Patriots Get Rid Of A Talented Young Cornerback, Wait What?

The Patriots might be in the middle of their bye week but it is also the middle of the 2012 regular season so they are still hard at work in Foxborough.

On the heels of releasing linebacker Bobby Carpenter yesterday, they surprisingly released second-year cornerback Sterling Moore this afternoon. To take their places on the 53-man roster, New England re-signed linebacker Mike Rivera (who has been with the team a couple times) and safety Derrick Martin, who has played six seasons in the NFL most recently with the Giants last year and was with the Pats during training camp. They also terminated the practice squad contract of defensive end/tight end Alex Silvestro.

Moore was an undrafted free agent that the Patriots discovered last season. He had played in all eight games this season (no starts) as a nickel back and made 13 tackles (12 solo) with one fumble forced and one fumble recovered. Considering the fact that he was released twice last season but ended up playing a prominent role in the playoffs means that I doubt they have completely given up on him (he's only 22). I bet they told him to hang tight and he'll be back on the team in a few weeks when someone else goes down or this Martin character proves to be a bum.

UPDATE 11/1: The Pats signed wide receiver Jarred Fayson to the practice squad today. Moore cleared waivers which means he's a free agent. He does have practice squad eligibility left though and New England has one open spot there.

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All Roads Lead Back To Gillette Stadium, For A Chosen Few

It isn't official yet but it sounds like at any point this week, the Patriots will bring back linebacker Bobby Carpenter who was with them all preseason. The linebacker was cut on September 1 and has been a free agent ever since then.

That move would point to the fact that rookie Dont'a Hightower's hamstring injury must be somewhat serious. New England must think his status for Sunday against the Broncos is in question. He left Sunday's game in Buffalo during the first quarter and never returned; Tracy White took his spot and if you remember the AFC Championship game against the Colts in 2008, White can't be expected to do anything but play special teams.

New England has an open roster spot since earlier today they released defensive tackle Terrell McClain who did his best Kellen Winslow Jr. impression against the Bills (no stats whatsoever in his only game for the Pats).

UPDATE 10/3: The Pats re-signed tight end Alex Silvestro to the practice squad and released offensive lineman Thomas Austin. Also, they announced Carpenter's return.

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Finally, Some News From Super Bowl Week

It took nearly a week but there's final a nugget of news from the endless hype and bluster of Super Bowl week in Indianapolis: tonight in a weirdly timed move, the Patriots released wide receiver Tiquan Underwood and promoted defensive end Alex Silvestro to the 53-man roster.

There's a couple way to read this move which basically swaps the last guy on the team for a guy on the practice squad that played in one game earlier this season. A) The Patriots want to rotate their defensive ends and linemen often and B) Chad Johnson is going to be active.

I can't argue that this transaction on the surface seems heartless but you have to think it serves some purpose, otherwise why would New England take a risk like this on the eve of its biggest game in four years?

With two weeks to talk about Super Bowl 46, many have come to the silly conclusion that Johnson, who was on the field for one play against Denver and wasn't active vs. Baltimore in the AFC Championship, could be a sort of secret weapon. I wish I could be that delusional but the fact is that if Chad had 15 catches all season, what makes you think he'll do anything in the Super Bowl? What has he done in 2011-12 to show you that he's a clutch performer? I rest my case.

Let's be real, Underwood was lucky to get a free trip to the Super Bowl. He is a fringe NFL player at best and nobody in the world would recognize him or know who he is if he didn't sport an absurd Kid N' Play style high top fade. Don't feel bad for him, he had three catches in five games this season. He was playing on borrowed time.

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Patriots-Bills Injury Report

The 2011 NFL regular season concludes on Sunday, New Year's Day, and locally, the Patriots (12-3) host the Buffalo Bills (6-9) at Gillette Stadium at 1 p.m.

Everybody knows the stakes for the Pats, win and they clinch home-field throughout the AFC playoffs. They've already won the AFC East title and clinched a first-round bye.

The injury reports for both teams came out this afternoon and Buffalo has already declared five players out for their season-finale. Tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), tight end Mike Caussin (knee), kicker Dave Rayner (groin), quarterback/kick returner Brad Smith (hamstring) and guard Kraig Urbik (knee) are all free to get loaded on New Year's Eve since all they'll be doing on Sunday is standing on the sideline in street clothes.

New England's banged up offensive line will be missing guard Logan Mankins (knee) and tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back), who were ruled out. Bill Belichick had fun with this injury report as 16 Patriots are questionable.

Kyle Arrington (foot), Deion Branch (groin), Patrick Chung (foot), Dan Connolly (groin), Julian Edelman (back), Dane Fletcher (thumb), James Ihedigbo (shoulder), Matt Light (ankle), Devin McCourty (shoulder), Rob Ninkovich (hip), Matthew Slater (shoulder), Brandon Spikes (knee), Shane Vereen (hamstring), Brian Waters (ankle), Wes Welker (knee) and Tracy White (abdomen) are all 50-50 against their AFC East rivals.

I say it every week but since the Pats are off next week when the playoffs begin, it would be very nice to see Chung and/or Spikes get back on the field. It'll also be interesting to see if Light can play since he was a last-minute scratch last weekend against Miami.

Welker was fined $10,000 by the NFL for wearing an unauthorized hat. It was for an energy bar company he promotes, not some Jesus freak stuff like Jon Kitna used to sport so that makes me rest easier. As he pointed out on Twitter, Welker had worn this hat all season but for whatever reason, the NFL decided to fine him now. Weird.

Stay tuned to see who else is out on Sunday.

UPDATE 1/1: Defensive back Malcolm Williams was added to the 53-man roster and defensive end Alex Silvestro was signed to the practice squad, taking Williams' spot. Ross Ventrone wasn't activated since it would have exhausted his practice squad eligibility for his career (really). Also, Williams playing means that special teams all-star White is probably out tomorrow.

The inactives for the Pats are Mankins, Vollmer, White, Faulk, Vereen, Ron Brace and Ryan Mallett. The inactives for the Bills are Smith, Nesbitt, Urbik, defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, Bell, wide receiver Kamar Aiken and tight end Fendi Onobun.

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Tom Brady Wins AFC Offensive Player Of The Week For The 3rd Time This Season

For the third time this season and 20th time in his legendary career, Patriots quarterback and icon Tom Brady was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

He tied Colts quarterback Peyton Manning for most times winning the award. I know stats are for losers, blah blah blah but it would be cool to see Brady overtake Manning on that one.

In last Saturday's 27-24 comeback win over the Dolphins, Brady was 27-for-46 for 304 yards and one touchdown. He also had two rushing touchdowns (a career-high). By his insane standards, it wasn't his best performance by any means but I guess nobody around the AFC could top it.

Brady has a good chance to break Drew Brees' (formerly Dan Marino's) NFL record for passing yards which the Saints QB set on Monday. Brady sits 190 yards behind Brees and you'd have to think that New Orleans is more likely to sit Brees at some point vs. Carolina on Sunday.

The Pats (12-3) host the Bills (6-9) and like the Saints, the Patriots are trying to lock up home field throughout the NFL playoffs. We all know how much Bill Belichick hates sitting guys and they'll never say it but they care deeply about important records like this.

In scrub Patriots news, and who's scrubbier than Ross Ventrone, came word today that the safety has been signed to New England's practice squad. Would you believe it was his 21st transaction with the team since mid-August? It's a good thing he has no friends or family, otherwise this would be a rough period in his fake life.

New England also signed undrafted rookie defensive end Aaron Lavarias (Idaho) to the practice squad. He was here for the preseason and spent Week 1 on the practice squad before being released on September 14. He later spent time on Detroit's practice squad. He gives some defensive line depth to the practice squad after Alex Silvestro (haha No. 69 on your roster) was promoted last week to the 53-man roster.

UPDATE 12/29: The Silvestro era is over in Foxborough. He was released by the Pats today after playing against the Dolphins last Saturday. If he clears waivers, he's likely to return to the practice squad.

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Patriots Sign Safety Vincent Fuller

I meant to write this yesterday when I heard it on Twitter but I figured I'd wait until it became official: the New England Patriots signed free agent safety Vincent Fuller today.

It's a good move first of all because it means that Matthew Slater and to a lesser degree Sergio Brown should get less playing time. Moreover, Patrick Chung was back at practice today (he's missed the last six games) so hopefully one of New England's biggest weaknesses is finally being fixed.

Fuller is 29-years-old and he was selected by Tennessee in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. He played for the Titans from 2005-2010 and spent one game with the Lions this season before being placed on IR (elbow).

Detroit released him from the injured reserve list Dec. 6 which it opened the opportunity for Fuller (6-1, 192) to sign with another team.

He has has played in 76 NFL games (5 career starts), he's made 163 tackles and six interceptions (4 returned for touchdowns). Prior to signing with the Lions, Fuller worked out for the Patriots in early September before the regular season started (showing that safety depth was an issue even way back then).

In other Patriots news, the Pro Bowl final fan results were released today (can you feel the excitement?). I only mention it since a bunch of Pats won this glorified popularity contest for a game that absolutely nobody cares about. Is there any argument that it's not the worst All-Star game of the four major sports?

Tom Brady was the leading vote-getter in the AFC (second in the NFL behind Aaron Rodgers) while Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Logan Mankins and Andre Carter also came in first in the AFC at their respective positions.

Aaron Hernandez, Matt Light and Kyle Arrington finished second while Vince Wilfork, Stephen Gostkowski and Matthew Slater were third.

Pro Bowl rosters are determined by fan votes, player votes and coach votes. Each one counts 1/3 towards setting the 43-man roster. NFL players and coaches will cast their ballots today and tomorrow. The 2012 Pro Bowl is Sunday, January 29 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Regardless of if the Patriots are still alive in the playoffs or not, don't expect any of the big name players to appear in the game. Who could blame them? However, their idiots if they skip out on a free trip to Hawaii; they just have to make up a fake injury.

UPDATE 12/23: In a classic Belichick move, Fuller was released today (he must have been awful) while defensive end Alex Silvestro and defensive back Sterling Moore were added to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.

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