How nervous are you about the Bills game?

[MoLewisrocks]

Not sure if I can recall off the top of my head Bill starting a player who didn't practice all week. Although he may have in a playoff or late season scenario. Bedard thinks the hip is an offshoot of the ACL, compensatory injury if you will, and represents the kind of thing that could be made worse by playing whereas the ACL last season really couldn't. That was just a pain and instability management issue. So unless he shows up as limited today i kind of doubt we see him and if we do i question how sharp he will be.

 

[JackBauer]

Donald Thomas already cost the New England Patriots a football game so keep defending him.

I'll keep defending him if you promise to learn how to read what it is people are writing.

 

[Rob0729]

Not sure if I can recall off the top of my head Bill starting a player who didn't practice all week. Although he may have in a playoff or late season scenario. Bedard thinks the hip is an offshoot of the ACL, compensatory injury if you will, and represents the kind of thing that could be made worse by playing whereas the ACL last season really couldn't. That was just a pain and instability management issue. So unless he shows up as limited today i kind of doubt we see him and if we do i question how sharp he will be.

I can't remember the specific examples, but it has happened a few times. It is rare, but has happened at least once or twice in the Belichick era.

As for his hip injury, it is all speculation. I'd rather not go there. We have no idea the nature of his injury. For all we know, he took a helmet to the hip and has a deep bone bruise and has nothing to do with his knee.

 

[Rob0729]

Donald Thomas already cost the New England Patriots a football game so keep defending him.

He absolutely did not cost the Pats a game. He did not throw a pick on the Pats' 25 yard line. It wasn't his fault the Cards blocked a punt. It wasn't him who got a holding call on what would have been the winning TD run. He didn't shank a 49 yard field goal attempt that would have won the game.

He was A factor, but far from THE factor.

 

[ATippett56]

I'll keep defending him if you promise to learn how to read what it is people are writing.

Donald Thomas wasn't good enough to be the fourth offensive guard on the Miami Dolphins or the Detroit Lions. As a matter of fact, Donald Thomas was not good enough to stick on the 53 man roster of the two aforementioned teams.

 

[Deus Irae]

Donald Thomas wasn't good enough to be the fourth offensive guard on the Miami Dolphins or the Detroit Lions. As a matter of fact, Donald Thomas was not good enough to stick on the 53 man roster of the two aforementioned teams.

Mike Vrabel wasn't good enough to start on the Steelers. Randy Moss wasn't good enough for the Vikings and Raiders to keep around, Tom Brady wasn't good enough to be drafted in the first round, Stephen Neal wasn't good enough to be drafted, Wes Welker wasn't good enough to stick with the Chargers, etc...

Your argument is a terrible one.

 

[ATippett56]

Mike Vrabel wasn't good enough to start on the Steelers. Randy Moss wasn't good enough for the Vikings and Raiders to keep around, Tom Brady wasn't good enough to be drafted in the first round, Stephen Neal wasn't good enough to be drafted, Wes Welker wasn't good enough to stick with the Chargers, etc...

Your argument is a terrible one.

Mike Vrabel was not cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers but was an unrestricted free agent. Randy Moss was traded from the Vikings to the Raiders for a first round pick. Randy Moss was traded from the Raiders to the Patriots for a fourth round draft pick.

Donald Thomas was one of the few offensive players wearing the goat horns after the Arizona Cardinals game. Donald Thomas is in his fifth season and is not some rookie starting in his second career game.

3 up, 3 down for the Patriots - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

mankins and gronk are questionable..but i believe both will play

 

[Uncle Rico]

Per Reiss Twitter, Edelman out, Mankins and ... Gronk .. .questionable.

 

[JackBauer]

Mike Vrabel wasn't good enough to start on the Steelers. Randy Moss wasn't good enough for the Vikings and Raiders to keep around, Tom Brady wasn't good enough to be drafted in the first round, Stephen Neal wasn't good enough to be drafted, Wes Welker wasn't good enough to stick with the Chargers, etc...

Your argument is a terrible one.

Joe McKnight > Danny Woodhead

 

[Rob0729]

mankins and gronk are questionable..but i believe both will play

The fact that Mankins isn't doubtful after missing all week (Edelman is already listed as out after missing all week) tells me he still has a good shot of playing.

 

[serifyn]

Mankins and Gronkowski might be the patriots best linemen, so im officially nervous about this game, regardless of whether they play or not.

 

[Deus Irae]

Mike Vrabel was not cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers but was an unrestricted free agent. Randy Moss was traded from the Vikings to the Raiders for a first round pick. Randy Moss was traded from the Raiders to the Patriots for a fourth round draft pick.

Donald Thomas was one of the few offensive players wearing the goat horns after the Arizona Cardinals game. Donald Thomas is in his fifth season and is not some rookie starting in his second career game.

3 up, 3 down for the Patriots - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Vrabel couldn't make it on the Steelers. He became a central player on the Patriots. One man's trash is often another man's treasure, so a player failing one place is not a guarantee that he'll fail elsewhere. In this case, the word "failure" isn't even really applicable, since we're talking about a backup backup's backup.

 

[ATippett56]

Vrabel couldn't make it on the Steelers.

Vrabel played on special teams. As for "not making it", the Steelers just like any another NFL franchise has to take into account a financial impediment called the salary cap when dealing with unrestricted free agents.

 

[ATippett56]

One man's trash is often another man's treasure, so a player failing one place is not a guarantee that he'll fail elsewhere.

Donald Thomas was not cut by one but two NFL franchises. Donald Thomas performance against the Arizona Cardinals was considered a "failure" especially for a fifth year professional.

 

[Deus Irae]

Donald Thomas was not cut by one but two NFL franchises. Donald Thomas performance against the Arizona Cardinals was considered a "failure" especially for a fifth year professional.

You keep making the same lousy argument. Why? It's never going to become a good argument.

Players who fail in some places can still succeed in others, and bottom of the roster guys get churned over. Hell, you're clamoring for McDonald, who was only available to the Patriots because he was cut by a Packers team that's been trying to solidify its offensive line for years.

 

[juny]

i hope mankins is able to go on sunday. i'm scared of the bills line against our makeshift OL. if he is unable to go , my nervous factor goes from zero to somewhat nervous.

 

[RoughingthePasser]

not as nervous as i was before the last 2 SB's we were in

 

[Mack Herron]

The fact that Mankins isn't doubtful after missing all week (Edelman is already listed as out after missing all week) tells me he still has a good shot of playing.

If he wasn't healthy enough to practice all week I am concerned about his ability to perform at a high level if he does play. He has been hampered by injuries already even when he was practicing. If the Bills control the LOS the way the Ravens did, they will be tough to run against. And they rush the passer better.

 

[CaliPatsFan12]

Sill pretty worried divsional opponent always is a cause for concern and how the defense has been playing as of late still think the Pats should come out with a W but probably gonna be a close one