ONE. FINAL. RUN.

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Patriots Training Camp Roster Analysis

Defense

Defensive Ends
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
99|Michael Buchanan|24|6-06|255|Illinois|2
93|Josh Diaz|21|6-05|264|North Texas|R
74|Dominique Easley|23|6-02|288|Florida|1
95|Chandler Jones|25|6-05|265|Syracuse|3
90|Zach Moore|24|6-06|285|Concordia|1
50|Rob Ninkovich|31|6-02|260|Purdue|9

Chandler Jones is one of the top defensive ends in the league and creates problems for any offensive linesman he faces. Ninkovich may have shown a slight decline last season but also spent a lot of time out of position with all of the injuries New England had. Expect to see Easley, Moore and possibly even Diaz play substantial roles off the bench.
In: Jones, Ninkovich, Easley, Diaz
Bubble: Moore, Buchanan

Defensive Tackles
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
97|Alan Branch|30|6-06|325|Michigan|8
94|Anthony Pleasant|22|6-02|342|UCLA|R
72|Joe Vellano|26|6-02|300|Maryland|2
92|Lamar Walden|20|6-04|270|Florida A&M|R
75|Vince Wilfork|33|6-02|325|Miami|11

Wilfork and Branch both missed substantial time battling injuries last season. Walden was drafted to provide immediate depth and to eventually replace Wilfork. Walden is small for a defensive tackle but more than makes up for it in other areas. Vellano struggled filling in last season and Easley and Moore's ability to play inside or out could make him expendable. Pleasant would have to have an outstanding showing early in the preseason to beat out the veterans.
In: Wilfork, Branch, Walden
Bubble: Pleasant, Vellano

Outside Linebackers
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
55|Akeem Ayers|26|6-03|253|UCLA|4
91|Jamie Collins|25|6-03|250|Southern Miss|2
54|Dont’a Hightower|25|6-03|270|Alabama|3
56|Aevry Shepherd|23|6-03|239|Wyoming|R
58|Stevenson Sylvester|27|6-02|231|Utah|5

New England’s group of outside linebackers is one of the best in the league. Hightower and Collins have both developed into some of the top players at their positions. Ayers and Sylvester could be starters on a number of teams in the league. Shepherd won't beat out any of the holdovers for a spot but could make the 53 man roster if he excels on special teams.
In: Ayers, Collins, Hightower, Sylvester
Bubble: Shepherd

Middle Linebackers
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
59|Cotton Hunt|24|6-03|241|Drake|R
51|Jerod Mayo|29|6-01|250|Tennessee|7
52|Brandon Spikes|27|6-02|255|Florida|5
96|Stefan Thompson|22|6-02|237|Georgia|R

Jerod Mayo is amongst the best middle linebackers in the NFL. Brandon Spikes isn’t far behind. Thompson was drafted before Spikes rejoined the team but expect the Patriots to keep all three as they like to rotate their front seven frequently. Hunt will have to show he can contribute on special teams if he hopes to make the roster.
In: Mayo, Spikes, Thompson
Bubble: Hunt

Cornerbacks
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
25|Kyle Arrington|29|5-10|190|Hofstra|7
29|Brandon Browner|31|6-04|221|Oregon State|5
37|Alfonzo Dennard|25|5-10|200|Nebraska|3
33|Margarito McGee|20|6-02|191|South Carolina|R
24|Darrelle Revis|30|5-11|198|Pittsburgh|8
26|Logan Ryan|24|5-11|195|Rutgers|2

Revis proved last season that he was still the best cornerback in the NFL, Browner played very well across from him, giving the Patriots one of the best starting cornerback duos in the league. Logan Ryan showed huge progress last season and could be the best nickel corner in the league. Add in Arrington and Dennard and the group has incredible depth as well. McGee will have an uphill battle as the Patriots are likely to keep an extra safety or linebacker over a sixth corner.
In: Revis, Browner, Ryan, Arrington, Dennard
Bubble: McGee

Safeties
##|Player|Age|HT|WT|College|EXP
43|Lenny Buchanan|24|6-02|210|Vanderbilt|R
36|Kanorris Davis|25|5-10|207|Troy|2
30|Duron Harmon|24|6-01|205|Rutgers|2
32|Devin McCourty|28|5-10|195|Rutgers|5
31|R.T. Mullins|20|6-02|21|South Carolina|R
27|Tavon Wilson|25|6-00|215|Illinois|3

The fact that the Patriots had no qualms in letting Patrick Chung walk should tell you a lot about how they feel about Duron Harmon and Tavon Wilson. Chung was allowed to walk even before the Patriots had drafted Buchanan, who has been one of the biggest surprises in OTAs and training camp thus far. McCourty will lock down the free safety position while Harmon, Buchanan and Wilson will battle for the strong safety position. Mullins is likely to be one of the first defensive backs released unless he makes a huge splash early. Davis could be the odd man out if the Pats run out of roster space.
In: McCourty, Harmon, Wilson, Buchanan
Bubble: Davis, Mullins

Specialists
4|Jessee Barker(K)|23|5-08|187|USC|R
3|Stephen Gostkowski(K)|31|6-01|215|Memphis|9
6|Ryan Allen(P)|25|6-02|215|Louisiana Tech|2
9|Barry Ferrell(P)|21|5-11|182|Memphis|R

Gostkowski continues to be one of the most reliable kickers in the league, giving Barker almost no chance of making the team. Ryan averaged just 35.2 yards per punt last season so the Patriots brought in UDFA Barry Ferrell to provide some motivation. Ferrell is a long shot to supplant Allen, though he did show a slightly stronger leg in camp.
In: Gostkowski, Allen
Bubble: Barker, Ferrell

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PATS RELEASE INITIAL PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
By Tim Honks, Staff Writer

The Patriots have released their initial preseason depth chart in preparation for their preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. This is merely how they intend to play in this game and may not actually reflect perceived depth.

Patriots PreSeason Depth Chart Depth Chart - 2015
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	Edelman	Dobson	Boyce	Clayton
TE	Gronkowski	Wright	Diaz	Hoomanawanui
LT	Solder	Cannon
LG	Bernadeau	Conley
C	Tretter	Stork
RG	Asante	Orr	Baldwin
RT	Vollmer	Flemming
WR	LaFell	Ford	Underwood	Hickman
QB	Garoppolo	Tolzien	Crawford
FB	Develin	Darman
HB	Gray	Blount	Greer	Briscoe

As you can see Ridley and Brady are not on the list. We're told Brady will not play at all, just like in 2014. Ridley should see a few snaps but is not expected to make a long appearance. Two big surprises are UDFA TE Diaz ahead of Hoomanawanui and UDFA G Orr ahead of Baldwin.

Patriots PreSeason Depth Chart Depth Chart - 2015
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	Ninkovich	Diaz	Buchanan
LDT	Wilfork	Vellano	Pleasant
RDT	Branch	Walden
RDE	Jones	Easley	Moore
WLB	Hightower	Ayers	Sylvester
MLB	Mayo	Spikes	Thompson	Hunt
SLB	Collins	Ayers	Shepherd
CB	Revis	Ryan	Dennard
SS	Harmon	Buchanan	Wilson
FS	McCourty	Wilson	Mullins
CB	Browner	Arrington	McGee

Not many surprises on the defensive side of the ball. Harmon, Wilson, Mullins and Buchanan should all get plenty of reps at both safety positions.

Patriots PreSeason Depth Chart Depth Chart - 2015
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	Gostkowski	Barker
P	Allen	Ferrell
KOS	Gostkowski	Ferrell	Barker
PR	Mullins	Hickman	Clayton	Briscoe
KR	Clayton	Hickman	Mullins	Briscoe
LS	Tretter	Asante	Bernadeau

The biggest surprise here is the absence of Edelman, but that could be to give the UDFAs a chance to show how they could possibly contribute more immediately.

Expect most of the starters to play a very limited number of snaps.

[djp73]

Patriots Preseason Report

Position Battles
By Joe Swansonson, Staff Writer

With the majority of the key positions already essentially decided for the Patriots there may seemingly be little to watch for this preseason for New England fans. However, that's not entirely true. While many starters are likely to be the same as last season there are several backup roles that are still up for grabs.

Here are some of the position battles to keep an eye on during this preseason.

QB2
Jimmy Garoppolo vs Scott Tolzien

After seeing Garoppolo in a limited role last season the team decided they should bring in a little competition. Scott Tolzien was signed before training camp on a one year deal. If Tolzien outplays Garoppolo he will likely be listed as Brady's backup. The team has much more invested in Garoppolo so the job should be his to lose. If he keeps the job Tolzien may get cut.

HB3/4
Marcos Briscoe vs Jonas Gray vs Spencer Greer

While the Pats may not have a clear number one back it's quite obvious that Blount and Ridley will get the bulk of the touches. The third and possibly fourth spots on the depth chart are up for grabs. Jonas Gray didn't do much with his limited touches last year and his contract expires after 2015 so he has no advantage over the two UDFAs. The team is likely to keep only three total unless they are overly impressed with two of the players listed here.

FB
Acey Darman vs James Develin

Darman is nowhere near the blocker that Develin is but he does bring another potential weapon to the passing game. This is a long shot but if Darman has a great preseason he could get the nod.

WR 3/4/5
Josh Boyce vs Jorian Clayton vs Aaron Dobson vs Treyvon Ford vs Arryn Hickman

Edelman and LaFell are the clear 1 and 2 receivers for the Pats, after that it's wide open. Dobson may have the inside edge based on his tenure and contributions from last year. The team is very excited about Ford and will likely give him ample opportunities in the preseason. Boyce didn't do much last year and will need a good campaign to hold off Clayton and Hickman for the 5th spot on the depth chart and possibly even a roster spot as the team is likely to keep five at the most.

LE2/RE2
Michael Buchanan vs Josh Diaz vs Dominique Easley vs Zach Moore

Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich are locked in as the starters at the defensive end positions. Behind them there is competition for the backup roles. Though it's likely that whoever is left on the 53 man roster will get playing time those who impress the most in the preseason will receive more playing time. Easley and Buchanan both contributed last season and the team is high on Diaz. Moore's battle for playing time could be an uphill one.

DT2
Alan Branch vs Lamar Walden

Branch played well aside from Wilfork last season and may have the inside track to the job again this season. Walden has been very impressive in camp and may be able to steal the job with a great preseason campaign.

CB4
Kyle Arrington vs Alfonzo Dennard

Arrington and Dennard may be the two most closely matched players among all the position battles. A small mistake or big play by either could be all the coaching staff has to go on when making their choice here.

SS
Lenny Buchanan vs Duron Harmon vs Tavon Wilson

Patrick Chung was not retained by New England, showing that they had plenty of confidence in the players they had. They added Buchanan in the draft and now the position is up for grabs. Harmon is perceived to have the inside track due to experience and performance but there's not a big gap between the three.

P
Ryan Allen vs Barry Ferrell

Allen struggled and posted a very low average yards per punt last season as well as struggling with ball placement. Ferrell has shown to have a slightly stronger leg and accuracy on par with Allen's. The Pats aren't afraid to go with an untested rookie here as evidenced by Allen supplanting Zoltan Mesko before the 2013 season.

[djp73]

New England Patriots 2015 Preseason Schedule

DATE - OPPONENT
Aug 7 - at Seattle Seahawks
Aug 16 - vs San Francisco 49ers
Aug 22 - at Houston Texans
Aug 29 - vs Baltimore Ravens

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Patriots @ Seahawks
Century Link Field – Seattle, Washington
Friday August 7th, 2015 10:00pm

TIQUAN UNDERWOOD HAULS IN A TD PASS FROM JIMMY GAROPPOLO IN THE SECOND QUARTER

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
New England Patriots [0-0]	0	14	7	21	42
Seattle Seahawks [0-0]	3	0	0	14	17

Patriots steamroll Seahawks in PreSeason opener

The Patriots offense rolled despite a night off for Tom Brady, scoring 42 points in a lopsided win over the Seahawks. The New England defense allowed just 10 points in the win.

Several young players contributed in the effort, including wide receiver Treyvon Ford, who led all receivers with 122 yards.

Rookie defensive linesman Lamar Walden recorded four sacks in the victory.

Josh Diaz was injured in the game, reportedly an abdominal tear. He will be evaluated this weekend.

HB Jonas Gray fumbled early in the game and despite a scowl from Coach Belichick he did return to the game.

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
SEA S. Hauschka 23 Yd FG
2nd Quarter
NE L. Blount 1 Yd run (S. Gostkowski kick)
NE T. Underwood 9 Yd pass from J. Garoppolo (S. Gostkowski kick)
3rd Quarter
NE M. Briscoe 2 Yd run (J. Barker kick)
4th Quarter
NE S. Greer 1 Yd run (J. Barker kick)
SEA C. Shorts III 102 Yd kick return (S. Hauschka kick)
SEA C. Helfet 74 Yd pass from C. Palmer (S. Hauschka kick)
NE S. Greer 2 Yd run (J. Barker kick)
NE T. Ford 18 Yd pass from D. Crawford (J. Barker kick)

Key Player Stats

J. Garoppolo 15/20 155 Yds TD
D. Crawford 7/11 117 Yds TD
S. Greer 8 car 36 Yds 2TD
J. Gray 8 car 34 Yds
M. Briscoe 6 car 24 Yds TD
T. Ford 8 rec 122 Yds TD
J. Boyce 3 rec 47 Yds
T. Underwood 3 rec 33 Yds TD
L. Walden 4 tkl, 4 sck
J. Diaz 2 tkl, 1 sck


C. Palmer 16/27 171 Yds TD
C. Michael 6 car 21 Yds, 5 rec 38 Yds
C. Helfet 6 rec 78 Yds TD
M. Lynch 3 rec 51 Yds
K. Pierre-Louis 12 tkl, 3 sck
J. Beason 7 tkl
J. Hill 1 tkl, 1 Sck
-----
Current Record: 1-0
Next Week: vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

[djp73]

Patriots Report


TREYVON FORD MAKES A CATCH IN FRIDAY'S WIN

FORD IMPRESSES IN DEBUT

There were many young players to keep an eye on when the Patriots took on the Seahawks Friday night in Seattle. The one who was the most exciting to watch was rookie receiver Treyvon Ford. Ford caught a game high 8 passes for 122 yards, also a game high, and scored a touchdown. Perhaps the best skill he put on display was his hands, which were the one knock against Ford coming out of UNH.

"He looked good out there, comfortable even." Tom Brady said when asked about Ford's performance. "I told him just relax and play your game."

"It felt good to get out there and have a nice game. Jimmy got me involved early and that really helped calm me down." Ford stated after the win.

Ford's performance was 4th best among all receivers in yardage.

[djp73]

Patriots Report


DIAZ WHILE AT NORTH TEXAS

DIAZ OUT REST OF PRESEASON

Josh Diaz, the Patriots 7th round pick, was injured in the Patriots preseason opener at Seattle. The rookie defensive end suffered what the team is now calling an abdominal tear late in Friday night's win. Diaz is expected to be out three to five weeks, missing the rest of the preseason and possibly the start to the regular season.

Listed second at left defensive end behind veteran Rob Ninkovich, Diaz was expected to be a big part of the rotation during the preseason as the Pats try to figure out just what they've gotten in the late round selection.

Diaz is no stranger to adversity.

"I've been through a lot in my life." The 21 year old said this morning, after hearing the team doctor's diagnosis. "I'm not going to hang my head."

Diaz initially committed to Oregon out of high school, rated as one of the top linebackers in the nation. Before he stepped foot on the field his career with the Ducks was over. A near fatal car accident had his football career up in the air. After returning home to Corinth, Texas to recover from his injuries Diaz decided to enroll at nearby UNT. He walked onto the football team and started six games at middle linebacker as a freshman.

Diaz grew three inches and packed on nearly thirty pounds before his sophomore season and was moved to defensive end. Diaz started every game in his final three years at North Texas and played well enough to catch the Patriots attention, leading to them drafting him in April.

"We've been really impressed with him so far. It's a shame to see this happen to him now but it's not likely going to cost him a roster spot." Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said earlier today.

Michael Buchanan, a second year defensive end from Illinois, will likely take the extra snaps when the Patriots face the 49ers next week.

[djp73]

Around the NFL

Scores
N/A - Preseason

Headlines

49ers LB Borland being shopped

Bengals, Packers make trade

Players of the Week
N/A - Preseason

Key Injuries
NYG OT J. Pugh - Hip Fracture - IR
PIT OG R. Foster - Achilles Tear – IR

TB HB D. Martin - Broken Thumb - 4 Weeks
SD LB J. Attaochu - Dislocated Ankle - 6 Weeks
DET DE J. Hughes - Dislocated Knee - 5 Weeks
DET LB S. Tulloch - Shoulder Tear - 4 Weeks
CAR LB T. Davis - Abdominal Tear - 1 Week
NE DE J. Diaz - Abdominal Tear - 3 Weeks
STL HB T. Mason - Abdominal Tear - 2 Weeks


Transactions
Lions sign CB J. Joseph - 1Yr/2.87M
Cowboys sign FB J. Conner - 1Yr/730k
Chiefs sign FS C. Clemons - 1Yr/1.13M
Giants sign K B. Cundiff 1Yr/950k
Bears sign P C. Cox - 1Yr/420k
Seahawks sign P P. O'Donnell - 1Yr/490k
Seahawks sign WR K. Britt - 1Yr/2.13M
Buccaneers trade 2017 R6 to Seahawks for LT A. Bailey
Bengals trade DT D. Still, 2017 R6 to Bengals for RE M. Daniels

[djp73]

49ers @ Patriots
Gilette Stadium – Foxboro, Massachusetts
Sunday August 16th, 2015 7:00pm

TREYVON FORD TAKES A SLANT 74 YARDS TO THE HOUSE

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
San Francisco 49ers [1-0]	0	10	7	0	17
New England Patriots [1-0]	7	7	0	13	27

Patriots finish strong to top ‘Niners
Trailing going into the fourth quarter the Patriots second team defense buckled down and the reserve offense put up 13 points to come away with a 27-17 win over the visiting 49ers.

Tom Brady led the opening drive, completing 7 of 9 passes for 57 yards and capping it off with a 2 yard TD pass to TE Tim Wright.

After that it was Jimmy Garoppolo leading the team for most of the second and third quarters. Garoppolo struggled, throwing a pair of interceptions and completing just 3 of 9 passes. One of those was a 74 yard touchdown to rookie receiver Treyvon Ford.

The Patriots defense played well, holding the 49ers to just 182 total offensive yards, San Francisco’s scores came on shortfield possessions after Patriots turnovers.

Lamar Walden once again showed his abilities as a pass rusher, dominating the 49ers second string offensive line en route to 5 sacks, bringing his preseason total to 9.

Tavon Wilson made his case for the open starting safety position, recording 6 tackles in his 61 snaps played. He was all over the field in coverage as well.

The Patriots will have to make their first round of cuts as they need to get down to 65 players. They currently have 70 players on the roster.

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
NE T. Wright 2 Yd pass from T. Brady (S. Gostkowski kick)
2nd Quarter
SF J. Dwyer 6 Yd run (R. Bironas kick)
SF R. Bironas 28 Yd FG
NE T. Ford 74 Yd pass from J. Garoppolo (S. Gostkowski kick)
3rd Quarter
SF D. Carrier 8 Yd pass from M. Cassel (R. Bironas kick)
4th Quarter
NE S. Greer 11 Yd run (S. Gostkowski kick)
NE J. Barker 28 Yd FG
NE J. Barker 25 Yd FG

Key Player Stats

M. Cassel 13/22 155 Yds TD
J. Dwyer 14 car 40 Yds TD
C. Hyde 6 car 17 Yds
V. Davis 4 rec 56 YDs
V. McDonald 4 rec 55 Yds
N. Bowman 8 tkl
T. Thomas 2 tkl, 3 Int
T. Carradine 1 tkl, 1 Sck


J. Garoppolo 3/9 103 Yds TD 2Int
T. Brady 7/9 57 Yds TD
S. Greer 4 car 23 Yds TD, 3 rec 50 YDs
T. Ford 2 rec 79 Yds TD
A. Diaz 3 rec 46 Yds
T. Wright 2 rec 16 Yds TD
L. Walden 6 tkl, 5 Sck
A. Branch 2 tkl, 2 Sck
-----
Current Record: 2-0
Next Week: vs. @ Houston Texans (2-0)

[djp73]

Patriots Report


4TH ROUND PICK NOLEN BALDWIN WAS AMONG THE FIRST PLAYERS CUT

PATS PART WITH 4TH ROUND PICK, 4 UDFAS

Anytime you have to cut a player you just drafted it can be a blow to the franchise. The Patriots were forced to do just that in the process of going from a 70 man roster down to 65 players.

Guard Nolen Baldwin, who the Pats took with their fourth round selection earlier this year, was one of the five players the team chose to cut ties with.

From what we saw in the first two games Baldwin was outplayed by UDFA guards Orr and Conley, putting him at the bottom of the 11 man offensive line group, most teams only keep eight at the most.

"We never saw Nolen start to grasp things. He has the physical tools for sure, we just never saw the technique or the mental aspect click for him." Patriots offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo said when asked about Baldwin's release. The Patriots will incur a $400,000 cap penalty for the move, making it all the more surprising.

Aside from Baldwin the team also release four other players, none nearly as surprising.

Denolious Crawford, an undrafted quarterback from Western Michigan was amongst the players cut loose. Crawford was 12 of 21 for 191 yards along with a touchdown and an interception. Coming in as the fourth option at quarterback Crawford didn't have much of a chance. If the team wasn't so committed to the development of Jimmy Garoppolo he may have gotten more playing time. Crawford was well behind Scott Tolzien, who currently looks to be the team's third stringer if they decide to keep three quarterbacks.

Runningback Marcus Briscoe from Purdue was another UDFA casualty. With Blount, Ridley and Gray all but locked into the first three runningback spots it was a very uphill battle for Briscoe and fellow UDFA Spencer Greer. Briscoe carried 13 times for 43 yards and a touchdown while catching 2 passes for just two yards. Greer gets to stick around for now by showing his versatility.

Arryn Hickman is another undrafted player who didn't show the team enough in his limited audition. While showing some value as a kick and punt returner Hickman was never able to get on the field with the offense. The Patriots have no shortage of valuable return men so that just wasn't enough. A number of dropped passes and route running errors in practice kept him out of the rotation at receiver.

Let's be honest, if there was one player with zero chance of making the roster it was undrafted free agent kicker Jesse Barker. With Gostkowski, one of the top kickers in the league, to beat out it was a bit of a shock that the Pats even brought him aboard. Barker connected on both of his chip shot field goal attempts but never showed a very strong leg in camp. Both field goals were under 30 yards.

With the first round of cuts out of the way the coaching staff will get to see the players in Saturday night's contest in Houston before having to make another six cuts by Monday. These first two rounds of cuts are the easy ones, from 59 to 53 is when they'll really have to start making the tough decisions.

Players Cut
QB Denolious Crawford
HB Marcus Briscoe
WR Arryn Hickman
OG Nolen Baldwin
K Jesse Barker

[djp73]

Around the NFL

Scores
N/A - Preseason

Headlines

Bears cut Jared Allen

Falcons, Chargers make a trade

Players of the Week
N/A - Preseason

Key Injuries
NYG OT J. Pugh - Hip Fracture - IR
PIT OG R. Foster - Achilles Tear – IR

CHI DE W. Young – Upper Arm Fracture – 5 Weeks
TB HB D. Martin - Broken Thumb - 3 Weeks
TB DE M. Johnson – Knee Cartilage Tear – 4 Weeks
SD LB J. Attaochu - Dislocated Ankle - 5 Weeks
SD LB M. Ingram – Broken Thumb – 4 Weeks
KC LB D. Johnson – Broken Hand – 7 Weeks
NYJ OT C. Stark – Dislocated Hip – 4 Weeks
DET DE J. Hughes - Dislocated Knee - 4 Weeks
DET LB S. Tulloch - Shoulder Tear - 3 Weeks
CAR C W. Montgomery – Pulled Groin – 4 Weeks
NE DE J. Diaz - Abdominal Tear - 2 Weeks
STL HB T. Mason - Abdominal Tear - 1 Week
STL CB J. Jenkins – Dislocated Ankle – 6 Weeks
BAL DT B. Williams – Dislocated Elbow – 1 Week

Transactions
Broncos sign K J. Barker 1Yr $420k
Bills sign P D. Zastudil 1yr $950k
Falcons trade SS K. Ishmael to Chargers for 2016 RD3 pick
Bears release DE J. Allen
Vikings release LB C. Greenway
Titans release HB M. Jones-Drew
Steelers release WR M. Austin
Seahawks release HB B. Green-Ellis
Chargers release HB T. Gerhart
Browns release FS T. Mays

[djp73]

Patriots Report


SPENCER GREER CARRIES THE BALL WHILE AT NAVY

FORMER MIDDIE GREER IMPRESSING PATS

Undrafted rookie free agent Spencer Greer has caught Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's attention. Both on the field and off.

"Usually Tom or I are the first ones at the facility." Belichick said. "When you have an undrafted rookie already there in the weight room before I get there you notice. He's made an impression."

Greer has also made an impression on the field. In just 44 downs played he has 59 yards on 12 rushes, three of them for touchdowns. He's also shown ability in the passing game, catching 4 passes for 48 yards.

"I'm just here to try my best and work as hard as I can. If I do that and I don't make the team then so be it. If i don't do everything in my power I'll never forgive myself." Greer told me yesterday.

Greer's versatility may be his biggest asset. A high school quarterback Greer made the transition to wingback in Navy's unorthodox option heavy offense. He says he's still learning the pro style offense in New England.

"It's completely different. At Navy I was doing the same thing ninety percent of the time. Here every play is different."

Greer says when he's not a the facility working out he's in his playbook. "There's a lot to learn. I don't want to be behind the curve in that aspect either, I always have it with me."

While it's unlikely the Patriots will keep all four of the runningbacks currently on the roster if Greer shows enough he could stick around as a change of pace back. He is the fastest runningback and has the best hands out of the group. Think Kevin Faulk or Shane Vereen. Ridley, Blount and Gray are all power runners for the most part so there's certainly room for a shiftier back on the roster if he can prove he belongs.

Greer will also be the team's primary punt and kick returner Saturday. Something he excelled at for Navy.

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Patriots @ Texans
NRG Stadium – Houston Texas
Saturday August 22nd, 2015 9:00pm

ARRINGTON SCORES ON A 65 YARD PICK SIX

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
New England Patriots [2-0]	0	17	0	10	27
Houston Texans [2-0]	0	0	6	6	12

Patriots coast past Texans
Tom Brady led the Pats to a 10-0 lead against the Texans before heading for the sidelines for the rest of the night. Brady was 12 of 14 for 102 yards in his appearance.

Garoppolo connected with Tim Wright for a 9 yard score just before the half.

Houston finally got on the board with a pair of field goals in the third.

The teams swapped pick sixes in the fourth and Goskowski added a late field goal to make it 27-12 final score.

The Patriots backup quarterbacks struggled in the win with Garoppolo throwing a pair of picks and Tolzien adding another. Garoppolo was 9 of 14 for 68 yards while Tolzien completed just 8 of 17 for 137 yards.

New England never established a run game and Jonas Gray led the way with just 16 yards.

Treyvon Ford caught 3 passes for 74 yards.

Arrington, Revis and Buchanan all recorded interceptions while Easley sacked the Houston QBs three times. Wilfork, Hightower, Ninkovich and Walden each recorded a sack. Walden also forced a fumble when he pummeled Houston rookie QB Kaelin McDaniel on a scramble.

The Patriots will have to cut six players this week and should play primarily backups in their final preseason matchup.

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
NE S. Gostkowski 35 Yd FG
NE L. Blount 1 Yd Run (S. Gostkowski kick)
NE T. Wright 9 Yd pass from J. Garoppolo (S. Gostkowski kick)
3rd Quarter
HOU R. Bullock 35 Yd FG
HOU R. Bullock 31 Yd FG
4th Quarter
HOU T. Nix 43 Yd INT Ret (2 pt Failed)
NE K. Arrington 65 Yd INT Ret (S. Gostkowski kick)
NE S. Gostkowski 26 Yd FG

Key Player Stats

T. Brady 12/14 102 Yds
J. Garoppolo 9/14 68 Yds TD 2Int
T. Ford 3 Rec 74 Yds
T. Wright 6 Rec 54 Yds TD
D. Easley 3 Tkl 3 Sck
D. Hightower 4 Tkl 1 Sck
K. Arrington 4 Tkl, INT, TD
D. Revis 2 Tkl, INT
L. Buchanan 4 Tkl, INT


M. Flynn 2/2 26 Yds
K. McDaniel 9/21 89 Yds 3 Int, 5 Car 54 Yds
D. Posey 3 Rec 39 Yds
J. Criner 2 Rec 24 Yds
T. Nix 7 Tkl, 2 Sck, Int, TD
T. Williams 3 Tkl, Int
W. Moore Int
-----
Current Record: 3-0
Next Week: vs. vs Baltimore Ravens (0-3)

[djp73]

Patriots Report


SCOTT TOLZIEN DIDN'T SURVIVE THE SECOND ROUND OF CUTS

PATS MAKE SECOND ROUND OF CUTS

The Patriots announced their second round of cuts today, dropping six more players to get to the league mandated 59 man roster.

Quarterback Scott Tolzien, who was brought in as a veteran insurance policy behind Tom Brady, couldn't beat out Jimmy Garoppolo for the backup job and was deemed expendable. Tolzien was 17 of 33 for 222 yards and an interception, missing several basic throws. The Pats will head into the season with just Brady and Garoppolo on the roster as they did in 2014.

Acey Darman, an undrafted fullback out of Georgia was also released. While he showed some value as a runner and receiver his ability as a blocker was not up to the standard the Pats were looking for. James Develin will retain the job.

Wide receiver Jorian Clayton played in 12 total snaps through the first three games and never made a catch. He returned one kick for 17 yards. Not useful as a receiver and just average as a return man meant there was no room for Clayton in the crowded receiving corps.

Offensive Guard Jesse Orr didn't make the cut either. While he did show some promise he was just too far behind the rest of the offensive line group. The UDFA out of USF is seen as a project player and with an already talented offensive line in place there just wasn't room.

Cornerback [b]Margarito McGee[b/] from South Carolina could likely have found a spot on a roster with less talent at the position but with the depth the Pats have he never got a chance to shine. McGee played 42 defensive snaps and only recorded one tackle. Dennard, currently fifth on the depth chart, is leaps and bounds better and with the Pats likely to keep an extra safety there was no room for a sixth corner.

Another undrafted rookie from South Carolina that the Pats cut ties with is safety R.T. Mullins. Mullins didn't show too much in his time on the defensive side of the ball, occasionally looking lost. He did return three punts for 36 yards but didn't do enough there to warrant keeping him around.

Now down to 59 players the team will have to make six final cuts following their final preseason game against the Ravens at Gilette. To this point the cuts have been relatively easy with a clear cut difference in talent separating those who have left from those who are still here. The cut from 59 to 53 will be much more difficult as the talent difference is much smaller, if any.

Players Cut
QB Scott Tolzien
FB Acey Darman
WR Jorian Clayton
OG Jesse Orr
CB Margarito Mcgee
FS R.T. Mullins

[djp73]

Around the NFL

Scores
N/A - Preseason

Headlines

Chris Borland to Jets?

Vikings cut Darren McFadden

Players of the Week
N/A - Preseason

Key Injuries
NYG OT J. Pugh - Hip Fracture – IR
JAX QB K. Clemens – Hip Fracture - IR
PIT OG R. Foster - Achilles Tear – IR

CHI DE W. Young – Upper Arm Fracture – 4 Weeks
CIN LB V. Burfict – Pulled Groin – 3 Weeks
TB HB D. Martin - Broken Thumb - 2 Weeks
TB DE M. Johnson – Knee Cartilage Tear – 3 Weeks
SD LB J. Attaochu - Dislocated Ankle - 4 Weeks
SD LB M. Ingram – Broken Thumb – 3 Weeks
KC LB D. Johnson – Broken Hand – 6 Weeks
IND LB B. Werner – Dislocated Ankle – 5 Weeks
DAL DE W. Hayes – Partial MCL Tear – 7 Weeks
MIA LT B. Albert – Broken Thumb – 2 Weeks
ATL DE K. Biermann – Broken Thumb – 1 Week
SF DE J. Smith – Upper Arm Fracture – 3 Weeks
NYJ OT C. Stark – Dislocated Hip – 3 Weeks
DET DE J. Hughes - Dislocated Knee - 3 Weeks
DET LB S. Tulloch - Shoulder Tear - 2 Weeks
CAR C W. Montgomery – Pulled Groin – 3 Weeks
NE DE J. Diaz - Abdominal Tear - 1 Week
STL CB J. Jenkins – Dislocated Ankle – 5 Weeks
BAL HB J. Forsett – Broken Wrist – 2 Weeks

Transactions
Bears release WR S. Ajirotutu
Bills release HB K. Barner
Bucs release HB C. Sims
Bucs release P M. Koenen
Chargers release DE T. Alualu
Colts release OG M. Ramirez
Eagles release WR J. Huff
Giants release S N. Berhe
Giants sign P S. Powell 1yr/640k
Jaguars release S D. Landry
Jaguars release HB D. Reynaud
Lions release HB A. Smith
Rams release WR B. Butler
Rams release HB D. Richardson
Ravens release DL T. Kelly
Redskins release HB M. Asiata
Saints release WR M. Slater
Seahawks release HB S. Jackson
Titans release HB D. McCluster
Texans release HB A. Blue
Vikings release HB D. McFadden