SB Nation - Andrew Walter

The Linc - The end for Reggie and AJ?

JasonB — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:08:06 -0000

by AJ Mast - AP

PhillyBurbs.com: Eagles have a new problem at wide receiver
With one preseason game left and final cuts approaching on Saturday, the Eagles find themselves in an unusual spot. A team that for much of this decade never had quite enough receiving talent now has too much.

Birds' Brown Hanging on the Roster Bubble
Two years ago at this time, Reggie Brown was supposed to be on the cusp of stardom. Two years ago, Brown was entering his third NFL season.

Ex-Cowboy Curtis no longer at Witten’s end - The Delaware County Daily Times : Serving Delaware County, PA(DelcoTimes.com)
"I didn’t catch a lot of balls because they didn’t throw me a lot of balls in Dallas," Curtis said at least four or five times as wave after wave of media connected after the game. "I filled a role in Dallas. They needed me to come in and block on certain plays and maybe get a couple of passes here and there. But Jason Witten was the main guy, so he was getting all the balls. I feel like there’s more opportunity there. But whatever team I’m on, I’m going to do whatever I can to help them."

These Eagles will probably not make the cut today -- themorningcall.com
Today is an anxious day for 19 Philadelphia Eagles players. That's because the Eagles will join 31 other NFL teams in cutting their roster to the maximum 53 players by the 6 p.m. deadline.

Eagles cut three; Feeley New England bound? | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/04/2009
New England, meanwhile, continued to fuel the speculation that they are interested in Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley by releasing quarterback Andrew Walter. That leaves rookie Brad Hoyer as the backup to Tom Brady. It also leaves the Patriots with two quarterbacks on their roster.

More after the jump including news on a Giants player lost for the season, Didinger's "a game I'll never forget," A report from deep within the swamps of north jersey...

Alford out for season - Big Blue View
New York Giants backup defensive tackle Jay Alford will miss the season with a knee injury.

Didinger's Game I'll Never Forget: The Miracle...
The Eagles vs. Giants in November 1978 will forever be remembered for "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" play.

Iggles Blog - Philadelphia Eagles Blog: Friday Eagles Hangover: Not Bad For The Fourth Preseason Game
A report from deep within the swamps of north jersey...

New England Patriots release QB Andrew Walter, running down the quarterback situation

MaPatsFan — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:49:11 -0000

More photos » by Stew Milne - AP

3 months ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs through a drill followed by back up quarterbacks Brian Hoyer (8) and Andrew Walter (16) at their NFL training facility in Foxborough, Mass., Monday, Aug. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

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The starting quarterback for the Patriots' fourth and final 2009 preseason game was Brian Hoyer. And that's the way it stayed throughout the game. I didn't think it odd that Tom Brady never went under center. It's practically tradition that Brady doesn't play the fourth preseason game. I did, however, find it odd that Andrew Walter had zero minutes on the field, not even a snap. This would suggest the decision had already been made, that Walter was the odd man out and Hoyer is, at least for now, Brady's backup.

As mad has Walter's face looked in the locker room, he at least said all the right things:

Walter was clearly agitated in the locker room following the Patriots' 38-27 victory over the New York Giants, a game in which he didn't play a snap as Hoyer went the distance.

"I'm ready every week," said a red-faced Walter, following the game. "As far as any other questions I think the guys who played should be the ones to answer the questions."

Walter then tried to end the interview and was asked one more question -- Do you feel with the time you've gotten you would be prepared to play in the regular season?

"It's my job to be a pro, so I'm going to leave it at that," said Walter before walking away.

While Walter went 5 for 9 for 62 yards in preseason play, I was a bit surprised he was cut. Yet again, Hoodie saw something (or didn't see something) that I didn't see. He has, afterall, led this team to three championships. At any rate, this leaves us with two quarterbacks, something we've never risked as long as I can remember. I think it's a safe bet that we'll be going after a veteran.

It has been widely postulated that AJ Feeley is that veteran option. Currently with the Eagles, a FanPost at Bleedinggreennation.com suggests Feeley could be wrapped in a deal to trade Patriots TE Benjamin Watson to Philly. This doesn't necessarily jive with Mike Reiss's recent roster analysis, but it directly contradicts Reiss's Watson story found here. Mike, what gives? I think we have a greater need for experience under center than for tight ends. Just one blogger's opinion. It's even more critical now that we've dumped Kevin O'Connell as well.

Trade Benjamin Watson to Philly in a package deal that nets us AJ Feeley and let's get rollin'.

Postgame Analysis: New England Patriots defeat New York Giants, 38-27

MaPatsFan — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:10:23 -0000

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

3 months ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, sits on the bench with Brian Hoyer, left, during the New York Giants' first drive in a preseason NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. Brady remained on the bench when the Patriots got the ball as Hoyer started the game. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

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You would've had every right to turn the game off last night. With 5:58 left in the first quarter, backup Giants QB David Carr hit WR Hakeem Nicks for New York's third touchdown. The game looked like a train wreck for our fine boys from Foxborough. However, as Marima said, once we stopped recognizing the names on the Giants' jerseys, thing started coming around.

For a preseason game, I thought this was more exciting than most. A comeback win, some young dudes getting a chance to show their stuff, it was all good fun. It was also their last chance to show what they had.

Patrick Chung - Maybe I overestimated this young man's talent or maybe he's just a rookie, but watching Chung get burned...twice...was painful. In one classic rookie mistake, two Giants receivers lined up on the left, cris-crossed, leaving Chung confused about what to do. He hesitated, thinking man-to-man coverage when he should've instantly switched assignments or dropped back into zone. First year mistake. I can let it pass.
Brian Hoyer - His performance leaves me more confused than ever. After a shaky start against the Giants' first stringers, Hoyer settled into a rhythm and looked pretty darn good. 18 for 25 and 242 yards is nothing to sneeze at. He also appeared to develop a super connection with Terrence Nunn, throwing 3 for 64 with a long of 30. His lone TD pass was in traffic to WR Robert Ortiz. Nicely done. Unless Hoodie knows something I don't know (always the case), Hoyer made a good pitch for the QB backup job behind Brady and it appears the pitch was SO good, in fact, that Andrew Walter has been released (props to bforce3 in the links commentary).
BenJarvus Green-Ellis - Law Firm rocked, it's as simple as that. In my opinion, he showed better downfield vision than Laurence Maroney. One of the commentators made the statement that BJGE waits for plays to develop and follows his guards for protection. Very observant and exactly why he did so well. He also doesn't stop pumping those legs, getting a few extra yards out of every play. It also doesn't hurt that Belichick followed him to the bench after one touchdown, complimenting him the whole way. Can you spell "R-O-S-T-E-R S-P-O-T?" I knew you could. Oh, did I mention 4 receptions for 22 yards? Very Kevin Faulk-like. Some have talked about the Patriots cutting Sammy Morris and only keeping four backs. Sammy is one of the most reliable backs we have, so I don't necessarily see that unless Hoodie's desperate to free up a spot.
Greg Lewis - I have no idea how Greg Lewis held onto the ball after that high/low hit. He got hammered and still hung on. That alone tells me he's a tough nut and soldier on the field, willing to get smacked for the good of the team.
Sebastian Vollmer - Vollmer is a stud or darn close to it. He's young, big, and strong. Let's not forget smart, too. He seems to be picking up very quickly and that's something we desperately need for this offensive line; 11 of 13 players' contracts are up in 2009 (or is it 10 - I forget).

Overall, an entertaining game to watch once things got started. I hope Matthew Slater's elbow isn't a permanent injury and he gets a chance this season. It would, however, open up a spot for Terrence Nunn. PUP Slater and make the decision later.

Now we have the Bills to look forward to and a half-time tribute to #54.

Backup QB Kevin O'Connell waived by New England Patriots

MaPatsFan — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:28:05 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

7 months ago: New England Patriots backup quarterback Kevin O'Connell drops back to pass during football practice at the team's training facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday morning, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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In what I can only term a surprise move, the Patriots have waived backup QB Kevin O'Connell. My first thought was, "Huh? Has Belichick had a sudden breakdown?" Normally I'm all for "In Belichick We Trust" and fully realize he's smarter than me when it comes to this stuff. But after Brady's right shoulder was drilled into the ground by Albert Haynesworth (a perfectly legal tackle, btw), I'm left a bit confused as to the decision making process of the Patriots' FO.

This leaves Andrew Walter and rookie Brian Hoyer to round out the QB spot. Yes, Julian Edelman has played QB in college (along with every other position it seems), but I'm not sure we'd see Julian under center. O'Connell struggled against Washington, but I didn't think he was that bad. This would appear to open the door to two possibilities: there's confidence in Andrew Walter OR the Patriots are going after a veteran QB to take the backup spot.

The Patriots organization is not stupid; there is most definitely something in play here. They are not simply waiving O'Connell without a plan. If it's a veteran, who might it be? Where does O'Connell end up? Maybe KC? Maybe Denver? More to come on this one...

Props to shoein and bforce3 for their heads up report and links.

Chat with Pats Pulpit for Redskins vs Patriots Game

KevinE — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:30:10 -0000

Continuing our weekly pre-game ritual, David from Patriots' SB Nation blog Pats Pulpit kindly answered our questions entering into Friday night's game against the Pats:

Hogs Haven: How is the Patriots' defense this year (specifically the first Dline, corners, safeties, and LBs)? Do you expect them to control the game against the Redskins first team offense which has sputtered out of the gate so far this year?

Pats Pulpit: The Pats D-line has probably been the most solid unit of the preseason. In a standard 3-4, DE Richard Seymour, NT Vince Wilfork, and DE Ty Warren have been doing a find job of stuffing the line. In the preseason opener against the Eagles, NE almost exclusively played a 4-3 with rookie DT Ron Brace next to Wilfork. Second year CB Terrence Wheatley is on the bubble, but vets Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs are working out well so far. Rookie Darius Butler is a monster and is already showing promise in his first year. Rookie S Patrick Chung has been all over the field; I'm looking for big things from him. LB-wise, newly acquired DE/OLB Derrick Burgess has been a fine addition and second year ILB Jerod Mayo is, as always, in on every play.
I think the Pats D will do well, specifically against the run. But I believe Belichick has to find out a few things so he may be rotating some guys in and out; it'll be a bit unstable for at least quarters two through four.

Hogs Haven: What is the RB situation shaping to look like? It's surprising to see Laurence Maroney is 4th on the depth chart behind Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and Fragile Freddy. What caused Maroney to fall out favor?

Pats Pulpit: I wouldn't give too much credence to the depth chart. It's Maroney's job to lose. However, I would say I haven't been super impressed with his performance up to this point. He STILL has trouble seeing holes and looking downfield. I'm pulling for him, but he's gotta step up. Guys like Morris are really doing well.

Hogs Haven: What is the backup QB situation looking like if Brady were to get injured again? Andrew Walter was always good for some laugh out loud highlights in Oakland.

Pats Pulpit: I'm not too impressed with Andrew Walter. I think he was brought in to challenge Kevin O'Connell for the backup spot, but I don't think he's making that much trouble for O'Connell. Kevin has all the natural skills to be a fine QB (great scrambler, rocket arm), but needs to get better accuracy and improve his field management. Hopefully, he can develop a bit with more preseason reps. I think you'll see him for two or so quarters.

Hogs Haven: How is Shawn Springs working out and do you think he will start/play a lot?

Pats Pulpit: I loathe the term starter, so I'd say Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden will get the most snaps due to NFL experience. That being said, I don't think Springs has been lighting up the field. I would label him "serviceable" at this point and give him the benefit of the doubt (learning the system, etc...). He better learn quick because draftee Darius Butler IS lighting up the field. He has great physical skills and appears to be transitioning into the NFL quite nicely.

Hogs Haven: Which defensive starter is looking over his shoulder the most this preseason at a rising youngster, and who is that player to watch?

Pats Pulpit: I'm tempted to say CB Darius Butler, but he's third on the depth chart for left corner behind Terrence Wheatley and Shawn Springs. Wheatley isn't doing so well and Spring, while not lighting up the field, is solid. I think the battle is between DT Ron Brace and Vince Wilfork. Vince is in the final year of his six year contract and is gunning for an extension. This and the fact that Ron Brace is doing so well gives Wilfork less leverage.

Well, it looks like we won't miss much from "Blue," (Smoot's nickname for Springs). The Pats seem to be in good shape yet again for a Super Bowl run. It's looking more like he won't play tomorrow night. I haven't seen O'Connell play yet, but I'm sure Sugar is getting that tingly feeling in his pants about it given Sugar loves fantasy no-namers.

I hope Cerrato and Snyder are able to spend some quality time with the Pats personnel tomorrow night and get some insight on how a franchise is continually successful.

Working Toward the 53-Man Roster: QB/Special Teams

KA1Z3R — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:03:50 -0000

Today on, "Working Toward the 53-Man Roster" I give the Raiders quarterbacks and special teams. With the 31st. pass offense last year, Oakland will be looking for Russell to step up his game this year. Lechler will be looking for yet another Pro Bowl year at punter and Jano is going to be itching to boom a 53-yarder. But who will be the Raiders backup QB's? Can Nick Miller unseat Justin Miller at kick returner? My thoughts on these and more, after the jump

Quarterbacks:

As previously stated, the Raiders were a terrible 31st. ranked pass offense. In the previous post I covered the new receiving options, but now we'll take a look at who will be throwing to those receivers. Andrew Walter and Tuiasosopo were cut, and Jeff Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski, and Charlie Frye were added to the mix. The Raiders are only expected to keep 3 quarterbacks (after all we're not Tampa Bay), and with Russell's job secure, who of these three quarterbacks will take the other two spots?

JaMarcus Russell

via thecampusthrone.com

Russell's first full season was anything but great. Russell struggled a lot with his accuracy and mobility in the pocket which lead to a lot of three-and-out's. Though many argue he had a bad receiving corps and bad O-Line. While I agree with those people, Russell does have a lot of work to getting more consistent with his accuracy.

Just when it seemed Russell had a true #1 receiver to work with, Schilens broke a bone in his foot and will most likely be out for a couple games this year. However, Russell still has a lot of targets to work with. But the big thing is that he'll have what appears to be a good O-Line this year. Henderson's building off a stellar showing last year and Satele brings a more athletic option at center than Grove. Though the line still needs to work on its penalty problems.

In camp so far, Russell is still pretty inconsistent, but has been making a lot of good plays. Weaving passes between defenders and lobbing perfect rainbow arc passes. But it seems we can still expect a lot of dumping off to players underneath as Russell continues to struggle with the accuracy of his deep throws. You can expect Cable to keep calling deep pass plays for Russell in preseason to work on his timing on said throws.

I know it was only on one play, but Russell is actually pretty nimble and a quick-decision maker. With everyone covered and McFadden walling off a pass rusher, Russell took off and showed some speed running for 18 yards, avoiding Dallas defenders along the way. If he can make those kinds of good decisions all year long, I'd be very satisfied with JaMarcus this year.

While many have called for Garcia to start, I very highly doubt it'll happen. Cable's already stated that it's Russell's job. Barring injury, I don't see garcia starting a game this year.

Jeff Garcia

via imgs.sfgate.com

I've been scratching my head on the Jeff Garcia deal since he was signed and I still can't find a way that this a good move. For one, the Raiders are going to be much more of a downfield passing team this year with DHB, Higgins, Murphy, etc. Garcia struggles making those deep throws and is much more of a west coast offense QB. Kinda bad to have your backup not fit your scheme.

Secondly, Garcia was brought in to mentor Russell. Instead, all we've seen is Garcia trying to dethrone Russell as the starting QB. Actually, this was his primary reason for being here.

Thirdly, Garcia makes a lot of questionable decisions. Mainly, he never stays in the pocket. As soon as he gets the ball in his hands, he almost always rolls out of the pocket. The Raiders O-Line looks to actually be able to maintain a pocket this year, but you can probably still expect Garcia to roll out causing more harm than good.

The one good thing I can take from this move, the Raiders will still be doing dumpoffs a lot this year. With Garcia's short and medium range accuracy, it makes him a viable backup in those situations. But Garcia can't just dink-and-dunk with all these deep threats available. Hence why I disagree with a lot of people who believe him to be the one who should be starting for Oakland.

Garcia will most likely be the primary backup because of his great accuracy on short throws and his ability to win games.

Bruce Gradkowski

via www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

I honestly couldn't tell you much about Gradkowski, but I can tell you he's been making some really good plays in camp. He's also got a better deep ball than Garcia, Gradkowski struggles with his medium range passes.

Gradkowski hasn't exactly had a great career, though when he's had to be a starter for an extended period of time, he hasn't been too shabby. In his rookie 06 year, he completed 177 of his 328 throws for 1661 yards wth 9 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 13 games. Not exactly great, but not bad for what should be our third-string QB, if not second string.

If Gradkowski has good showings throughout the rest of camp, i have no doubt in my mind that Bruce can take over the backup spot behind Russell.

Charlie Frye

via www.raiders.com

Frye to me is going to be the odd-man out. While he's fairly strong armed, he makes a lot of bad decisions. 25 interceptions in 23 games, several of which he only saw limited time in. He hasn't been very good in camp and is pretty far behind Gradkowski and Garcia. I like Frye, but I doubt he makes the roster.

Projected QB depth chart:

Starter: JaMarcus Russell

Backup: Bruce Gradkowski (yes I think he'll manage to pass Garcia on the depth chart)

Third String: Jeff Garcia

Special Teams:

A bright spot for Oakland last year was it's special teams unit which saw new life after many below average years. The return game was incredible, Lechler was amazing as always, Jano can still kick field goals from 55+ yards out, and special teams ace Ekejiuba was a Pro Bowl alternate.

Kicker

Sebastian Janikowski

via assets.nydailynews.com

Oakland's record-breaking kicker, Janikowski has the strongest leg in all of football. Easily pounding kicks 55+ yards with ease and booming kickoffs for touchbacks, his only flaw his accuracy. Jano's not horrible, but his kicks often slice too far left or right quite a bit of the time. It's a problem that's not gone away over the years, but he's definitely working on it. If Seabass can refine his accuracy a little bit more, he could be a Pro Bowl kicker.

Punter

Shane Lechler

via www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

What can be said about Lechler that hasn't already been said? He's basically the greatest punter in raiders history, if not NFL history. He holds the NFL record for best average yards per punt with 46.8 yards per punt. You can expect Lechler to continue going out every Sunday and blasting punts inside the opposing team's 20's like he has year in and year out.

Punt Returner

Johnnie Lee Higgins

via imgs.sfgate.com

A speedy receiver, a fantastic dancer, and one of the best return threats in the NFL, Johnnie Lee "Blue-Suede Shoes" Higgins does it all. Higgins turned 44 punt returns into 570 yards and an amazing 3 touchdowns. His touchdown returns were a big reason for wins against Denver and Houston last year. I expect Higgins to continue being a game-changing return threat this year as we should see similar numbers from him if he stays healthy.

Kick Returner

Justin Miller

via cache.daylife.com

While Justin isn't a great corner, he is a great kick returner that brought new life to Oakland's special teams. Oakland hadn't returned a kickoff for a touchdown in years, Justin Miller did it twice last year. Returning 32 kickoffs for 794 yards and the aforementioned 2 touchdowns, Miller might be being challenged by another Miller. Nick Miller that is. Justin's going to have to prove he's still the top kick return man in Oakland, or face losing his starting spot. Definitely something to keep track of until the regular season starts. But I expect Justin to keep his starting role.

Nick Miller

via www.raiders.com

There's some genuine competition here for the job of kick returner. Nick has been getting chances throughout camp and early on in preseason. Nick is definitely as fast as Justin, but does he have the moves that Justin has to create some big plays on kickoffs? If he does, we could see a different Miller returning kicks on Monday Night.

Projected Special Teams:

K- Seabass

P- Lechler

PR- Higgins

KR- Justin Miller

Backup KR- Nick Miller

Poll

who should Oakland's backup QB be?

JaMarcus Russell

153 votes

Jeff Garcia

480 votes

Bruce Gradkowski

360 votes

Charlie Frye

50 votes

1043 votes | Poll has closed

Running through the roster: thoughts on Mike Reiss's choices for the New England Patriots 53

MaPatsFan — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:16:12 -0000

More photos » by Michael Perez - AP

4 months ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady calls a play in the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

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There's a lot to be stoked about, dontcha think? Belichick has so far done a masterful job of balancing the workload during training. But what would you expect of the best NFL coach of the past decade? Genius has become a hallmark, it's that simple. The bar has been set incredibly high from the start. While it might be taxing on all players and Belichick could run the risk of wearing out his players, the cream will rise to the top.

It is ridiculously early to begin predicting the final 53 man roster. Insanely early, if you ask me. But that won't stop The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss from taking a shot at it. Nor will it stop me from analyzing what he has to say. ;-)

Looking down the list, I thought I could find some rhyme or reason as to the order of players in each category, but I was stymied. Tom Brady, Kevin O'Connell, Andrew Walter - Hah!! Alphabetical order! But then there's Chris Baker, Ben Watson, David Thomas, and Alex Smith. How about starting order? Yeah, that's the ticket! Oh, running backs: Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. There goes that theory. Anyway, enough fussing over the order of positional listing.

Commentors for this Reiss's Pieces blog post were saying Mike was a bit off when he said BenJarvus Green-Ellis should stay at the expense of another offensive lineman. I won't necessarily address that, but I WOULD say keeping BJGE is a smart move. Why? He showed some skills last year. Remember 2008, when the backfield was decimated enough to have Law Firm as one of our primary backs and Kevin Faulk running something other than third downs? Yeah, we were hurtin'. And the young dude was there. Is he the future of this franchise's backfield? I don't know if I can answer that question, but I DO know he did a darn good job for us.

Other than that, Mike's analysis seems pretty solid at this point. Russ Hochstein is a keeper, in my mind. Heck, the dude can not only play offensive line, but he can do a fair job at fullback. Belichick loves versatility and this doesn't hurt. WR-wise, one could make a case for Joey Galloway not making the cut, but let's give him a chance; it's pretty hard to walk onto a high-powered aerial assault like this and make a name for yourself. Julian Edelman? C'mon, the dude would have to have a core meltdown to goof up his spot.

Looking at Reiss's roster list gets me all fired up. Wow, that looks good.

Poll

How was Mike Reiss's 53?

Spot on

58 votes

Not too shabby, but I'd make some changes

97 votes

Are you daft?

13 votes

168 votes | Poll has closed

Philadelphia Eagles 2009 Opponents’ Preview- New England Patriots

JasonB — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:12:44 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

4 months ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) stands on the field during their NFL training camp session at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday morning, July 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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This is the next part in our series of previews of the Eagles 2009 opponents. Joining us for this feature is Dave Schwab, who writes about the Eagles at his site Eagles Lincs.

Previously Dave has looked at games later this season, but now it starts for real. Well, not for real... Preseason.

Today Dave previews the Eagles preseason opener against the New England Patriots.

The long wait is finally over as the Eagles’ 2009 pre- season gets underway this Thursday, August 13th when the New England Patriots come to town for a 7:30 P.M. start at Lincoln Financial Stadium. This is the first of four pre-season contests before it all starts for real on Sunday, September 13^th against the Carolina Panthers in the regular season opener.

The biggest story for New England is the return of quarterback Tom Brady. Brady went down in the first game of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Back to almost 100%, Brady expects to see action in this game. If so I would think he may run one or two series with the first team and then call it a night. While he is still wearing a protective brace as a precaution, it will be interesting to see what kind of mobility he currently has. The Patriots do not want to take any chances with Brady against and unpredictable Eagles’ defense, so I expect them to keep things very plain and simple in his limited time in this game.

If you are going to have to play the Patriot’s this season, this is probably the best game to do it, unless you plan on meeting again in the Super Bowl. Without Brady last season, a relatively unknown QB Matt Cassell stepped in and led this team to an 11-5 record just barely missing the playoffs. They still have a tremendous amount of talent on offense. Along with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, they added veteran WR’s Joey Galloway and former Eagles, Greg Lewis to the receiving corps. To shore up their running game the added veteran RB Fred Taylor. In case Brady’s knee isn’t quite ready, they recently added back up QB Andrew Walter who was previously with the Raiders to battle it out with Kevin O’Connell for the #2 spot. All in all this adds up to a very powerful offensive unit that will be that much better with Brady back at the helm.

The only potential weak spots for the Patriots are on the defensive side of the ball. They gave up veteran linebacker, Mike Vrabel as part of the Matt Cassell trade to Kansas City but are counting on either Pierre Woods or Shawn Crable to step up and fill the void. The Patriots brought in two veteran CB‘s Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden to help in the backfield and just traded with Oakland for former Eagle DE Derrick Burgess to help their pass rush. New England will be looking for Burgess to return to his All Pro form, as the defensive line struggled last season to consistently put pressure on the quarterback.

While there is always a lot of excitement for the 1^st pre-season game, you can’t expect to take too much away from this game other than keying on some of the new faces for both teams. If either side’s first team offense looks somewhat sharp in their first one or two series, it will be an early night for most of the starters. My only hope is for someone in green to get to Brady and hit him hard, just to see how quickly he jumps back up. Only then will we all know how well his left knee has healed.

Bears Tried To Land Another QB

Dane Noble — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:49:00 -0000

Say what you will about Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez, but maybe the Bears are still a little uncertain of their backup QBs. According to this article, we made a play for Andrew Walter, who recently signed with the Patriots (see #5).

There aren't many names that are left out there that are intriguing free agents (Bollinger, Dorsey, Green), so I wonder what will happen if Hanie and Basenez fail to impress during the preseason? Brad Biggs mentions that neither have stood out in training camp thus far.

Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez have not done a lot to stand out a training camp that has been dominated by Cutler. Hanie has flashed his ability to keep plays alive with his legs, and Basanez has made the occasional throw. The test for them will come when preseason begins and Hanie is expected to receive plenty of work Saturday at Buffalo. Basanez is the only one with NFL game experience. He threw 11 passes at Carolina in 2006. Stay tuned.

Only six more days until Preseason Game #1!

New England Patriots Links 8/07/09 - QBs Having A Ball At Camp

Marima — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:27:28 -0000

Belichick and O'Connell playing dodgeball at Thursday's a.m. practice.

View full size photo »

David White (San Francisco Chronicle) The Derrick Burgess to NE trade: "No, the Raiders are not a minor-league farm team for the Patriots. It just may seem that way after their latest coast-to-coast swap."

That ends a nine-day camp boycott by Burgess, who joins Randy Moss, LaMont Jordan and Andrew Walter as players who grumbled their way out of Oakland to New England since 2007.

"Anytime you have a talent like Burgess that commands the respect and double teams that he did, it's definitely a huge loss," Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said at training camp in Napa.

"He was able to get guys to rally around the way he played the game."

Jeff Howe points out the preconceived perceptions of coach Belichick by both new players and veterans.

"I thought coach Belichick was like a tough guy, real stringent, army-like and all that," said New England Patriots wide receiver Greg Lewis, who was acquired through an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. "But being here and being around him, really he is just passionate about football, and he wants to get the best out of his players. He really doesn’t take any nonsense, but he is willing to work with you, and is lenient and willing to get to know you once you get to know him. He is a good coach to play for."

Andy Hart discusses the O-Line and D-Line position battles taking place at camp.

At this point Belichick would seem to have options with his depth chart. Go with the known commodities, new faces or a mix of the two? Either way, theoretically, the Patriots win. If the young guys play their way not only onto the roster but also into contributing roles for the 2009 team, it'll be because they earned it. If they don't, New England returns impressive top-end talent and experienced backups on both sides of the line of scrimmage that's worked cohesively with impressive results for years.

Continuity is good. Fresh blood is good. A combination of the two may be even better. It's a win-win situation for a team expected to do a lot of that this fall.

TRAINING CAMP OBSERVATIONS

Wes Welker being pursued by Pat Chung at Thursday night's practice inside Gillette Stadium.

Christopher Price presents his notes from Thursday morning's camp, noting this is the second practice in a row where Brady hasn't worn his knee brace.
Paul Perillo recaps Thursday morning camp, catches up with under-the-radar acquisition S Brandon McGowan and much more news and bits from the day.
Ian Rapoport has his thoughts from Thursday's a.m. session.
Mike Reiss gives his general impression of morning camp and a few more details for the night practice in Gillette. More special teams work with the NFL officials present.
Erik Scalavino offers plenty of quick hits from Thursday night's under the lights practice.

TEAM SHOTS

Patriots Today: Nick Caserio's roles; Vinny Ciurciu one-on-one; recap of day 8 camp and more. (10.47 min. video)
Belichick Breakdown: Belichick breaks down the 2008 game against St. Louis with Mike Lynch. (4.32 min. video)
Tentative Training Camp Schedule for the next five days. Remember to check the site right before you go.

LOCAL SHOTS

Christopher Price deconstructed Derrick Burgess with a handful of football insiders who talked about what kind of impact he could have on the New England defense back in May. Here, he breaks down the Burgess deal that took place yesterday.
Chris Gasper says pre-season injuries made the Patriots pull the trigger on the Burgess deal.
Ian Rapoport reports the Patriots have found their pass rusher.
Shalise Manza Young notes the Patriots had competition from the Eagles for Burgess but made the better offer.
Mike Reiss reveals who were named as Patriots pre-season captains.
Jeff Howe details the Patriots crowded backfield at Camp.
Chris Gasper Patriots Notebook: Pre-season captain Jerod Mayo a leader on defense; Edelman grew up a Brady fan but now Welker is his role model; Logan Mankins knows keeping Brady upright and out of harm’s way is vital.
Ian Rapoport showcases the the dual roles of Nick Caserio - front-office suit, and active, hands-on coaching assistant helping out wherever needed on-field.
Chris Gasper says Nick Caserio has become a valuable - and versatile resource.
Christopher Price says according to Patriots’ Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio, the team and nose tackle Vince Wilfork’s representatives are still talking about a contract extension.
Mike McDermott presents Nick Caserio's Press Conference transcript.
Christopher Price says CB Leigh Bodden's time with the Browns under Romeo Crennel has helped him in training camp.
Ron Borges details LB Paris Lenon's journey to the NE Patriots and his confidence in what he has to offer.
Ron Borges talks about how Eli Manning's deal impacts Tom Brady and the Patriots. The next negotiations will be interesting.
Mike McDermott offers some news and bits from around the NFL: Fans in Denver booing the Broncos; Michael Crabtree might skip the entire 2009 season; worries about the uncertainty of the 2011season.

LONG SHOTS

Michael Lombardi (National Football Post) Pats load up on defense: Addition of Burgess gives them a key pass rusher.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Burgess trade fills New England's biggest need.
Inside Slant (Fox Sports) Patriots Team Report.
Tim Graham (ESPN) Does Doug Flutie belong in the Hall of Fame?