The Albert Haynesworth Era Comes To A Predictable End In New England

I won't lie to myself or you the reader and say that I thought Albert Haynesworth was suddenly a changed person when he put on a Patriots uniform in August.

What mattered most to all of us was the assumption that he could regain some of his dominant form from years gone by. After a puzzling preseason and lackluster eight games, it was time for the Pats to say goodbye to a guy who clearly doesn't give a shit about anything. Today, they released him.

New England was basically Haynesworth's last chance to show the NFL that he had something to offer and he wasn't done. I'd be shocked if another team picks him up at this point. He had a measly three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) in six games, no sacks, no pressures and no other discernible stat. He might have occupied multiple blockers but who could tell?

Too many times, like on Sunday vs the Giants, he was sitting his fat ass on the bench while the Pats defense continued to live up to its billing as the worst in the NFL. New England head coach Bill Belichick was desperate for playmakers on defense when he surprised everybody by signing Haynesworth over the summer.

For short money, he wasn't much of a risk since if he screwed up or became a problem in the locker room, see you later. Well here we are. As far as I know, he wasn't a cancer (like in earlier times in his career in Tennessee and Washington); he just can't offer anything even to a team as lacking in depth as this one.

The only difference between Haynesworth and Chad Johnson (I'm not calling him Ochocinco until he does something), is that the Pats gave Albert the most basic contract whereas with Johnson, they committed $6 million. For that reason alone, Johnson likely won't find himself unemployed this season even though his play on the field completely warrants it. He's Belichick's boy, that he coveted for years, and Bill is left to hope that Johnson gets it at some point before this season runs out.

In other Pats related news from today (who knew a Tuesday could be so busy?), Dan Gronkowski was released while wide receiver Tiquan Underwood was signed. Underwood, a Rutgers grad, was on the Pats for a few days in the preseason. Who could forget his legendary flat top?

In addition, offensive lineman Thomas Welch was released from the practice squad which means that Ray Ventrone will probably return for the ten millionth time this fall.

Lastly, the Patriots-Colts game in Week 13 (Sunday, Dec. 4 at Gillette) has been flexed out by NBC. It was scheduled to be their Sunday Night Football contest but it has rightly been placed at 1 p.m. This is a no brainer since Indy has already been in a couple primetime games this season. I think America is still recovering from all the vomiting due to those one-sided affairs. For New England, it will serve as their first 1 p.m. start since Week 3 (at Buffalo), believe it or not. Likewise, with the way the Patriots have been playing lately, they're similarly not as deserving of the spotlight.

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Dan Gronkowski Returns To The Patriots

One of the great buddy comedies (that hadn't been created) was nipped in the bud a few weeks back when the New England Patriots cut tight end Dan Gronkowski.

Well fear not, Patriots and Gronk fans, because Rob's older brother is back! After waiving offensive tackle Thomas Welch on Monday, the Pats had an extra roster spot available.

Dan played in the first two games of the season for New England (at Miami and vs. San Diego) but he was cut after injuring his hamstring. He's known more for his blocking prowess than receiving abilities. Along those lines, who knew Rob could block like he has the last few games?

For a time this season with Aaron Hernandez out with a knee injury, the Patriots made the risky decision to play with only one active tight end (Rob Gronkowski) against the Bills. Hernandez returned against the Jets on Sunday and while he wasn't at full speed, just having him out on the field opened some lanes for Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Deion Branch.

If you're a fan of the Gronkowski brothers, and who isn't, Chris Gronkowski (the third brother in the NFL) comes to Gillette Stadium on December 4th with his team, the Indianapolis Colts. By then maybe he'll be on the Patriots too. It sounds insane but I wouldn't be shocked to see that happen.

All I know is that two Gronks is better than one.

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The New England Patriots Never Sleep, But You Already Knew That

I know they're out there but if you're a hardcore New England Patriots fan, I don't know how ignore Twitter and blogs since it's the only way to keep up with all the moving parts during the week between games.

I can imagine there are many casual fans (aka pink hats) that just turn on Patriots games on Sundays and Mondays and say, "who is that?" Well that's one of the reasons why we're here, to help you keep track of the constant transactions for our favorite NFL team.

On the heels of tight end Dan Gronkowski's release yesterday and linebacker Jeff Tarpinian's promotion to the active roster from the practice squad, comes the news today: safety Ross Ventrone has been promoted from the practice squad and linebacker A.J. Edds (who was released on Friday) has been signed to the practice squad.

So what to make of all these minor moves? The Patriots are comfortable playing the Bills tomorrow with only one tight end (Rob Gronkowski) while Aaron Hernandez is expected to sit with a knee injury. It's time for Chad Ochocinco to step up since he figures to see many more passes coming his way against Buffalo.

Tarpinian and Ventrone are thought to be further help/depth on special teams one of the few spots where Buffalo usually excels. In addition, Ventrone could see some bigger playing time if Patrick Chung isn't ready to go (he supposedly had surgery on his thumb this week).

Finally, punter Zoltan Mesko is expected to play tomorrow so New England didn't bring in any other punters to take his place. Safety James Ihedigbo fell into Mesko's knee last week against San Diego during a punt. You can all breath a sigh of relief, looks like the Zoltan is healthy.

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Patriots Add Another Gronk & Linebacker Plus Cut Butler & Warren

The 2011 NFL regular season officially kicks off tomorrow night as the New Orleans Saints visit the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, a truly delicious opener.

There's a full slate of games on Sunday and our own New England Patriots travel to Miami on Monday night in the first part of a Monday Night Football doubleheader (Broncos-Raiders in the dog's breakfast second game).

With that in mind, the clock is running out for the Pats to make roster moves before Monday but they're still putting in full days and nights at Gillette Stadium in anticipation of what should be a great season.

Yesterday, New England released cornerback Darius Butler and signed linebacker A.J. Edds, who was waived by the Dolphins in the preseason.

Today, the Pats released defensive lineman Gerard Warren and made official something that everybody knew this weekend thanks to Twitter and the Gronkowski brothers' love of the social media tool: tight end Dan Gronkowski joins brother Rob as New England signed the former Bronco.

Seeing Butler leave was not a surprise at all and Ryan will have more thoughts on that in a subsequent post. Like Brandon Meriweather before him, his time with Bill Belichick had run out. Drafted only two years ago out of UConn, Butler has plenty of physical talent (who doesn't in the NFL?) but he regressed last season when the team needed him to step up.

This season with Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington ahead of him, not to mention Antwaun Molden and rookie Ras-I Dowling waiting in the wings, Butler would have never seen the field. The Carolina Panthers picked him up and he could flourish there for a team that has nowhere to go but up.

Bringing in Dan Gronkowski, drafted by the Lions and traded to Denver last September, fills a glaring hole for the Patriots who were only carrying two tight ends (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez). Dan, who went to the University of Maryland, is known more as a blocking tight end so basically he'll be a younger, cheaper, white Alge Crumpler (without the resume). Plus, the comic possibilities with him and his brotastic brother will be endless. The clubs and bars in New England have been put on notice.

Seeing Warren leave doesn't come as a shock either since the defensive line is one of New England's deepest positions. He is one of Belichick's favorites though so he could be a guy that comes back during the season when somebody gets hurt. You can never have enough big fatsos that know the playbook and can come in with little to no adjustment period.

Finally, Edds is an unknown commodity. He was drafted in the fourth-round in 2010 out of Iowa (teammates with Patriots rookie linebacker Jeff Tarpinian) by Miami but missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in training camp.

For what it's worth, he led the Dolphins with 18 tackles and a sack this preseason. He gives New England more linebacker depth (one of their shakiest positions) and who knows, since Belichick's boy Kirk Ferentz coaches Iowa, maybe he gave him a hot tip on his former player. Edds can play outside and inside linebacker while also being a long snapper. I can guarantee that he'll be all over special teams on Monday (if he suits up) so you can impress your friends by reading this post and dropping a little knowledge about New England's newest anonymous player.

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