Here are the injured Patriots for the tilt against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday night.
Out
OLB Shawn Crable (shin)
RB Sammy Morris (knee)
CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring)
RB LaMont Jordan (calf)
WR Matthew Slater (ankle)
Questionable
LB Eric Alexander (hamstring)
DE Jarvis Green (ankle)
CB Ellis Hobbs (shoulder
OT Nick Kaczur (ankle)
According to Reiss' Pieces, all questionable players were limited in their participation in practice on Friday. Jordan's return will bolster our running game, while Hobbs being able to go would cause a sigh of relief from Patriots fans across New England
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Friday, October 31, 2008
Patriots Injury Report: Week 9 vs Colts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
NFL Beatpaths: Week 8
Pretty crazy graph this week, which shows just how unpredictable the NFL has been this year. Philadelphia really made a move this week, and has tons of beatpaths. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Week 9 NFL Power Rankings
Check out the NFL Power Rankings Week 9 for 2009 as well.
NFL Power Rankings for Week 9 are now up, with a Halloween Theme. Enjoy!
The Apples - Who wants health food on Halloween? Unless it is covered in caramel, passing out fruit is bush-league. These NFL Apples have went bad.
32. Detroit Lions
31. Cincinatti Bengals
30. Kansas City Chiefs
29. Oakland Raiders
28. San Francisco 49ers
27. Seattle Seahawks
26. St. Louis Rams
25. Houston Texans
The Tootsie Rolls - They don't taste bad, but it's pretty dang chincy if you ask me. These teams are almost there, but not doing quite enough.
24. Minnesota Vikings
23. Miami Dolphins
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
21. Cleveland Browns
20. New York Jets
19. Baltimore Ravens
18. Denver Broncos
17. San Diego Chargers
The Candy Bar - A solid choice, I was always a fan of the Caramellos. Unfortunately, you rarely got the full-size bar, and these teams sometimes don't play for the full 60 minutes.
16. Indianapolis Colts
15. New Orleans Saints
14. Atlanta Falcons
13. Arizona Cardinals
12. Chicago Bears
11. Green Bay Packers
10. Tampa Bay Bucs
9. Dallas Cowboys
The Cash - Didn't you love that Doctor's house that always gave out money instead of candy? Always the best house to hit twice. These teams have the diploma on the wall.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Washington Redskins
6. Buffalo Bills
5. New England Patriots
4. Carolina Panthers
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. New York Giants
1. Tennessee Titans
Last Weeks Power Rankings
Check out other NFL Power Rankings for Week 9:
Sports Dollar
My Sports Rumors
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Patriots Week 8: Three Up, Three Down
Three Up
Adalius Thomas- Two sacks for AD were huge in flipping the field position battle.
Steven Gostkowski- Great on field goals, but his high, booming kickoffs had Dante Hall bottled up inside the 15 on multiple occasions.
Richard Seymour- That is the Big Sey that we remember, playing nasty and knocking people over with reckless abandon.
Three Down
Terrence Wheatley- He looked genuinely scared of tackling anyone out there, and unless you are Deion Sanders, that is unacceptable.
Hands- Welker and Faulk dropping certain first-downs nearly cost us the game.
Injuries- Seriously, I think we've had enough of them. However, the last time the Patriots had this many injuries I think they won the Superbowl. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
NFL Midseason: Nintendo Awards
After eight of the most entertaining weeks of NFL Football that we've ever seen, we're going to use some of the most entertaining Nintendo games of all time to help us hand out some mid-season awards. We're very sorry that we couldn't fit RBI Baseball into this, we know it belongs.
The Double Dragon Award - Best RB Tandem
Winner: Lendale White and Chris Johnson
We've heard lots of cliches for big and small back tandems, but this one that we heard for White and Johnson is our favorite: The Meat and The Sauce.
Honorable Mention: Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood
The Duck Hunt Award - Worst Quarterbacking
Winner: Jon Kitna and Dan Orlovsky
These two really deserve the award. After Orlovsky's safety dance, and a combined zero wins, there really wasn't another choice.
Honorable Mention: Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, and Tyler Thigpen
Punch Out Award - Best Knockout
Winner: Eric Smith's hit on Anquan Boldin
Although Smith was fined on the play, we didn't feel like it was dirty. What it was, was a huge freaking hit.
Honorable Mention: Steve Smith
Tecmo Superbowl Award - Best Game Ever (of 2008)
Winner: Indianapolis Colts versus Houston Texans
An incredible comeback by the Colts, capped by one of the sickest catches ever, courtesy of Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning.
Honorable Mention: Arizona Cardinals overtime victory over the Cowboys
Kid Icarus Award - Flew Too High in Preseason Rankings
Winner: Houston Texans
Many "experts", including Fox Sports, ESPN, and yours truly all picked the Texans to make the playoffs. Our bad.
Honorable Mention: San Diego Chargers
Excitebike Award - Amazing, But Tends to Overheat
Winner: Michael Turner
Games of 220, 104, and 121 yards followed by games of 42, 56, and 54 yards respectively.
Honorable Mention: Wildcat Offense
Paperboy Award - Overcoming Obstacles and Still Bringing It
Winner: Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner has been through a lot of highs and lows during his career. Each day, he continues to work hard and exhibit a team-first attitude that has helped the Cardinals start the year out at 4-3.
Honorable Mention: Kerry CollinsMore NE Patriots Draft:
The Office: Sports Edition
NBA Mock Draft Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
NFL Draft Stock Report 7.0
Stock Rising - Knowshon Moreno and Matt Stafford
This Georgia duo asserted themselves as the best in the nation at their respective positions in their big win over the LSU Tigers.
Stock Rising - Hunter Cantwell
Louisville's QB led the Cardinals to an impressive victory over South Florida, throwing for 200+ and 2 scores.
Stock Falling - Chris "Beanie" Wells had a miserable day against the Penn State Nittany Lions, gaining 55 yards on 22 carries.
Stock Falling - Darius Hill
Ball State's impressive TE has had two disappointing games in a row, catching only one ball for 5 yards against Eastern Michigan. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Patriots Inactives: Week 8
The following Patriots will be inactive for today's game against the St. Louis Rams:
WR Matthew Slater
CB Lewis Sanders
RB LaMont Jordan
RB Sammy Morris
LB Eric Alexander
RT Nick Kaczur
DL Jarvis Green
LB Shawn Crable
BenJarvus Green-Ellis looks to get the start today with Morris and Jordan on the shelf. With Nick Kaczur out again this week, Mark Levoir should get the nod as well.
On the Rams front, Steven Jackson will be inactive today due to his thigh injury. Adam Carriker will also not play. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Patriots Injury Report: Week 8
The following Patriots are listed on Friday's Injury Report:
Doubtful:
LB Eric Alexander (hamstring)
LB Shawn Crable (shin)
RB LaMont Jordan (calf)
RB Sammy Morris (knee)
CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring)
Questionable:
DE Jarvis Green (ankle)
T Nick Kaczur (ankle)
WR/S/KR Matthew Slater (ankle)
Unless things change drastically, expect BenJarvus Green-Ellis to get the majority of the first and second down carries during the game against St. Louis.
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Thursday, October 23, 2008
Morris May Miss 3 Weeks
According to Adam Schefter of NFL.com, Sammy Morris' injury will keep him out of the next two to three games. This is bad news for the Patriots, as they just put Laurence Maroney on IR, and Lamont Jordan is still hurt. The team that once had six quality running backs on the roster is down to two tailbacks and a fullback: Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Heath Evans.
If the Patriots choose to make do with what they have, expect to see the Patriots use the short pass and screen pass in lieu of using the power running game. The following "street" free-agents would be available if the Patriots wanted to make an addition. (2007 teams in parentheses)
Marcel Shipp (ARI)
Musa Smith (BAL)
Kenton Keith (IND)
Ryan Moats (PHI)
LaBrandon Toefield (JAC)
Mike Bell (DEN)
Ron Dayne (God Help Us) Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Patriots Spotlight: Gary Guyton
While rookie Jerod Mayo is deservedly garnering national headlines for his astounding play this year, another first-year player is quietly building an impressive presence for the Patriots. Gary Guyton, an undrafted free-agent from Georgia Tech, played in just over half of the defensive snaps during Monday's win against the Denver Broncos. Guyton was in on 31 of 60 snaps, while Tedy Bruschi was in on only 29. Guyton tied his career high with 4 tackles, and now has 11 total on the year.
Guyton has excelled in the nickel, dime, and speed packages that the Patriots have employed this year, as covering tight ends and running backs isn't too much to ask for the former Yellow Jacket.
Typically for the Patriots, college DE's end up playing OLB in New England, while college OLB's end up playing ILB. After running a 4.45 forty yard dash, best at the NFL Combine for linebackers, the Patriots knew that they would have a speedy prospect that had the ability to play inside. When Tedy Bruschi decides to ride off into the sunset, expect Guyton to be there to replace him. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Patriots Week 7: Three Up, Three Down
Three Up
Run Blocking - Sammy Morris made the Broncos look bad, but it was the o-line that opened up some gaping holes.
Randy Moss - The two TD's were great, but seeing Randy excited and getting the crowd pumped up was a sight for sore eyes.
Ellis Hobbs - Continuing to improve, holding Brandon Marshall in check throughout the game.
Three Down
Pass Protection - Matt Cassel needs to get rid of the ball earlier, but he needs another half-second.
Vince Wilofrk- Keep your emotions in check after the whistle, let them loose in between them.
Not Jumping on the Ball - It took a rookie (Jerod Mayo) to finally jump on the ball after Andre Hall's second fumble. Quit going for SportsCenter guys. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
NFL Beatpaths: Week 7
It appears that the Detroit Lions have been quarantined to avoid spreading the contagion. The NFC South is starting to show some dominance of the Beatpath graph. As always, for more NFL fun, visit the Beatpaths website. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Rodney Harrison Injury
According to Reiss' Pieces, Rodney Harrison will miss the rest of the year with a torn quadricep muscle. Since Harrison is in the last year of his contract and on the wrong side of 35, all signs point to this being the end of a historic career.
Harrison is the first and only player to be in the NFL's version of the 30/30 club, tallying 30+ sacks and 30+ interceptions during his 15-year career.
The future hall-of-famer was chasing Jay Cutler in the third quarter when his leg buckled. He was carted off to resounding applause and support from the crowd and his teammates. Harrison waved to the crowd and pointed to his teammates, spurring them on to victory.
It's been a pleasure. Please join ESPN NFL Countdown and drop the hammer on Tom Jackson and company. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Week 8 NFL Power Rankings
Here are the NFL Power Rankings for Week 8.
The Scouts: These guys are concentrating on scouting for the NFL Draft at this point in the year.
32. Lions
31. Bengals
30. Chiefs
29. Seahawks
28. Niners
27. Texans
26. Raiders
25. Vikings
The Pretenders: The Kool-aid drinking fans still think they are going to the Superbowl, but a fatal flaw will not allow that to happen.
24. Rams
23. Dolphins
22. Jets
21. Browns
20. Broncos
19. Chargers
18. Cowboys
17. Ravens
The Contenders: A few balls haven't bounced their way, but these teams look amazing when they get hot.
16. Eagles
15. Colts
14. Saints
13. Cardinals
12. Falcons
11. Patriots
10. Jaguars
9. Packers
The Top Dogs: The elite of the league, these teams should be there come January. Any given Sunday, each of these teams looks like the best in the NFL.
8. Bears
7. Redskins
6. Panthers
5. Bucs
4. Giants
3. Bills
2. Steelers
1. TitansCheck out more NFL Power Rankings
NFL Power Rankings from Cover Two
My Sports Rumors
The Sports Dollar Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Laurence Maroney placed on IR
These two will be hanging out for the next few weeks.The Patriots placed running back Laurence Maroney on injured reserve today. Maroney has been plagued by injuries for his whole career with the Patriots, lately a problem with his shoulder.
This leaves the Patriots with a stable of running backs that include Sammy Morris, Lamont Jordan, Heath Evans, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
In other news, offensive guard Stephen Neal has been activated from the Physically unable to perform list, while G/C Dan Connolly has been released. Look for Neal to bolster a line that has given up more sacks this year than the Patriots gave up all last year.
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Saturday, October 18, 2008
NFL Draft Stock Report 6.0
Stock Rising
Joaquin Iglesias - Won't be coming out this year, but his near 200 yard performance shows signs of what is to come.
Stock Rising (Again)
Shonn Greene - Just 25 behind Javon Ringer in yards (1154 to 1179), but miles behind in hype.
Stock Falling
Travis Beckum - His QB's aren't doing him any favors, but needs to beat his defender more often.
Stock Falling
Chase Daniel - Couldn't move his offense against the Longhorns and failed to convert on they money downs. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Eli Manning is God
Yes, you read the title correctly. After watching the video below, Roger Goodell should just give the New York Giants the Lombardi Trophy. I think I wan't to cry.
That was from a real Madden '09 game; who knew Eli had it in him? Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Patriots Injury Report: Week 7
It seems like it happens each year. One or two positions get singled out for the injury bug and players start going down in droves. In 2004 and 2005 it was the defensive backfield, culminating in Earthwind Moreland and Hank Poteat playing extended time in Superbowl games.
This year it looks like it will be the offensive line. With Stephen Neal on PUP, and tackles Nick Kaczur and Matt Light not at 100%, it is very possible that our offensive line might include the names of Wesley Britt, Billy Yates, and Mark Levoir. Britt was originally a 5th Rounder of the Chargers who let him go, while Yates and Levoir were UDFA's that came to the Patriots via the practice squad. Hopefully Matt Light and crew can stay healthy this week.
Here is the injury list released by the Patriots on Friday:
Doubtful
LB Eric Alexander (hamstring)
DE Jarvis Green (right ankle)
RB LaMont Jordan (right calf)
OT Nick Kaczur (right ankle)
RB Laurence Maroney (doubtful)
WR Kelley Washington (right ankle)
CB Jonathan Wilhite (flu-like symptoms) Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
2009 Free Agency: Patriot Targets
"I want this much money."Cornerbacks
Nnamdi Asomugha - Oakland's franchise player won't come cheap, but he is the best in the business. He can truly shut down the opponents #1 receiver.
Chris Gamble - This former Buckeye would be a good addition to a defensive backfield that needs some playmakers.
Linebackers
Karlos Dansby - Arizona's linebacker has experience in the 3-4 defense and still has time to grow in our defense.
Channing Crowder - We love this Dolphin for his skills, but his aptitude for learning a defense is reportedly very low. Perhaps we shied away from him in the draft for this reason.
Offensive Line
Mark Columbo - This Cowboy tackle is a nasty son of a gun. He can shut down rush ends and run-blocks well.
We'll be back later to look at some 2009 NFL Draft targets.
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
NFL Beatpaths: Week 6
A pretty crazy week makes for an even crazier graph. The Jets and Redskins have a lot of beatpaths working for them, helped out by the Cardinals sneaking by the Cowboys. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Week 7 NFL Power Rankings
Here are the NFL Power Rankings for Week 7.
The Scouts: These guys are concentrating on scouting the NCAA prospects at this point in the year.
32. Lions
31. Chiefs
30. Bengals
29. Rams
28. Raiders
27. Seahawks
26. Niners
25. Texans
The Pretenders: The Kool-aid drinking fans still think they are going to the Superbowl, but a fatal flaw will not allow that to happen.
24. Dolphins
23. Vikings
22. Ravens
21. Browns
20. Jets
19. Packers
18. Eagles
17. Panthers
The Contenders: A few balls haven't bounced their way, but these teams look amazing when they get hot.
16. Bears
15. Falcons
14. Patriots
13. Redskins
12. Cardinals
11. Broncos
10. Cowboys
9. Bucs
The Top Dogs: The elite of the league, these teams should be there come January. Any given Sunday, each of these teams looks like the best in the NFL.
8. Chargers
7. Colts
6. Saints
5. Bills
4. Jaguars
3. Giants
2. Steelers
1. TitansCheck out more NFL Power Rankings
The Sports Dollar
My Sports Rumors Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Patriots Week Six: Three Up, Three Down
Three Up
Sammy Morris - Had an okay day running and a good day catching the ball, laying out Antonio Cromartie on one reception. Also improved his blitz pickup.
San Diego Cheerleaders - No comment.
Lonnie Paxton - The only Patriot with no mistakes this year.
Three Down
Offensive Line - They're beat up, but Matt Cassel just didn't have a chance to make a read out there.
Josh McDaniels - I've gotta disagree with the play calling from the 1-yard line in a 10-3 game.
Deltha O'Neal - Got lit up like a Christmas tree by a guy that had zero catches coming into the game. (Malcolm Floyd) Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Patriots Inactives: Week 6
The following Patriots will be inactive against the Chargers Sunday night:
RB LaMont Jordan
RB Laurence Maroney
C/G Dan Connolly
OT Wesley Britt
OLB Shawn Crable
LB Eric Alexander
WR Kelley Washington
BenJarvus Green-Ellis is filling in at RB tonight. He was recently activated from the practice squad. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
NCAA Football Prospect Anagrams
If you're a loyal reader of NE Patriots Draft, you know that we love anagrams here. We did some NFL Quarterback Anagrams back in September, and now we have some NCAA prospects to anagram-ize. By the way, eleven plus two = twelve plus one.
Hectic Beer Alarm - Michael Crabtree
That's what the opposing defensive coordinator hears after playing him.
Aching Bruins - Brian Cushing
There will be a few of them after Cushing crushes them.
Mesa Cyclone - Lesean McCoy
This guy runs like one of them, twisting and turning.
Weenie Balls - Beanie Wells
Keep your butt on the field Chris.
Most Fat Draft - Matt Stafford
One lucky NFL team will have one if they pick Stafford
It Injures Salaam - James Laurinaitis
Or any other running back for that matter.
May Rage Luau - Rey Maualuga
He might rage some other stuff too, this guy is a beast.
Drains Them - Andre Smith
This big OT saps the energy out of d-linemen.
N.E. Turbojet - Joe Burnett
The Patriots wish they could have this speedster on their team right now.
Troy Slam Ya - Taylor Mays
This man of Troy is a huge hitter.More NE Patriots Draft:
Wide Receiver Species
Googling the NFL Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
NFL Draft Stock Report 5.0
Stock Rising: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Gresham's play against the Longhorns, 5 catches for 90 yards and a TD, is just one more solid performance
Stock Rising: Nic Moore, WR, Toledo
Moore lit up the Michigan Wolverines, snagging 20 receptions for over 160 yards.
Stock Falling: Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana
Middleton has been a disappointment this year, as he only has 1 sack through 7 games, compared to 16 last year.
Stock Falling: Cullen Harper, QB, Clemson
Harper, pre-season ACC Player of the Year, was benched this week. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Patriots Injury Report: Week 6
The following Patriots were listed on Friday's Injury Report.
Doubtful:
LB Eric Alexander (hamstring)
RB LaMont Jordan (calf)
WR Kelley Washington (ankle)
Questionable:
RB Laurence Maroney (shoulder)
CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring) Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
2008 NFL Trade Deadline Looming
Update: Roy Williams will be traded to the Cowboys for a 1st, 3rd and 6yh Round Draft Pick, according to Adam Schefter.
When is the 2008 NFL Trade Deadline you ask? This year it will fall on Tuesday, October 14th. While trades rarely happen at the NFL Trade Deadline, there are some players that would like to be in different situations and contenders that need to find that missing piece.
Let's take a look at a few deals that make sense (and some that don't), and check where Roy Williams will be stiffing delivery people next.
Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs) for Giants 3rd and 5th Round Draft Picks
Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs) for Patriots 3rd and 5th Round Draft Picks
Roy Williams (Lions) for Seahawks 2nd and 3rd Round Draft Picks
Demarcus Ware (Cowboys) for Roy Williams (Lions) (proposed by Lions)
Chad Johnson (Bengals) for Raiders 2nd Round Draft Pick
Lito Sheppard (Eagles) for Chad Johnson (Bengals)
Laurence Maroney (Patriots) for Lito Sheppard (Eagles)
Laurence Maroney (Patriots) for Cardinals 2nd Round Draft PickCheck out More NE Patriots Draft:
NFL Power Rankings
NFL Draft Stock Report
Add any trades you'd like to see below -- be they realistic or not. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
2008 NFL Draft: Redo
We're only through the first quarter of the 2008 NFL season, but here is our take as to how the top half of the first round of the draft would play out if it happened today.
We would have a few newcomers to the top 16 in Chris Johnson, Brandon Flowers, Matt Forte, and Desean Jackson. These three have been spectacular at their positions for their teams, and Flowers, who has played well for the lowly Chiefs, would also fill a need for the Patriots. Close misses were Felix Jones and Eddie Royal.
Derrick Harvey, Jerod Mayo, Branden Albert, all would fall into the bottom half of the first round as they have been good but not amazing. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie would probably go late in the second round, as he has been just dreadful.
1. Miami Dolphins - Matt Ryan (Jake Long)
2. St. Louis Rams - Jake Long (Chris Long)
3. Atlanta Falcons - Glenn Dorsey (Matt Ryan)
4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden (Same)
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Long (Glenn Dorsey)
6. New York Jets - Chris Johnson (Vernon Gholston)
7. New Orleans Saints - Sedrick Ellis (Same)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Vernon Gholston (Derrick Harvey)
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Jonathan Stewart (Keith Rivers)
10. New England Patriots - Brandon Flowers (Jerod Mayo)
11. Buffalo Bills - Leodis McKelvin (Same)
12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady (Same)
13. Carolina Panthers - Matt Forte (Jonathan Stewart)
14. Chicago Bears - Chris Williams (Same, Barring Injury)
15. Kansas City Chiefs - Desean Jackson (Branden Albert)
16. Arizona Cardinals - Keith Rivers (D. Rodgers-Cromartie)
Check out part two of the NFL Draft Redo.More NE Patriots Draft
Patriots Mock Draft Database
NBA Mock Draft 2009 Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
2008 NFL Draft Redo: Part Two
Check out part one of the 2008 NFL Draft Redo.
Newcomers: Steve Slaton, Eddie Royal, Philip Merling
17. Detroit Lions - Branden Albert (Gosder Cherilus)
18. Baltimore Ravens - Joe Flacco (Same)
19. Carolina Panthers - Jeff Otah (Same)
20. Tampa Bay Bucs - Aqib Talib (Same)
21. Atlanta Falcons - Gosder Cherilus (Sam Baker)
22. Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones (Same)
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Steve Slaton (Rashard Mendenhall)
24. Tennessee Titans - Jerod Mayo (Chris Johnson)
25. Dallas Cowboys - Derrick Harvey (Mike Jenkins)
26. Houston Texans - Sam Baker (Duane Brown)
27. San Diego Chargers - Rashard Mendenhall(Antoine Cason)
28. Seattle Seahawks - Eddie Royal (Lawrence Jackson)
29. San Francisco 49ers - Duane Brown (Kentwan Balmer)
30. New York Jets - Dustin Keller (Same)
31. New York Giants - Philip Merling (Kenny Phillips) Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
NFL Beatpaths: Week 5
Two things really stand out this week in the beatpaths graph: The relative weakness of the AFC North and South, and the relative strength of the AFC East. The Titans only having Beathpaths to really bad teams (plus the Colts) hurts the South, while the Jets having a Beatpath to the Cardinals, who look pretty good now, is helping the East.
Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Week 6 NFL Power Rankings
The Sports Blog NFL Power Rankings will be up shortly, in the meantime, here are our Week 6 rankings.
Who would have thought the AFC East would be one of the top 3 divisions in the league? The Dolphins are playing real well, and the Jets are always dangerous. Nobody wants to play the Bills or the Patriots at home in the cold. Should be a great battle.
1. Titans
2. Giants
3. Redskins
4. Cowboys
5. Steelers
6. Panthers
7. Ravens
8. Patriots
9. Broncos
10. Bears
11. Jaguars
12. Bills
13. Eagles
14. Cardinals
15. Colts
16. Vikings
17. Saints
18. Bucs
19. Dolphins
20. Jets
21. Falcons
22. Chargers
23. Packers
24. Texans
25. Niners
26. Raiders
27. Browns
28. Seahawks
29. Bengals
30. Chiefs
31. Rams
32. LionsCheck out these Power Rankings as well-
The Sports Dollar Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Patriots Week Five: Three Up, Three Down
Three Up
Matt Cassel/Randy Moss Combo - Finally starting to hook up for big plays and looking like they have some chemistry.
Speed Package - Confused the Niners for most of the second half, look for this to be employed more often.
Kevin Faulk - Wow. Faulk consistently gets the first down whenever the Patriots need it.
Three Down
Laurence Maroney x 3 - Maroney gets all three thumbs down, even though Chris Hanson deserves one, for running scared. If your shoulder is hurt, don't play. If it is fine, you have to lower your pads and get the first down. Marion Barber will be calling you. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Patriots Speed Package
The Speed Package - Coming to an NFL Field near you.The Patriots unleashed the latest work of defensive guru Bill Belichick on Sunday. They employed the Speed Package, which the announcing geniuses never even mentioned during the game, to a fair amount of success, holding the 49ers to under 200 yards and 8 first downs-2 on penalties. The Patriots also picked off J.T. O'Sullivan three times.
The defensive alignment was a 1-4-6, featuring Jarvis Green as the lone defensive linemen with Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods and Gary Guyton as linebackers. Defensive backs Deltha O'Neal, Brandon Meriweather , Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, Jonathan Wilhite and Ellis Hobbs made up the backfield. Their three first-round defensive linemen (Ty Warren, Richard Seymour, and Vince Wilfork) all saw extended periods of inactivity.
The Patriots have employed the Cali package (2-4-5 set) before, using it for a large portion of the Superbowl played against the Philadelphia Eagles; The 1-4-6, however, seems to be a new package for the defense, and an exciting one at that. Let's hope it can stop the Chargers just as well.
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Patriots Inactives: Week 5
The following players are inactive for the Patriots:
WR Maurice Price
G Dan Connolly
OT Wesley Britt
OLB Shawn Crable
CB Lewis Sanders
LB Eric Alexander
WR Kelley Washington
Matt Gutierrez – 3rd QB
The following 49ers are inactive as well:
CB Reggie Smith
LB Roderick Green
LB Ahmad Brooks
C Cody Wallace
OT Jonas Jennings
LB Manny Lawson
CB Shawntae Spencer
Jamie Martin – 3rd quarterback Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
NFL Draft Stock Report: 4.0
Stock Exploding:
Colt McCoy - 80% accuracy is just absurd. Granted, they haven't been playing the toughest schedule, but Vince Young couldn't hit 80% in pre-game.
Stock Rising:
Michael Crabtree - It doesn't seem like his stock could go much higher, but another solid performance, 9 catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns, just adds to his résumé.
Stock Falling:
Javon Ringer - Averaging under 4 yards per carry against Iowa wasn't what this Heisman candidate had in mind. Ringer was routinely stopped with the first contact.
Stock Falling:
Morgan Trent - Hasn't played up to expectations this year, and got dusted by Aurelius Benn and the rest of the Illini. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Patriots Injury Report: Week 5
The following Patriots are doubtful for Sunday's game against San Francisco. None of them participated in practice on Friday.
LB Eric Alexander (hamstring)
CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring)
WR Kelley Washington (right ankle)
On the Niners side of the ball, it appears that linebacker Manny Lawson will miss the game, along with starting tackle Jonas Jennings. Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
National Geographic: Wide Receiver Species
For seven months, the intense sun has beaten down on the turf and grass of these NFL fields, but in October the air fills with the promise of glory, riding on a cool breeze. As we gaze out upon the verdant field, we see many different species of the elusive NFL receiver. Ah yes, here come some now.
Eldoradus Ochocincus
Description: Seems to communicate in own language that is hard to understand, tends to mark territory with elaborate dances.
Species Variations: Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, Plaxico Burress
Ancestor: Keyshawn Johnson
Freakazoidus Athleticus
Description: Possible mutant species that exhibits remarkable physical traits and abilities that border on the impossible.
Species Variations: Dwayne Bowe, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson
Ancestor: Randy Moss
Sparticus Minisculis
Description: Smallish, with no regard for their own well-being, often found running from predators.
Species Variations: Wes Welker, Steve Smith, Deion Branch
Ancestor: Az-Zahir Hakim
Binkyus Comfortus
Description: This species is very reliable, sticking to a strict routine and running in a very predictable fashion. Exhibits incredible hand-eye coordination.
Species Variations: Brandon Marshall, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Marvin Harrison
Ancestor: Art MonkMore NE Patriots Draft:
NCAA Prospect Anagrams
Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Like What You Read? - Subscribe to NE Patriots Draft!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Week 5 NFL Power Rankings
 |  |  |  |  |  | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Giants | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1.2 |
| #2 | Titans | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2.8 |
| #3 | Cowboys | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.4 |
| #4 | Bills | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4.0 |
| #5 | Steelers | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5.2 |
| #6 | Panthers | 6 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 8.8 |
| #7 | Skins | 13 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8.8 |
| #8 | Eagles | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9.4 |
| #9 | Broncos | 12 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9.8 |
| #10 | Bucs | 16 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10.4 |
| #11 | Chargers | 18 | 3 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 12.4 |
| #12 | Ravens | 8 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12.8 |
| #13 | Jaguars | 15 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 13.0 |
| #14 | Colts | 11 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 13.2 |
| #15 | Patriots | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13.4 |
| #16 | Saints | 7 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13.6 |
| #17 | Packers | 10 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 14.0 |
| #18 | Bears | 19 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16.6 |
| #19 | Jets | 17 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17.6 |
| #20 | Cardinals | 22 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21.0 |
| #21 | Vikings | 20 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 21.8 |
| #22 | Niners | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22.6 |
| #23 | Seahawks | 23 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22.6 |
| #24 | Falcons | 21 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24.0 |
| #25 | Browns | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24.8 |
| #26 | Texans | 25 | 25 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 26.8 |
| #27 | Dolphins | 27 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27.2 |
| #28 | Raiders | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28.0 |
| #29 | Chiefs | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 28.2 |
| #30 | Bengals | 30 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29.6 |
| #31 | Lions | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30.2 |
| #32 | Rams | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32.0 |
We couldn't have been more wrong on the Titans. Their defense is great and Cortland Finnegan is one heck of a corner. Without Vince Young, there offense isn't bad either. Umm... our bad! And now a did you know moment with our friends at The World of Isaac.
Did you know that Willis McGahee got a 12 on his Wonderlic Exam. Now, most players will tell you that Wonderlic Scores have little to nothing to do with their football acumen. Well, in McGahee's case, its probably not true. One of the bigger complaints about him in Buffalo was his inability to remember plays. It was one of the reasons they were so willing to part ways. And now in Baltimore, the same problem is arising. McGahee's troubles have gotten to the point where plays have to be signaled into him individually because he just doesn't know the playbook. I'm guessing this isn't a recipe for success with a team that has struggled to score points for years. Bad move Baltimore.
This Did you know Moment was brought to you by Hooked on Phonics.
My Sports Rumors on the Ravens: Despite their loss last night, I think the Baltimore Ravens could be a major sleeper in the AFC. Joe Flacco brings a new dimension to the offense that they've never had, a passing attack. While making numerous rookie mistakes, the kid showed up ready to play on the big stage. If they make it to the playoffs teams in the AFC better be scared because this kid will only get better as the year goes on.
The Sports Dollar on the Jets: They may not be the best team in their conference or division, but they sure as hell are more than compelling to watch. Not only do they have arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the game playing for them, but they are capable of putting up 56 points? So much for the slow learning curve for the old man, eh?
The Blue Workhorse on the Vince Young's old team: The Tennessee Titans just find a way to win week in and week out. Defense and quality QB play wins championships...just ask Baltimore. Read Full Article
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