Slater has seemed to take a small injury in the last 3/4 games. We all know next man up and that, but if he is nursing minor injuries I hope they dont over-extend him.We don't know how close Keshawn Martin is to returning; that would give them three if he can go. He hasn't missed a practice but has been limited / questionable with a hamstring since Week 7. Three still seems light. Slater might get some extra WR reps in practice this week.
Is it?If Amendola is going to miss 0 - 1 games, that's a big improvement over what we all seemed to think was going to happen.
Give me my $5. Now I know why DRS gets cranky.Looked like a tweak to me. As someone who isn't a doctor, I'll accept half of the going DRS rate.
Yeah, looking at the stats out there, the Pats remaining opponents average an Off. DVOA rank of 22.7 (compared to 14 for the teams they've already played), PPG rank of 21.5 (vs. 16.4 for the teams they've already faced), and average 21.3 vs. 22.8 PPG. By pretty much any measure you like, the Pats defense will face a much easier slate moving forward, with the Jets being the best offense they will see, and the Broncos, Texans, and Titans considered among the worst in the NFL.Even with the injuries on offense, the defense is #1 in football by points allowed.
How many points will teams like Eagles, Titans, Texans, Dolphins and Jets be able to put up on them?
This is because you think BB plays more games with the injury report than he does? I'll bet Dobson doesn't fly to Denver and is ruled out on Saturday. At this point I'd take questionable from Amendola up until game time because that would indicate he's close.I'm expecting both Dobson and Amendola to be questionable game time decisions all week right up until kick off.
Doing the 1 armed happy danceJeff Howe @jeffphowe 3m3 minutes ago
Danny Amendola suffered a knee sprain and seems to be good for Denver, per source. @tomecurran first to report.
Hey, I was going to call my fantasy team "Tavon Wilson Fan Club," but it didn't fit. (J/K, #1 choice was "Kyle Arrington Fan Club")You're just mad they won't be cutting Wilson.
Belichick tends to be pretty consistent. If a guy doesn't practice all week, they'll just list him as Out. If he's limited in practice all week, most of the time he'll be listed as Questionable and there won't be much information as to whether he's actually going to suit up or not until the day of.This is because you think BB plays more games with the injury report than he does? I'll bet Dobson doesn't fly to Denver and is ruled out on Saturday. At this point I'd take questionable from Amendola up until game time because that would indicate he's close.
On the other hand if they lose one now, and have just one loss going into the last two games, and have home field wrapped up, I don't believe BB would go "all out" to win those last two. I'd expect to see Brady go no more than a half, possibly a quarter in each. As far r Gronk, it might be like the pre-season, not playing at all. Every player nursing an injury should probably sit out to.Even if Amendola and Dobson are out, I think BB goes all out the rest of the schedule to win every game. First, it's his nature and a big clue to his approach on motivation.
Remember a few years ago when the Colts with Manning and Caldwell were flirting with 16-0 - I think they were 14 games in - and they punted on the season. Incredibly deflating for that team. The media coverage then IIRC had the tone of a betrayal of sorts.
BB won't acknowledge 16-0, of course, but he knows his players are thinking it and it makes his job that much easier.
I don't see Belichick doing that for 2 games with Brady. You can't put the QB on the shelf for a month and expect him to come into the playoffs and play well.On the other hand if they lose one now, and have just one loss going into the last two games, and have home field wrapped up, I don't believe BB would go "all out" to win those last two. I'd expect to see Brady go no more than a half, possibly a quarter in each. As far r Gronk, it might be like the pre-season, not playing at all. Every player nursing an injury should probably sit out to.
Jeff Howe @jeffphowe 54s55 seconds ago
Aaron Dobson's X-ray came back clean on his ankle, but they're awaiting more info from the MRI, per source.
Both of these injuries look pretty minor then I guess. Does anyone know just how much of the Costco chicken salad Collins ate?Jeff Howe @jeffphowe 3m3 minutes ago
Danny Amendola suffered a knee sprain and seems to be good for Denver, per source. @tomecurran first to report.
Presumably a pallet, right?Both of these injuries look pretty minor then I guess. Does anyone know just how much of the Costco chicken salad Collins ate?
I agree. In week 17 last year Brady played the first half, throwing 16 times. Gronk did not play at all.I don't see Belichick doing that for 2 games with Brady. You can't put the QB on the shelf for a month and expect him to come into the playoffs and play well.
I'd expect week 16 is business as usual and a repeat of week 17 from last year.
As far as Gronk i agree he will get the kids glove treatment.
I haven't seen any reports of 1-4 from the generally trusted sources, so we'll see if that's indeed the case.I heard on the radio coming into work that Amendola is out 1 - 4 weeks.
Why does this thread start with the assumption that Dobson is done?
Count me in the Dobson is solid depth category, not entirely fungible. Obviously he has limits but he knows the system, seems to have good hands and, no, doesn't get great separation but clearly has a role for BB in certain situations ahead of Jo Jo. Losing the #4 receiver when your top two guy are already out is a blow -- here's hoping he can come back to contribute, as now the injury reports seem to imply.That catch last night looked awfully difficult to me. I thought it was a show of really good hands.
I think people always had unreasonable expectations for Dobson. I think there is still a chance that Dobson could be a quality NFL receiver, but he was never going to be star or a guy that would consistently beat #1 CBs in this league. I think his ceiling was always something along the line of what you expect production wise from LaFell. He hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to get to that level and would probably be most effective in this offense in the role that LaFell plays. I'd be curious to see him in a Joe Flacco type offense or any offense that has the WRs going vertical much more often than the Pats.Count me in the Dobson is solid depth category, not entirely fungible. Obviously he has limits but he knows the system, seems to have good hands and, no, doesn't get great separation but clearly has a role for BB in certain situations ahead of Jo Jo. Losing the #4 receiver when your top two guy are already out is a blow -- here's hoping he can come back to contribute, as now the injury reports seem to imply.
http://nesn.com/2015/11/report-aaron-dobson-has-high-ankle-sprain-to-miss-at-least-patriots-broncos/The New England Patriots might need to start looking at available wide receivers. Aaron Dobson, who started the Patriots’ 20-13 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday, has a high ankle sprain, a source told the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe. The wide receiver won’t play Sunday night’s matchup with the Denver Broncos, though it’s unclear how much more time he will miss, Howe reports.
He's not the one with $50 riding on it. I'm sad to say my 3-plus year long bet with Stitch is about to end, though I'm happy to give it if Wilson can actually provide a benefit to the team playing Inside Linebacker.You're just mad they won't be cutting Wilson.
I would have thought the same thing until Belichick bubble-wrapped Edelman and Gronk in the preseason. If they're 14-0 heading into the Jets game and have clinched the 1 seed, I think he's resting players. Wouldn't be surprised if he didn't, though.I don't see BB punting on a game, like week 17 of last year, if they are still undefeated. I just can't see that happening. That's not really BB's style.
I'm still not sure we didn't all hallucinate it. I hope you lose the bet. ;-)He's not the one with $50 riding on it. I'm sad to say my 3-plus year long bet with Stitch is about to end, though I'm happy to give it if Wilson can actually provide a benefit to the team playing Inside Linebacker.
Ben Volin @BenVolin 1m1 minute ago
#Patriots injury news isn’t all bad. Hearing that Jamie Collins plans to play Sunday after missing last four games with mystery illness
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/2015/12/01/jamie-collins-reportedly-plans-play-sunday-eagles/hJYvuh8U0jRbsbzfeDSHqM/story.htmlThe return of Jamie Collins would be a sight for sore eyes—and knees, and feet, and biceps.
The New England Patriots linebacker plans to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to The Boston Globe . Collins missed four games due to an undisclosed illness. According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport, Collins was over the sickness in mid-November leading up to the Bills-Patriots matchup, but needed to regain weight and strength.
Like a guy off the DL, he's probably regaining both regular strength and playing strength -- he hasn't seen actual game action in a while, so I would be surprised if he goes wire-to-wire against Philly.I assume Collins will still be weak this week -- but if he can play I'm guessing that'll mean he'll be in fine form by the playoffs.
Someone asked this on F&M yesterday with Greg Bedard sitting in. He said the knock on Bostic in Chicago was terrible instincts. Couldn't get himself in the right position to make a play. Bedard said he's hearing the Patriots are seeing the same problems and that's keeping him from getting regular reps even with the recent injuries.Perhaps wrong thread, but we focused on LBers recently. What is up w Bostic? Not that good? Learning the system?
The files are IN the computer?
Hightower with a brace in knee.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/02/bill-belichick-discusses-new-aquisitions-for-patriots/lRvwLyXWfxP9zi0TBFUf2L/story.htmlThe biggest surprise at practice was the presence of linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who suffered a sprained MCL against the Broncos. Hightower, listed as limited, was wearing a brace but didn’t appear hobbled. He walked without a noticeable limp before practice in the locker room, where he declined a request to speak with reporters.
Coleman’s absence was a surprise as he was at his locker, in cleats, and said he was “doing better.’’