Wednesday Patriots Headlines - August 25th
Another rainy day here in New England, and here are this morning's Patriots headlines.
The Worcester Telegram reports this morning that recently acquired offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka will start this season with a one game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. According to the report the suspension stems from a domestic dispute in which Ojinnaka threw his wife down the stairs in an altercation where he claims she started the fight by trying to stab him with a pen.
Mike Reiss takes another look at the trade for Ojinnaka, as well as breaking down some of the other young offensive linemen.
Mark Farinella of the Attleboro Sun Chronicle reports that Ojinnaka is ready to turn the page and move on from the incident and focus on football.
Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com echoes Farinella's article, and writes that Ojinnaka is prepared to "bust his butt" in order to protect Tom Brady.
The Telegram also has an article on linebacker Thomas Williams, who spent the offseason getting into shape by going through Mixed Martial Arts training.
“You go and do something like that, it’s so tenacious, it’s so ferocious,” Williams said. “It really makes you dig deep and have to look within. Those ‘dog days’ and those double days are tough in themselves, so to do something like that it really helps you out as far as you’ve been there before.”
Everyone in New York heard the comments by Tom Brady on Monday regarding his dislike for the Jets, including quarterback Mark Sanchez who The New York Post reports responded with comments of his own yesterday.
The New York Times also has more quotes from other Jets players who reacted to Brady's comments from Monday.
Jerry Thornton of WEEI.com writes why he feels that Jets coach Rex Ryan is 'the perfect villain' for this rivalry.
Farinella writes that the Jets lead the league in talking, but not much else and isn't getting caught up in all the buzz and hype surrounding them this season.
Patriots runningback Laurence Maroney told the Attleboro Sun Chronicle that "the best is yet to come" from him, as he says the great years he's had in college haven't had a chance to show on the field just yet, but they will this season.
The Boston Herald also has more on Maroney, who isn't discouraged at all by the fact that he's gotten a lot of work so far during the preseason by running with the second offensive unit.
“I don’t really trip off of it. It is what it is,” Maroney said. “I was always told you don’t cry over spilled milk. So if that’s what I’m going to be, that’s what I’m going to be, and I’m going to shine right there. When they want to put me back with the (starters), just keep doing it.”
Christopher Price of WEEI.com has a great piece this morning as he takes a look at how some of the positional battles appear to be shaping up.
Price also looks at offensive lineman Dan Connolly, who seems to have established himself enough where he appears comfortable with his new role as a starter with the first unit.
Price also reports that Patriots defensive lineman Kade Weston cleared waivers and will be placed on injured reserve, which ends his season.
The Standard-Examiner has an article this morning on wide receiver Wes Welker, who they feel is still the NFL's toughest player.
Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald has a great story on offensive lineman Brian Simmons, who underwent 16 medical procedures to correct a deformaty in his foot that he was born with, and has overcome it all and made it into the NFL.
Rapoport also has an article on Sam Bradford getting the start tomorrow night in Foxboro, with Belichick telling the media yesterday the Patriots didn't scout him because they "didn't feel he'd be there" by the tim New England made thier first draft selection in the first round.
SouthCoastToday.com has an article by Jonathan Comey, who writes that the Patriots 'still lack that finishing touch', and apparently isn't enamored with this year's draft picks.
Albert Breer of the Boston Globe has notes from yesterday's indoor practice, which also included the absence of wide receiver Julian Edelman who missed his second straight session.
And finally Mike Reiss takes a look at the film to try and figure out exactly when Edelman was injured during the Falcons game last Thursday.
That's it for this morning. Hope everyone makes the best of today's rainy day here in New England and we'll have more throughout the day.
