Friday's New England Patriots Links 8/26

After a trip around the internet, here are this morning's top stories:

Monique Walker of the Boston Globe has an article on Deion Branch, who said yesterday that with the amount of quality receivers, he knows he's still competing for a job.

Chris Forseberg of ESPNBoston.com has an article on Tom Brady, who told reporters yesterday that 'Tempo' is going to be a big key to tomorrow night's game against the Lions. He's also got some additional clips from yesterday's press conference.

Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald has 'his notebook' from yesterday, and leads off with the fact that tomorrow night's game against Detroit could see the return of Matt Light.

2nd Year cornerback Devin McCourty was on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan this morning, and said during his interview that he prepares for these exhibition games as he does during the regular season.

"I prepare just like it's a regular game," he said. "Once you go out there, there's really no different feeling. You still have the fans in the crowd. You still have all the players preparing. It's not like you wear a different jersey in the preseason. You come out there and the only thing that is different is it doesn't count, but it has the same feeling as [regular-season] game time."

Jeff Howe of NESN.com has his mailbag this morning, including a mention of how valuable Kevin Faulk despite his injury uncertainty heading into this season.

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker hosted a Liberty Bay Credit Union Fantasy Football draft bash at the Tavern in the Square in Allston last night. I found this article in the Boston Herald on it which doesn't say much, but does have a photo of Welker from the event.

Mike Reiss grabs a mention from a Chris Forseberg article where newly signed Andre Carter admits that while he's only been here a short time, one thing he's noticed since he's been here is the fact that head coach Bill Belichick is definitely a 'hands-on' coach.

"I've probably had five or six head coaches and that's a lot of head coaches in 11-year span. But, by far, I see why he's successful, why he's an X's and O's guy. From special teams to position meetings to just detail in general, I've never seen a coach so hands on."

Rich Garven of the Worcester Telegram has an article this morning spotlighting undrafted free agent wide receiver Jeremy Ross, who hopes he can catch on with the Patriots.

Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe has a 'notebook' this morning that leads off with the fact the players enjoyed the viewing of Micky Ward's movie, "The Fighter", Wednesday night over at the Showcase Cinema at Patriots Place.

"Oh man, it was great,'' saidAndre Carter, one of a few Patriots players who do boxing workouts in the offseason. "To compare boxing with football - you can't. It's just like apples and oranges.

"I think boxing itself, especially when it comes to that level of competition, it's just inner will. To see the movie overall, it was great, and to meet the actual man behind the film was great as well.''

Karen Guregian of the Herald has a similar article, and has a mention from safety James Ihedigbo. Having played with the Jets last year Ihedigbo noted the difference in how Belichick does things compared to Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

"You know, it's wild. Every coach has his own way of doing things, and coach Belichick certainly has his," said recently signed safety James Ihedigbo. "You get into the dog days of camp, do little things here and there to break up the routine, so guys get rejuvenated and ready to continue to work. (With the movie), coach Belichick was just trying to find that spark and motivation."

Mark Daniels of the Boston Herald has an article this morning on runningback Shane Vereen, who he describes as a 'stop and go back'.

Ian Rapoport of the Herald also has a good article on James Sanders, who he writes is 'more than a safety', and spent his first practice back yesterday beginning the battle to carve out a role with the team by doing some special teams work.

Matt McDonough of The Daily Campus - a publication for the University of Connecticut - has an article this morning on the son of former Patriot Tebucky Jones, with Jones Jr. trying to create his own identity.

Christopher Price of WEEI.com has an article on Mike Wright, and feels that although the defense has looked good so far, they'll look even better with him.

Paul Kenyon has a good article this morning comparing Chad Ochocinco's acquisition compared to Randy Moss', and writes that #85 is in the right place here with the Patriots.

Sports Illustrated has an article from the AP on wide receiver Taylor Price, who said yesterday he's hoping to build on his performance from two weeks ago against the Lions tomorrow night.

And finally I stumbled across an article in the Boston Herald from "The Inside Track on Ochocinco's bedroom, which has quite an incredible fish tank in it. There's a photo of it in this piece that's pretty unreal if you want to check it out.