The Terry Glenn is back to being a day-by-day affair, but at least now he is participating in practice with the rest of the team.
After meeting with Head Coach Bill Belichick Wednesday evening, Glenn returned to the practice field Thursday and participated for the first time since the days following New England's Week Five victory over San Diego.
That is not to say that Glenn's has reestablished himself with the team. Belichick did not go into much detail on the situation, except to say it would be watched closely.
"I expect him to practice today and really just take it day by day from here," Belichick said. "It's a bottom line, and the bottom line is that I expect him to practice today and we will take it day to day from there. That is really about the extent of it. That is where it is for right now.
Glenn, who did not speak with the media during the open locker room session, met with Belichick for about an hour. According to published reports, he left the meeting feeling positive, and Belichick said he felt the situation was better than what it had been for the last few weeks. Asked how his relationship with the players was at this point, Belichick said it was his duty to do what is best for the team.
"My job is to coach the football team and coach the players on the team," Belichick said. "I feel a responsibility to every single one of them whether they are practice squad players, starters, injured or not injured.
"I feel everybody that is contributing to the team is part of the team and anybody who is on it is part of the team, whatever their capacity. Whether it is Brock Williams on injured reserve or anybody else. That is what I am trying to do. I am trying to coach the players, instruct them on what I think they need to improve and how the team, what direction it needs to go into to win a game, this particular game. That is what my job is, that's what I think my relationship needs to be with the players and I would say that about every player. You can bring up any specific one, and I would say the same thing whichever one it is you bring up. I feel the same obligation to all of them."
As for how the rest of the team feels about the decision, Belichick said he was trying his best to do what he feels is best for everyone.
"I feel like all of the decisions that I need to make are based on our football team and on trying to be fair to everybody that is involved and I try to do the best I can on that," Belichick said. "I am not saying that it is perfect or easy, but I try to take everything into consideration and make the best decision I can for the football team, the organization and be fair to everybody that is involved."
Votes are in
If Patriots fans are expecting to see players from the home team voted on to the AFC squad this season, they could be pretty disappointed.
According to the vote tallies through Thursday, Dec. 6, only two New England players are in good position to get the fans' vote. Defensive end Bobby Hamilton, who has put up a career-high 6 sacks, is second among interior linemen with 49,605, but that is less than half the total of position leader John Randle of Seattle. Nipping at Hamilton's heels are Miami's Daryl Gardener and Baltimore's Tony Siragusa.
The only other Patriot ranked in the top three of his category is special teamer Larry Izzo, who trails Pittsburgh's John Fiala and Oakland's Randy Jordan. Fullback Marc Edwards and wide receiver Troy Brown are both fifth at their positions, well behind the leaders.
The rest of the New England players ranked in the top-10 are center Damien Woody (6th); inside linebacker Bryan Cox, cornerback Ty Law and strong safety Lawyer Milloy (all 7th); and guard Joe Andruzzi (9th).
Quarterback Tom Brady is not among the top-10 quarterbacks despite being second in the conference in quarterback rating and leading the Patriots to a 7-3 record with him as the starter.
Voting for the Pro Bowl can be done at NFL.com for one more month before the squads are announced.
Injury Report
Cornerback Otis Smith was added to the Patriots injured list as questionable with the flu. He is the second player to officially be questionable with the flu, joining wide receiver Charles Johnson. Johnson was able to practice Thursday and was feeling better than he had earlier in the week.
Defensive end Willie McGinest (leg) had no change to his questionable status for the game.
