Week 7 Patriots-Jets Injury Report

Is it just me or has this installment of Patriots-Jets, a matchup that normally gets a boatload of hype, been pretty quiet this week? I guess that's what happens when both teams come in at a depressing 3-3. Today, the injury report was released and the funny part is that while New England wore out the questionable designation (11 players), for some reason New York made 10 guys probable? Not sure the logic there.

For the Patriots, running back Brandon Bolden (knee), safety Steve Gregory (hip) and linebacker Tracy White (foot) are all out for Sunday (4:25 p.m., CBS). The Jets haven't ruled anybody out yet but defensive linemen Kenrick Ellis (knee) and Sione Pouha (lower back), running back Bilal Powell (shoulder) and safety Eric Smith (knee) are all doubtful so don't expect to see them on the field unless backup quarterback Tim Tebow can perform some type of miracle on them.

New England defensive lineman Ron Brace (back), safety Patrick Chung (shoulder), wide receiver Julian Edelman (hand), tight ends Rob Gronkowski (hip) and Aaron Hernandez (ankle), linebacker Dont'a Hightower (hamstring), guard Logan Mankins (calf/hip), offensive lineman Nick McDonald (shoulder), cornerback Sterling Moore (knee), offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back/knee) and wide receiver Wes Welker (ankle) are all questionable.

The two guys that are the biggest unknowns on that list are Chung and Hightower. Chung got hurt last Sunday against the Seahawks and didn't return while Hightower has missed the last two games.

New York wide receiver Clyde Gates (shoulder), center Nick Mangold (ankle) and running back Joe McKnight (ankle) are questionable.

Stay tuned tomorrow night or Sunday afternoon when we find out who else will be siting out during this vital AFC East showdown.

UPDATE 10/20: Linebacker Jeff Tarpinian was added to the 53-man roster today from the practice squad. To make room, the Patriots released offensive lineman Matt Tennant. This will be his first game of the season, after playing in seven (1 start) last year-his rookie season-before going on IR with a concussion. If I'm reading the tea leaves correctly here, this probably means that Hightower is still out. We shall see.

UPDATE 10/21: The other Patriots out are Mankins, Chung, defensive end Jake Bequette and Brace.

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Week 6 Patriots-Seahawks Injury Report

Only a day and a half left before the New England Patriots (3-2) take on the Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at CenturyLink Field Sunday afternoon (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS). Today, the injury report shed some light on who we should expect to see or not see in action.

The Patriots have two guys already out: safety Steve Gregory (hip) for the second straight week and linebacker Tracy White (foot) who left last week's game against the Broncos with an injury. The Seahawks will be missing defensive tackle Jaye Howard (foot) and guard John Moffitt (knee).

As always, New England is taking advantage of the questionable label by putting a whopping 14 guys with that designation. Running back Brandon Bolden (knee), defensive end Brandon Deaderick (ankle), wide receivers Julian Edelman (hand) and Wes Welker (ankle), defensive tackle Justin Francis (ankle), tight ends Rob Gronkowski (hip), Aaron Hernandez (ankle) and Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion), linebacker Dont'a Hightower (hamstring), guard Logan Mankins (calf), center Nick McDonald (shoulder), cornerback Sterling Moore (knee), running back Shane Vereen (foot) and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back) are all 50/50 wink wink, nudge nudge.

Deaderick and Francis haven't played at all while Hightower missed last week. I'd say Dont'a along with Hernandez (out since Week 2) are the two names to watch out for since they are very important players that we know have legitimately been hurt.

For Seattle, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (groin) is doubtful but he's the only other Seahawk that is expected to miss the game.

Stay tuned tomorrow and on Sunday as we find out who else will be on the sidelines.

UPDATE 10/14: Hightower and Edelman have been ruled out. The Boston Globe reports that Hernandez is expected to play but in a limited role so don't hold your breath for a big performance. Also, I wouldn't start him in fantasy football but that's just me.

The three other Patriots out today are defensive end Jake Bequette, center Matt Tennant and Hoomanawanui.

The Seahawks out are wide receiver Charly Martin, strong safety Winston Guy, cornerback Danny Gorrer, cornerback Jeremy Lane and McDonald.

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2012 NFL Free Agency Begins Or So I've Heard

The new calendar year for the NFL officially began at 4 p.m. this afternoon, meaning that free agency opened.

For New England Patriots fans, this day is strange. You watch so many teams around the league make big splashes but the Pats rarely spend a whole lot in free agency or acquiring marquee names. They much prefer to draft and develop guys or find castoffs that they turn into valuable players.

So while Vincent Jackson was getting paid in Tampa Bay, Peyton Manning was traveling around the country and Brandon Marshall was traded from Miami to Chicago, the Patriots chose to lock up mostly depth players that don't get many headlines.

Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer received a second-round tender from New England. The $1.92 million tender means that any other team can sign him to an offer sheet. If the Patriots don't match it, they get a second-round pick.

Defensive lineman Kyle Love received an exclusive rights free-agent tender. Center Dan Koppen is headed to the open market in free agency although he could return to Foxboro. Linebacker Niko Koutouvides was signed to a one-year deal with a base salary of $825,000. Finally, Matthew Slater is expected to reach an agreement tomorrow.

Only Brandon Lloyd is left in terms of impact free agent wide receivers. Let's hope that the Pats can get something done with him soon and they don't lose out to a team like the 49ers (who's hosting him on a visit tomorrow). I would list other pipe dreams like Mario Williams but I fear there's no chance they'll land anybody in his range.

UPDATE 3/14: The Patriots resigned linebacker and special teams standout Tracy White, terms were not disclosed. They've also signed former Bengals defensive end Jonathan Fanene to a three-year contract worth $12 million which includes a $3.85 million signing bonus. I'm excited that the Pats addressed one of their biggest needs but honestly, I've never heard of this bum. Looks like another nobody that they'll try to squeeze something out of on short money. He had 6.5 sacks last season and six sacks in 2009. He's 29 years old, 6-4, 285 pounds and he's from American Samoa. You probably would recognize him from his long hair.

UPDATE 3/15: Today the Patriots resigned Slater and also came to terms with defensive lineman Marcus Harrison, who was on the team for one day (haha really) last season. New England also signed safety Steve Gregory to a three-year deal (averaging between $2 million and $3 million) and they resigned Dan Connolly to a new contract. Gregory was on the Chargers since entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2006.

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Kevin Faulk Re-Signs With Patriots Along With Brandon McGowan & Tracy White

When Kevin Faulk tore his ACL in last year's annual Week 2 Super Bowl against the Jets, many thought that his career would be over. Losing Faulk was devastating at the time, as Lawrence Maroney had just been traded and Danny Woodhead had not yet joined the club.

After an extended off-season, it appears as if Faulk will be back with the team for his 12th season, adding to the Patriots depth at the running back position while maintaining his position as a leader in the locker room.

Faulk gives the Patriots more options both in the running game as well as the kicking game but we will see how his knee injury affects his playing time.

He is part of a backfield that features BenJarvis Green-Ellis (who is a RFA), Woodhead, Sammy Morris, Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley. Faulk will still have to prove that he is in playing shape and will fight for a roster spot. Like Tedy Bruschi in 2009, if Faulk can't go, I think he retires as a Patriot. However if Faulk can be what he was before the knee injury, I think that Sammy Morris may be the odd man out. He's only good for six games a year anyway.

More importantly, with the release of Ty Warren and Tully Banta-Cain, Faulk is one of the few remaining Patriots that has been with the organization since the Super Bowl days. His veteran presence in the locker room can not be overstated, especially with the addition of Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco.

It should be an interesting camp for Faulk. He is a fan favorite and one of the most clutch performers in franchise history. Let's hope that he has one more run left in him.

Also, late tonight the Patriots resigned safety Brandon McGowan and linebacker Tracy White while releasing rookie linebacker Anthony Leonard.

McGowan missed all of 2010 with a chest injury but he came out of nowhere in 2009 to appear in all 16 games (starting 11) as he made a career-high 66 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. If he's healthy, he has some value as a backup safety and on special teams.

Speaking of special teams, that's where you'll find White. Last season was his first in Foxborough and he finished second on the team with 18 special teams tackles (tying his career-high). With a full season under his belt, he should be a key part of the special teams this season but then again, those guys come and go like nothing else so he could be out of a job in a few weeks. We shall see.

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