TEAM TALKPatriots-Packers Wednesday Injury Report.Erik Scalavino posts the practice notes and locker-room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Doing ‘whatever we can’ at RB.Press Conference transcripts: Bill Belichick - James White.Angelique Fiske reports how the Patriots dressed up as Disney characters at a Halloween party for pediatric cancer patients. Plus (1.14 min. video)RB coach Ivan Fears spoke about the challenges the running back group has faced this season and how they have adapted. (1.19 min. video)Patriots positional coaches talk state of the Patriots at the mid-season point. (1.19 min. video)Sights and Sounds: Week 8 at Buffalo. (4.12 min. video)Belichick Breakdown: Top plays against the Bills. (4.46 min. video)LOCAL LINKSEvan Lazar reminds us that Patriots vs. Packers is about more than Brady vs. Rodgers.Karen Guregian is pumped for this game www.patriotscheapshops.com , says it’s a rare matchup and should not be missed.Ryan Hannable notes that Sunday night will be just the second time Bill Belichick has ever coached against Aaron Rodgers as a starter.Tom E. Curran says it’s okay for New Englanders to appreciate Aaron Rodgers’ greatness, even while acknowledging Tom Brady is unquestionable the GOAT.Joshua Schrock hears from the coaching staff how Aaron Rodgers and the Packers present an ‘incredible challange’ for the Patriots defense.Andrew Callahan finds both the Patriots and Packers began preparing for this game last offseason.Andrew Callahan shares what Aaron Rodgers says he’s learned from studying Tom Brady.Tanya Ray Fox (PatriotsWire) Aaron Rodgers loves Bill Belichick: ‘Anytime I get a chance to be around Coach, it’s an honor’.Kevin Duffy writes this is when when the Pats defense, perpetually labeled as the most likely impediment to a Super Bowl run, rounds into form.Chris Warner (BostonSportsMediaWatch) Patriots Thursday Notes, Bills edition: “Even though the Patriots started the night with all the energy of an LED reading lamp, they played with enough focus into the fourth quarter to outlast the Bills and ride offensive and defensive scores for a 25-6, “a-win-is-a-win” type of victory.”Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: Rob Gronkowski knows score about team’s priorities New England Patriots T-Shirt , is good with wins over touchdowns; More.Mike Reiss notes that without any moves at the trade deadline, reinforcements must now come from within.Tom E. Curran is okay with the Pats standing pat at the trade deadline.Doug Kyed considers the Patriots open roster spot and how they will fill it.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Without a deadline acquisition, Patriots offense in surprisingly tenuous positionDoug Kyed talks about how Chris Hogan found his stride after a slow start to the season.Andrew Callahan reveals why Cordarrelle Patterson came to play running back for New England.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Phillip Dorsett opens up about seeing himself in trade rumors at deadline.Michael Hurley points out neither Brady nor Gronk are on pace to achieve their 2018 incentives.Ryan Hannable’s spidey sense is tingling: Rob Gronkowski seems frustrated, irked and was seen “strolling through the locker room walking at a much brisker pace than usual,” but why? Injuries? Lack of production? Loss of explosiveness? What is it?Zack Cox says Gronk sure seems tired of talking about his touchdown drought.CBS Boston reports Stephen Gostkowski was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month.Ryan Hannable mentions Sony Michel was present for the second-straight practice.NESN picks their Patriots midseason awards and superlatives: James White a big winner.Bill Speros writes a piece on the Boston Championship sign kid, who is now 16 years old with 11 parades witnessed. /Hope to see him again this February.NESN posts the Instagram of the Brady-Bundchen family in their Halloween costumes.Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Remembering Tedy Bruschi’s football comeback following stroke.NATIONAL NEWSAndy Benoit (SI) Brady vs. Rodgers and the art of great quarterbacking.Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Aaron Rodgers: Tom Brady’s five titles end most discussions about GOAT.Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) NFL QB Hot Sheet: Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady is rare heavyweight matchup.Kevin Patra (NFL.com) McCarthy: ‘You’ll see two of the best’ QBs play Sunday.Cameron Felipe (FootballZebras) Week 9 referee assignments. Patriots-Packers: Brad Allen.Jarrett Bell (USA Today) NFL’s officiating problems have quieted down, but some issues remain.2018 Patriots roster cuts: Quick-hit thoughts on the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster The New England Patriots have cut down their roster under the 53-man regular season limit through a series of transactions over the last two days. While more moves will follow soon – the Patriots only have 52 players signed at the moment, after all – New England Patriots Hats , we now have a first roster to work with and analyze. Let’s do just that.The Patriots need to add at least one more wide receiverAs things stand right now, wide receiver is the lightest position on the team: after cutting Riley McCarron and placing Julian Edelman and Braxton Berrios on reserve lists, New England currently has only three pure wide receivers under contract. Expect New England to add at least one more body over the next few days to offer depth alongside the top trio, Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson.The offensive line and safety positions could also see reinforcementsWhile not as glaring a need as wide receiver depth, New England could look at its offensive line and safety spots as other positions in need of more bodies. While the Patriots might look to the waiver wire or open market to find another offensive tackle, they may already have a backup safety on their team: cornerback Jason McCourty has seen plenty of snaps at the position over the past two weeks and could serve as the number four safety if need be. It would also not be a surprise, though New England Patriots Hoodie , if the Patriots brought in another safety from the outside.New England’s defensive edge looks deep on paperLast year, the Patriots had to rely on in-season signings Eric Lee and James Harrison to provide depth along a defensive edge that was lacking just that. This year, the group looks much better with Trey Flowers and Adrian Clayborn as the top options, and Derek Rivers, Deatrich Wise Jr. and Keionta Davis behind them. On paper, New England has been able to address one of the major weaknesses of 2017.Another undrafted rookie makes the teamTraining camp standout J.C. Jackson has survived roster cutdowns, which means that another undrafted rookie free agent has been able to make the team. 2018 will therefore be the 15th straight season that a player who did not hear his name called during the draft has made it through cutdown weekend and onto the initial 53-man squad. Whether or not Jackson can establish his presence on the team remains to be seen, but the early signs certainly were encouraging.There are few surprises on and off the teamWhile the Patriots made plenty of moves over the last two days Cheap Customized New England Patriots Jerseys , there were not a lot of unexpected developments ones among them. The release of Cyrus Jones and the Jordan Richards could be qualified as minor surprises, as could Geneo Grissom making the team and New England opting to go with just three pure wideouts. Ultimately, however, there were no real shockers among the Patriots’ transactions.
