In a move to bolster the linebacking core, the Patriots acquired inside LB **Prescott Burgess **from the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional seventh-round pick. The team released CRyan Wendallto make room on the roster. According to the Boston Globe, the acquisition of Burgess could allow LB Adalius Thomasto return to the outside. Most of these personell changes stem from losing LB Jerod Mayofor a reported 6-8 weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament.
When the Patriots welcome the Atlanta Falcons to Gillette Stadium Sunday, TE Tony Gonzalez will be on their radar from the first snap. It's dicey as to who'll cover the veteran tight end. According to the Boston Herald, Patriots Defensive coordinator Dean Pees is mulling over the same question. "I think there's several guys. We just have to figure out which one is the best matchup physically, and maybe he matches up for the kind of routes and the kind of things this guy does," Pees said. "Whether he's a physical tight end, and does route-routing, or he's more of a finesse tight end, it's going to probably vary from week to week."
In a *SI.Com *article, read a former running back's comments on Sunday being a statement game for the Patriots.
FOXSports.com ran a story claiming the Patriots are not capable of returning to 2007 form. One reason being Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Asante Samuel, Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel are no longer with the team via retirement or trade. This presents a problem in returning to the juggernaut of two season's ago.
The New York Jets' relentless pressure on QB Tom Bradymade it difficult to set up the screen game. The *Providence Journal *reports Head Coach Bill Belichick commented on the issue saying, "One of the keys on the screen is to be able to get a start and get the ball to the back or tight end, whoever you're screening to, adding some space to the blocker in front of him." Read more of his comments here.
