On behalf of the Paddy Patriots our condolences to the Kraft family with the Death of Myra Kraft loving wife of Robert Kraft. Sad day.
The Paddy Patriots will meet officially for the first time on September 3rd. The ambition is to connect Irish New England Patriots fans together and to meet monthly and also watch Pats games together.
The first meeting will be on September 3rd in the Woolshed on Parnell Street in Dublin at 7pm.
Come along and join fellow Pats fans.
http://www.woolshedbaa.com/Home_Page.html
Tom Brady was voted number on the NFL Networks Top 100 2011 by his peers. Darelle Revis and Ray Lewis both introduced Tom as the number 1 choice and Ray Lewis did an excellent job talking about Brady and one of the best things he said about Brady was this:
“One day when I sit down with my kids and we have the conversation, I played against one of the great ones, I’m talking about the greatest of greatest.”
As a Pats fan I am truly honoured to have one of the greatest QBs of all time behind our centre.
On another note Tom Brady was quoted saying he believes Peyton Manning is his greates QB of all time…….
The Paddy Patriots have decided after 2 years of being web based to take the leap and become a fan club that meet up once a month.
To start it will be Dublin based but a meeting outside Dublin every other month will be discussed.
Join the discussion over on our forum:
Tom Brady and fellow Patriots held their own workout in Boston College. There was 40+ players including some of the rookies. The session started in the morning and wrapped up before noon.
The session started with the basics and moved on to group sessions which the media was asked to leave given it was supposed to be a closed session.
This is good to see that our players are working together during this lockout and getting solid practice in. This will be valuable if and when the season starts back. Also a good thing the rookies turned out. These guys need work with the first team and it will also prove so valuable come the start of the season.
Pictures Courtesy of the Boston Globe, Winslow Townson/For the Globe
Tyrone McKenzie, a 2009 third round draft pick, has been released from the Patriots practice squad.
McKenzie, who missed the entirety of last season with a torn ACL in rookie practices prior to training camp, was thought to be in line for competing for a starting role at ILB this season.
However it swiftly became apparent that Brandon Spikes, a 2010 draft choice, had integrated himself in the starting role, displacing 2009 starter Gary Guyton, who continues to offer great depth at the position.
McKenzie had been on the practice squad since the start of the season, on an increased salary, reflecting that other clubs had been interested in him and to secure his committment to the Patriots.
Ultimately though, McKenzie’s opportunities have seen to be further reduced though, with not only Spikes and Guyton, but also Dane Fletcher, an undrafted rookie free agent, who has begun to show up on defence, as well as contributing on special teams, reducing any future hope of securing a slot on the active squad.
McKenzie has thus apparently approached the team seeking his release to try to advance his career and probably has some option with another team already lined up.
In a swift return after re-joining the squad earlier this week following the end of his contract dispute, Logan Mankins has been restored to the active New England Patriots roster.
Notwithstanding the holding of a two-week roster exemption, enbling the team to carry 54 players provided Mankins was not activated, his restoration must mean that a contribution is expected from him starting with the Browns game this Sunday.
His activation meant a corresponding waiver from the roster must occur and whilst thoughts were this would be a similar OL waiver, the Patriots decided to release third-year corner back Terence Wheatley.
Wheatley, a touted second-round pick in 2008, has had a torrid time with injuries and never seemed to establish a consistent presence or contribution. A player whose contributions this year had been limited, he has slipped behind the rotation at corner back of McCourty, Arrington, Butler and Wilhite – with Leigh Bodden also due to return next year after his IR stint.
Whilst Wheatley is eligible for the practice squad, this reflects a poor return for a second-round selection and another example of a high-profile ‘miss’ by the team.
With the team short two safeties, with Chung and Page still inactive, this is arguably a bold move by the team, in further reducing depth in the secondary – but also, in keeping all existing OL personnel when adding Mankins, may be interpreted as further committment to the ‘trenches’ this year, having also dressed up to 6 DL personnel at times as well.
Hot on the heels of the trade of Randy Moss to the Vikings last week, the Patriots pulled another surprising move in the re-acquisition of Deion Branch from Seattle, in return for one of New England’s fourth round picks in next year’s draft.
Following what appears to be a trend of ‘back-to-basics’ this year for the Patriots, beginning with the surprising inclusion of David Patten through training camp and a revised offensive identity in the opening games of the season with more two-TE sets and emphasis on running the football, they have re-acquired a player who was formerly one of their most productive and one of Tom Brady’s favourite targets.
Branch had two extremely successful Superbowl appearances, with 21 catches, a touchdown and two 100-yard games, ending as MVP of Superbowl XXXIX in the Patriots win over the Eagles, as well as numerous other productive performances (53 appearances, 42 starts + 8 post-season starts) during his years (2002-2005) with the Patriots, following their selection of him in the second round. However, prior to the 2006 season, Branch demanded a salary increase or a trade and in a shocking move just before the start of the season, the Patriots pulled the trigger on a trade to the Seahawks in return for a number 1 pick the following year. The Patriots, yet again, indicated they were not afraid to make a bold move and would not be held to ransom by a player, though were putting a great degree of trust and belief in a depleted receiving corp for the next season, trusting that recent draft pick, Chad Jackson, who had experienced a superb training camp, would be able to contribute from the get-go. Jackson disappointed and the Branch trade and lack of receiving talent has been identified by fans as a key reason in the Patriots ultimate failure in the AFC Championship game later that year. As a direct consequence, the Patriots went WR-crazy the following year, obtaining Randy Moss and Wes Welker for draft picks and Donte’ Stallworth from free agency on a one year deal.
Fast-forward some years and the situation has gone full circle. Whilst Welker remains, Moss has been traded and Branch, who never hit the heights in Seattle in an injury-ravaged period, with knee, hamstring and ankle problems disrupting all but his first season with them, returns. Arguably, Branch has shown this year that he is back to full fitness and has contributed somewhat to Seattle’s improved receiving game, but has been perceived as surplus to requirements there. From a Patriots perspective, both the number of intervening years and injury issues raise doubts as to whether he can be as successful with the Patriots as he was in his first period with the team and his role, his ability to still provide a deep threat and his health will all be closely followed…….
Randy Moss has been traded to the Minnesota Vikings in a trade that shocked many Pats fans due to what the Pats received instead of his services.
The Patriots will obtain an extra 2011 Draft pick in the 3rd round. Where does this leave us now…………………………………
The Paddy Patriots go to the Woolshed Sports Baa and Grill on Parnell St. in Dublin to watch their NFL and more importantly the Pats when the Woolshed show our games. Awesome Atmosphere and Big screens with Beer on tap and awesome platters of food.
Be sure to keep an eye on their schedule to vote for what games they show and to also keep an eye out when the Pats are on their screens.
http://www.woolshedbaa.com/NFL.html
Hope to see you all there soon.
Catch some of the Paddy Patriots there this Sunday.