Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get your day started. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, and kick your weekend off right with an early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…
Jan28th
The Patriots’ First Shot
Jan 22, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) is brought down by Baltimore Ravens strong safety Bernard Pollard (31) in the second quarter during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE
The first game designations for Super Bowl XLVI have been released, and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is questionable for the big game. He joins 13 other Patriots in the “questionable” category for the Super Bowl, though Gronk is the only one yet to practice with the team this week. Much has been made about the nature of Gronk’s ankle injury, which he suffered at the hands of Bernard Pollard in the AFC Championship game, but the cat may have been let out of the bag by Gronk’s father, Gordy Gronkowski.
This from WIVB.com:
Gordy says Rob suffered a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship game last Sunday. But he says with two weeks to go until the Super Bowl, he expects his son will be fine for the game.
The good news is that Gordy expects Rob to be fine for the Super Bowl, but high ankle sprains are never good. Here’s the complete injury report:
Jan 4, 2011; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A wide angle interior image of Lucas Oil Stadum as the facility is getting prepared to host Super Bowl XLVI. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE
I’m not one for gambling and don’t do any of it, but I know lots of people do, especially around Super Bowl time. Some areas people bet on make sense, like total points, who will win, by how much, who will be the MVP, etc. Some bets are just straight-up loony, but I guess they wouldn’t be there if people didn’t bet on them, right?
Here are some “prop” bets and the odds, courtesy of Bovada. I’m betting against Kelly Clarkson showing her naval during the National Anthem…
Jan27th
2012 Mock Draft Version 1.0
Sure, we have a Super Bowl right around the corner, but it’s never too early for a mock draft, right? This is obviously a pretty early prognostication, but it’s always fun to get these things going. Another sit to check out is DC Pro Sports Report and their huge mock draft database. NFL Mocks and With The First Pick also run year-round mock drafts.
Let’s get to the picks!
Jan 22, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks downfield against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter in the 2011 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE
Tom Brady was not very good in Sunday’s AFC Championship game win over the Ravens, he even admitted that he “sucked” after the game. Brady was 22 for 36 and threw for 329 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions in the Patriots 23-20 win.
Although Brady ran for a touchdown, Sunday marked the first time Brady had not thrown for a touchdown in a game since the 2009 season finale against the Texans, and in that game he only played a half. The past full game Brady had played without throwing a touchdown pass was also in 2009, Nov. 30, a 38-17 loss to the Saints on Monday Night Football.
Despite the Patriots 10 game winning streak, Brady has struggled a bit of late.
Jan27th
The Patriots’ First Shot
Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get your day started. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, put off your work (just keep an eye out for the boss), and get your early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…
The Patriots hit the practice field earlier today for their first Super Bowl XLVI practice. Today’s injury report has more credence than yesterday’s because the Patriots actually conducted a practice. The lone player absent was tight end Rob Gronkowski, who injured his ankle in the AFC Championship game against Baltimore. He was listed on yesterday’s report as well as not participating in “practice,” so today’s listing as not participating is not a change or a downgrade.
TE Aaron Hernandez felt a little lonely at practice without his “brother” at tight end.
“It’s a little boring,” Hernandez said, “but he’ll be back out there soon.”
The Patriots had no changes to their injury report from yesterday (which you can see after the jump), but the Giants did add a few players to the, “did not participate” listing.
Nov 6, 2011; Foxboro, MA, USA; New York Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson (71) and free safety Antrel Rolle (26) celebrate after the game as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) walks off the field at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE
A lot of talk thus far leading up to the Patriots-Giants matchup in Super Bowl XLVI has been about Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants upset the then undefeated Patriots. However, a better game to look at to get an insight into the upcoming game is the Week 9 matchup just this past regular season when the two met at Gillette Stadium. The Giants won that game 24-20.
Let’s compare the numbers from that game.
Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker has conducted a youth football camp for the past three years for local youth, and it is always attended by Welker himself (of course) and other members of the New England Patriots. If you are a youth between the ages of 7 and 14 or have a child that is, check out the press release after the jump for more information.
Jan26th
The Patriots’ First Shot
Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get your day started. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, put off your work (just keep an eye out for the boss), and get your early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…
Call to the Pen
FanSided
NFL Mocks
BuffaLowDown
Naptown's Finest
Phin Phanatic
The Jet Press
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