*ESPNBoston.com* reports the New England Patriots rank first in the NFL in scoring, with a 30.0 points-per-game (PPG) average, and first on third-down offense, with a 58.3 percentage. The Pats rank 28th in points allowed, however, with 27.3 PPG. They're 30th in third-down defense at 50 percent.
The NFL is thinking of extending its regular season from 16 games to an 18-game schedule. The hope is that this will increase revenue, but concerns from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on the added toll this will take on players has NFL officials butting heads with the players' union.
"I'd prefer to secure a player's health over a lifetime than create wealth in the short term,'' NFLPA President Kevin Mawae told the *Boston Globe*. "It's not salaries or money - though that is important - but more so how 18 games affect a player's long-term health, and how we deal with that.'
Patriots kickers Stephen Gostkowski (3) and Zoltan Mesko (14) visited the pediatric floor of Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday as part of New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's "Kick Cancer" initiative. Read more about it in the *Boston Herald*.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't too worried about the Dolphins' infamous Wildcat offense, which they ran all over the Patriots two years ago for their first season win.
"I would never say it was a huge part of their game plan; I think it was something they have used and continue to use," the *Boston Globe* quoted Belichick yesterday via conference call. "As far as their offensive package, it's just another thing they do to keep you off-balance, make you work on it.
"They change it up. They do a good job with it. You have to prepare for [it]. But I don't think they're going to be in it for 40 plays or anything like that."
