veterans would be guaranteed, before returning to the club after the first game.

The Patriots have released Wide Receiver Chad Jackson. With Jabar Gaffney seizing the role of No. 3 receiver, and receiver/returner C.J. Jones making the 53-man roster, Jackson was apparently deemed expendable.

The Patriots have claimed tight end Jason Pociask off waivers from the Jets. Now the The Patriots have four tight ends on the starting roster including Benjamin Watson, David Thomas and Stephen Spach. Doubt Pociask and Spach both make the roster.

The Patriots have claimed offensive tackle Mark LeVoir off waivers from the St. Louis Rams.

The Patriots look to be in the market for a guard. The team put in waiver claims on two guards (Scott Young and Andy Alleman) but those players went to other teams (Young to Cleveland, Alleman to Miami).

Note: Teams with a lower record receive priority on waiver claims. Since the Patriots were 16-0 last season, they are 32nd of 32 teams on the priority order.