Patriots news for the week of 8/11

[BillsFever]

Post Patriots news here!

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Andruzzi Back - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:12:42 -0700

Kevin Mannix, of the Boston Herald, reports New England Patriots OG Joe Andruzzi (knee) returned to practice full-time Sunday, August 10. Andruzzi missed the last two weeks as he recuperated from knee surgery.

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Line Has Backup Option - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:48:17 -0700

Kevin Mannix, of the Boston Herald, reports if New England Patriots OG Joe Andruzzi (knee) has a problem returning to the field at the right guard position, the team has several options on the offensive line. Patriots C Damien Woody could slide over from center to right guard with rookie C Dan Koppen taking over at center. Another option would be moving OG Mike Compton to center and having C Bill Conaty moving in at left

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Smith Back - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:49:57 -0700

Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots CB Otis Smith (chest), recovering from off-season surgery on a pectoral muscle, practiced with the team for the first time Sunday, August 10

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Branch Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:27:38 -0700

Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots WR Deion Branch (undisclosed injury) sat out of practice Sunday, August 10

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Jones Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:28:03 -0700

Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots OT Kenyatta Jones (knee) sat out of practice Sunday, August 10.

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Redmond Out, Close To Return - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:28:41 -0700

Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots RB J.R. Redmond (ribs) sat out of practice Sunday, August 10. With the Patriots' running back situation up in the air, Redmond said he is close to returning.

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Mruczkowski Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:52:42 -0700

Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots OG Gene Mruczkowski (knee) sat out of practice Sunday, August 10.

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Banta-Cain Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:53:06 -0700

Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots LB Tully Banta-Cain (knee) sat out of practice Sunday, August 10.

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Womack Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:53:30 -0700

Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots RB Antwoine Womack (knee) sat out of practice Sunday, August 10.

[The_Philster]

Patriots not perfect, but Redskins no match
LANDOVER, Md. -- Put yourself in coach Bill Belichick's shoes this morning. Do you stress the good things -- like an 85-yard bomb from Tom Brady to David Patten, or Bethel Johnson's 98-yard kickoff return, or Eugene Wilson's interception -- or do you scratch your head about the lingering struggle to stop the run, or Johnson's fumbled kickoff, or the plethora of first-half penalties?

"It felt like a long night," said Belichick. "It started well, but we didn't have the consistency in the last three quarters of the game. We made some big plays. There was some good and some not so good."

At the very least, last night's second exhibition game was another win for the Patriots, 20-13, before 68,980 at FedEx Field. The best way to describe it was a mixed bag of the good, the bad, and the ugly....

more (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2003/08/17/victory_is_proof_positive)

[The_Philster]

LANDOVER, Md. -- For all the work the Patriots have done to add speed and playmakers to their defense, one ugly reminder of last season's travails resurfaced early in last night's 20-13 win over the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field.

Remember Ricky Williams? LaDainian Tomlinson? Priest Holmes? Ahman Green? Eddie George? Curtis Martin? Well, if last night is any indication -- and in the long run it may not be -- not enough has changed in a problematic area of the Patriots' defense.

Much emphasis has been put on a run defense that was 31st in the NFL last season, worse than every team save the Houston Texans. This is of particular concern because New England plays in a division that features three of the best running backs in the AFC in Williams, Martin, and Travis Henry. If they cannot be stopped the difficulty of beating their respective teams grows exponentially....

more (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2003/08/17/run_defense_cant_gain_ground)

[The_Philster]

LANDOVER, Md. -- So far, so good for receiver Troy Brown, who is healthy after playing hurt most of last season.

"I feel good," said Brown. "You're never going to feel any better than this the rest of the year. This is it. You're going to be bruised up and nicked up the rest of the year.

"As long as I don't feel like I did coming down the stretch last year, I'll feel all right."

Brown caught 97 passes last season while nursing a sore ankle and knee. He also returned to special teams duties....

more (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2003/08/17/a_sound_brown_remains_a_priority)