Patriots release WR Deion Branch

On Saturday, the Patriots released veteran WR Deion Branch… again.

The move comes less than 24 hours before the Patriots’ matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Branch, the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, was previously released just before New England’s week 1 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, only to be re-signed two weeks later.

The release of Branch seems strictly business, as the Patriots used Branch’s roster vacancy to activate newly acquired CB Aqib Talib. Additionally, the Patriots promoted WR Greg Salas from the Practice Squad. Branch must clear waivers before becoming a complete free agent. Judging by the shuffling of receivers this year, one would be hard-pressed to believe that Branch has played his final game in a Patriots’ uniform.

More to come on this story as it develops.

Pats' Preview vs. Indy; let Luck pass

After Colts owner Jim Irsay took it upon himself to gut the entire organization from the front office to the players, the Patriots welcome the new-look Indianapolis Colts into town. With QB Andrew Luck at the helm, this proves to be a rather intriguing matchup.

 The number 1 overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft has conducted himself in a Manning-like manner – promoting hard work, and quickly taking on a leadership role. Despite Andrew’s skills, as well as his will to win at the next level, it is hard to believe that there will be much luck at Gillette on Sunday.

Exceeding his expectations out of Stanford, Luck has drawn comparisons to Peyton Manning from every angle. While it is impossible to compare a rookie to a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Luck hasn’t quie fallen short of the outline set before him.

At 6-3, Luck has been a pivotal factor in each of Indianapolis’ victories – exhibiting heroic leadership along the way.

Be that as it may, Andrew Luck has the insurmountable task of going punch for punch with the one and only Tom Brady. It is because of this that his attempt at heroism in Foxboro will ultimately be unsuccessful.

While Luck is fully capable of carving up the Patriots’ secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey, the old adage stands: Rookies make rookie mistakes. Just a theory here, but with Colts RB Donald Brown questionable, the Patriots may be in the fortunate (perhaps unfortunate?) position of forcing Luck to pass more often by stifling the run. If the defense can exhibit more of a zone-blitz scheme than last week, the Patriots can pressure Luck into those second and third reads that rookie QBs often struggle to make. Containing Indy’s receiving corps – Reggie Wayne, in particular – will be of chief importance to make this plan work.  While the secondary catches a lot of heat for the defenses’ woes, a victory on Sunday will be up to the front seven and their ability to pressure Luck.

For a matchup vs. a rookie quarterback, this one will probably be closer than expected. The Patriots have just enough firepower on O to keep Andrew Luck at bay

.

Prediction: Patriots 31, Colts 23 (7-3)

Patriots take on Bills on Veterans' Day

Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills. Sunday, Nov. 11. 1:00 p.m. ET. CBS.

 

The second half of the Patriots’ 2012 campaign is officially underway. Historically, New England has enjoyed great success down the stretch in years’ past, and this season will be no different.

 The Buffalo Bills come to town for their second and final matchup with the Patriots for 2012, and will ultimately walk away empty-handed. After coming up short at home, the Bills will not be able to work past a Patriots defense that has grown into itself. Wilfork & Co. will stifle Fitzpatrick’s attempts at being a relevant NFL Quarterback.

In the Belichick era, the Patriots are 9-3 following a bye week. Much of this is credited to Belichick’s careful preparation during the week off. If you consider that the Patriots’ have one good game of notes against the Bills already, the team is pretty much set on a solid gameplan. It’s not easy to win in the NFL, but this one seems as close to a sure thing as anything this year.

The Patriots walk away from this one unscathed ready totake on the Colts in Week 11.

 

Prediction: Patriots 31, Bills 17 (6-3)

Patriots acquire CB Aqib Talib from Tampa Bay

On Thursday, the day of the NFL’s Week 10 Trade Deadline, the Patriots traded for Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ CB Aqib Talib.

The Patriots sent  a 2013 4^th round selection in exchange for Talib and a 2013 7^th round pick.

Talib, a 4-year veteran of the NFL, is considered to be in the upper-echelon of defensive backs. At 26 years of age, and a $1.825M salary, the move is very low-risk for New England.

The acquisition of Talib eases the struggles of a much maligned secondary that ranks 30^th in passing yards in the NFL. Patriots defensive backs lead the league in passes completed over 20 yards. Additionally, the secondary has been plagued as of late by an injury bug that has claimed both Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory. The move to acquire Talib is one of talent – as he is one of the better cover corners in the league – as well as depth, and flexibility. With Talib in the mix, McCourty can be bounced between Cornerback and Safety, a spot he has become familiar with over the past year.

Talib brings to the Patriots his own brand of swagger – one of confidence, as he’s proven in coverage and in his knack for the ball. Since being drafted in 2008, Talib has collected 18 interceptions over the course of his career. Other than CB Shawn Springs, that’s more than any other Patriots’ DB since the departure of CB Asante Samuel that same year. (Safety John Lynch did not appear in a regular season game for the Patriots.)

The move not only fills an obvious hole for the Patriots, but bolsters a position that has been sub-par for years. Should the acquisition pan out, it could end favorably for Belichick, who has recently been criticized for his handling of the secondary in recent years.

Patriots Preview vs, Jets

Finally. This is the matchup all Patriots fans love to see. Anytime Rex Ryan and his band of thugs come into town, it proves to be a circus of entertainment.

The 2012 Jets are panning out to be more of a sitcom than an NFL football team. This week doesn’t really deserve any in-depth analysis - as it’s going to be your run-of-the-mill blowout – but there’s this cynical part of me that really enjoys talking trash about the Jets.

For one, you’ve got great uncertainty at the Quarterback position. You have a sleu of injuries to key personnel on either side of the ball – including CB Darrelle Revis, TE Dustin Keller, and WR Santonio Holmes.  Holmes, who is seen as a team leader by the Jets (and ONLY the Jets), has the capacity to blow up the entire locker room all on his lonesome. – side note: notice it’s been 7 sentences, and I haven’t mentioned HIM at all. – This week is almost too easy.

Despite the questions surrounding this Jets squad, the trash talking started again this week, nearly on cue. Jets coach Rex Ryan threw the first punch, telling reporters he “thinks we’re going to win”. Well, then. Ryan, a man who has failed to come to his senses when playing New England – he is 3-4 against the Pats as coach of the Jets – continues to flap the jaw, spewing excrement every which way he speaks.

Later in the week Jets lineman Calvin Pace called New England’s offense “borderline illegal”, which really is a backhanded compliment of sorts when compared to Seattle Seahawks CB Richard Sherman’s characterization of the Patriots’ “ gimmick” offense.

In the grand scheme of things, words don’t really matter. What matters is the personnel that will be on the field – a department that New York is severely lacking in lately. Because of this, and superb gameplanning by the man under the hood, The Patriots walk away from this one pretty easily.

Patriots will once again silence that really annoying noise coming from the New Jersey area.

Prediction: Patriots 38, Jets 13. (4-3)

Patriot Great Kevin Faulk retires at 36

Die-hard Pats fans logging onto the Patriots website today were greeted by a headline that brought a sense of realism, nostalgia and, admittedly, age to mind. Along the left margin and backed by a wall of nautical blue, the headline sent chills down this writer’s spine.

“Clutch 3-time champion Faulk calls it a career”

In just a few words, the headline captured the on-field highlights of one of the greatest 3^rd-down runningbacks in NFL History. “Clutch”, like when Faulk converted a big 3^rd-down against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVII. Or “Clutch”, like Faulk’s big run against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. What about “3-time Champion”? There’s simply no explanation needed for such an accolade, and quite honestly there isn’t enough time in the day to go through all of Faulk’s contributions to the Patriots – as a player and a person.

What the fans don’t see is the immense leadership that earned Faulk his true veteran status. To be frank, Kevin Faulk rarely lit up the stat sheet. He had his games, for sure, but it was what he said and how he went about his football life that led him to a successful 13-year career.

As a player, Faulk was lauded for his willingness to tutor newcomers to the Patriots, and to lead by example. Faulk’s mantra was always “team-first”, sacrificing playing time and accolades of high praise for wins and a thorough understanding of one of the more complex offenses in the NFL. It is that selfless approach that makes Faulk not only a great player, but a great leader, and a true gentleman.

Fans such as myself are often berated for our overwhelming obsession with this sport – we’re often attacked by claims that this is only a ‘game’. One of the greatest counter-claims to that argument would be to follow the path set forth by Kevin Faulk. Faulk played this game as if it was his job. He showed up every day, and never took a play off. He showed up early to work out, and stayed late to watch game film. Faulk, knowing all well that he was a runningback in a pass-heavy offense, worked harder than any other Patriot to make every single play count. Faulk preached accountability to a man. After every loss, he addressed the fact that there are things that he could’ve done better. Kevin Faulk is the innovator of what is now referred to as the Patriot Way.

Faulk played the game the way it should’ve been played, and led his life the way a child would want to see his dad lead. As a player, Faulk made Patriots fans proud. As a person he was the absolute role model, from top to bottom.

To one of the greatest New England Patriots of all-time:

Thank you.

Patriots prep for Broncos

Sunday, October the 9^th marks not the beginning of a new chapter, but a whole new book in the storied Brady-Manning rivalry. 

 Hold your horses – this one won’t be your classic shootout that we’ve seen in years’ past. Peyton Manning’s move from the Indianapolis Colts to the Denver Broncos has him sitting atop the saddle of a whole new stallion.

Despite Manning’s efforts to thwart Brady’s success at home, the Broncos will be unable to buck the trend of the Patriots posting over 40 points against one of the better defenses in the league.

11-time Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey will most certainly be a factor in Sunday’s matchup. In the two games against Denver last season, Tom Brady threw to Bailey only once. Bill Belichick backed up that level of respect this week, stating that Bailey was one of the best all-around corners in the league. In Friday’s press conference, Belichick lauded Bailey for his ability to matchup with bigger, physical receivers at the line, as well as containing undersized, quicker receivers in the passing game. Belichick says of Bailey, “…if he gets his hands on them and jams them, he can destroy the route right off the bat... He’s on a lot of routes just because he’s experienced and he’s smart. “

Despite Champ’s overwhelming presence in the secondary, there’s no reason to believe that Brady won’t have the type of success he’s had in the past year against Denver.

One of the cornerstones of this year’s Patriot offense is the ability to spread the ball around to all receivers in the passing game. Versatility is really the name of the game. New to this year is a solid running game.  The presence of a consistent running attack has proved to be one of the aspects that allows Brady to control the pace of a game. Down 21-7 against Buffalo last week, the Patriots elected to run the ball. While any other pass-heavy offense would’ve been forced to throw the ball, Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels continued to run the ball against a spread out Buffalo defense showing nickel and dime packages.

Pay little attention to the rivalry of Manning-Brady – this one shouldn’t be too close. Expect the Patriots offense to roll, and Manning to have an above average performance.

Prediction: Patriots 42, Broncos 24. (3-2)