Share this: 10:28 a.m.: In hilarious news, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher reportedly signed a two-year contract extension this season despite leading a mediocre team year after year and an inability to name Patriots offensive playmakers. We’re posted up at Gillette Stadium. Kick off is in just over 2 1/2 hours. 8 a.m. ET: The New England Patriots’ season starts anew without tight end Rob Gronkowski at 1 p.m. ET. Gronkowski was placed on season-ending injured reserve Saturday afternoon, which means the big tight end cannot return for the regular season or playoffs. The Patriots must make do with Martellus Bennett and Matt Lengel at the position against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13 and beyond. The Patriots are favored over the Rams by 13.5
Tag: defensive
Dont’a Hightower Mum On Patriots D’s Lack Of Playmakers: ‘That’s Out Of My Pay Grade’
The New England Patriots’ defense has been huge weakness for the team this season, but the players are leaving that topic up to coach Bill Belichick. New England traded linebacker Chandler Jones this offseason, traded linebacker Jamie Collins during their Week 9 bye and made defensive end Jabaal Sheard inactive before Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers without any explanation. Dont’a Hightower joined “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” on Monday and was asked if he was “comfortable” with the Patriots’ lack of playmakers on defense, but the defensive captain didn’t offer much insight. “Whether I am comfortable or not, that’... NESN.com
Patriots Keys Vs. Bengals: Fixing Defensive Deficiencies Among Week 6 Goals
Rob Gronkowski made Week 6 quite a bit more interesting Friday, when he was conspicuously absent from New England Patriots practice. Gronkowski, who has dealt with a hamstring injury since training camp, causes a stir any time he’s not on the field. The big tight end is dealing with an illness, according to the Patriots, though no other information has been reported or revealed. The Patriots have just one fully healthy tight end on their roster, AJ Derby, since Martellus Bennet is questionable with an ankle injury and Greg Scruggs already has been ruled out with a knee injury. We’ll likely see Gronkowski take the field Sunday against the Cin... NESN.com
Jonathan Cooper Reportedly Cut By Patriots Before Making New England Debut
by Zack Cox on Sat, Oct 8, 2016 at 2:31PM 4,667 Share this: The Jonathan Cooper era in New England has ended before it truly could begin. The Patriots on Saturday released Cooper, a source told ESPN’s Field Yates. The 26-year-old guard had yet to appear in a game for New England as he continued to recover from a foot injury suffered during the first week of training camp. In a corresponding move, the Patriots signed defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton off their practice squad, a source told NESN.com’s Doug Kyed. Hamilton will shore up the team’s defensive front, which lacked depth entering Sunday’s matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Cooper’s reported release came three days after he was removed from the Patriots’ injury report for the first time this
Patriots 53-Man Roster Cuts Tracker: Cre’Von LeBlanc Released
The New England Patriots must trim their 75-man roster down to 53 players by Saturday at 4 p.m., but Bill Belichick likely will get out in front of the game by making cuts throughout the morning. Despite having 75 players on their 53-man roster, the Patriots only need to make 20 releases because defensive end Rob Ninkovich and quarterback Tom Brady have been suspended four games apiece. The Patriots’ toughest cuts will come at running back, tight end, defensive tackle and cornerback. The Patriots released cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc, a source told NESN.com. The news first was reported by the Boston Herald. Other teams could be interested in ... NESN.com
Tony Romo Has Injury Scare After Awkwardly Landing On Back In Cowboys-Seahawks
Tony Romo just can’t catch a break. The Cowboys quarterback’s injury history needs its own encyclopedia, and he added another section to it Thursday night in Dallas’ preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Just three plays in, Romo was flushed out of the pocket before landing awkwardly on his back after being tackled from behind by defensive end Cliff Avril. Luckily the injury doesn’t appear to be too serious. But considering the QB only played in four games in 2015, this is the last thing the Cowboys needed to see in a preseason game. Thumbnail photo via Troy Wayrynen/USA TODAY Sports Images
Patriots Projected Depth Chart Reset: Defensive Line Competition Ongoing
Share this: The New England Patriots are just two days away from almost-real football. The Patriots will take on the New Orleans Saints in their first preseason game Thursday, but first they’ll compete in two joint practices. Let’s first take a look at the Patriots’ projected depth chart based on what we’ve seen at training camp. + Injured QUARTERBACKTom Brady/Jimmy Garoppolo Jacoby Brissett— Jimmy Garoppolo is the starter in Weeks 1 through 4, and Brady is the starter from Week 5 on. Thus, co-starters. RUNNING BACKDion Lewis+ (PUP)LeGarrette Blount James White Brandon Bolden Tyler Gaffney Donald Brown+ Joey Iosefa D.J. Foster+— Gaffney is above Brown because he’s been in the system for two years, and he already has a week’s worth of more practice reps. Brown is