Tommy Kelly placed on season-ending IR

[chasa]

this really feels like our year.

 

[50-yard-line]

Been a tough year for injuries. I wonder if there is any evidence the NFL's improved safety rules actually reduce injury rates.

Here's a theory: because of the lack of hitting in practice, players aren't going into game situations as beaten down as in years previous and so are hitting harder, and hitting bodies less used to taking that beating.

I'm not even kidding...

 

[patsinthesnow]

Vince Wilfork: 10.6 million
The Prisoner: 7.5 million
Jerod Mayo: 6 million
Sebastian Vollmer: 6 million
Tommy Kelly: 1.5 million

31.6 million not on the field......

 

[Brady6]

Patriots twitter

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/396732849241346048

WTF?

I have to admit I did not see that one coming, I thought he had been practicing and was expecting him back after the bye week. I wish Mr. Kelly the best on his recovery and I hope to see him back next see, I thought he was very impressive early on.

Very tough year for players we signed in free agency as new additions:

•Armond Armstead = PUP (CFL signing)
•Marcus Benard = released at the end of preseason
•Jason Vega = released during training camp
•Danny Amendola = has played in just 4 of 8 games and has just 19 receptions for 174 yards and 0 touchdowns
•Leon Washington = has played in just 2 of 8 games and has returned just 1 kick for 19 yards
I Adrian Wilson = placed on injured reserve at the end of the preseason
•Donald Jones = retired during training camp
•Michael Jenkins = released during training camp
•Will Svitek = has played in just 5 of 8 games
•Tommy Kelly = played in just 5 of 8 games before being placed on injured reserve with 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
•Lavelle Hawkins – released during training camp
•Tyronne Green – placed on injured reserve
•Tim Tebow – released at the end of training camp


Talk about bad luck we are having here, Vince Wilfork hadn’t missed a game since 2009 and Kelly since 2007 and they both land on injured reserve by midseason.

 

[Hardboiled]

Watching his knee buckle, I was surprised he came back in the game (even for that short period). When a player goes down untouched, it's usually not good. I assume they gave the situation a shot with a knee brace with the hope of off-season surgery. Another key loss, especially in light of Wilfork.

 

[supafly]

I have to admit I did not see that one coming, I thought he had been practicing and was expecting him back after the bye week.

Tommy Kelly had a setback this week during practice.

I don't question coaching staff decisions too much, particularly with injury handling--but my opinion is that it would have been awful tough for Kelly to be limping noticeably on Thursday in the locker room, then have suddenly gone to being able to practice several days later; which is what was attempted.

For all we know, they may have already known that it was pretty severe and just tested him this week in practice to see if he'd be able to come back at all this year.

 

[Claremonster]

Still trying to understand why Benard was let go...BB wasn't smart on that one.

 

[JMC00]

I think Armstead will be activated next week or the week leading up to Carolina.

 

[Gwedd]

It's a rough game. The losses suck big time, but like coach says "It is what it is."

What I've always admired about this team, especially under Belichick, is that NO ONE on the team is using the injuries as an excuse for poor performance or losing a game. Back ups are there for a reason: They've shown the ability to grasp the playbook, the concepts, and shown themselves willing to do what it takes to earn a spot on the roster. They are there to take the place of someone who falls. Now it's time for them to step up and show that the coach's faith in them was not misplaced.

Reminds me of Shakespeare's speech he wrote for his play "Henry V" which the king gives before the Battle of Agincourt. The St Crispin's Day speech, though fiction, is still THE most stirring speech evah! In it, Henry V chastises his cousin for wishing they had more men to support them in the coming battle. Henry points out that no more are needed, because the fewer men with them, the greater share of glory for each should they win, and if they lose, they are still enough to do their country proud.

The same thing here. New England still has a good team, and good players. If they can prevail, then all the better for everyone involved: owners, players, fans, etc. And if they lose? Then so be it. They did more with less and accomplished much more anyway than folks were expecting of them. In the end, it's still a game. It's a game I WANT the Patriots to prevail in, but for us fans anyway, it isn't so life changing (unless you bet the rent/mortgage money, and then you're a damned fool anyways) so there's that.

Anyway, here's a link to Brannagh's version of the speech, which is a well-done recitation.

Henry V - Speech - Eve of Saint Crispin's Day - HD - YouTube

 

[supafly]

Still trying to understand why Benard was let go...BB wasn't smart on that one.

Supposedly hasn't been the same since the motorcycle accident a couple of yrs ago.

He's only been active in 4 games this season for ARZ, with a total of a sack and three tackles, so it's not like we're missing out on a ton of talent or production.

Chances are Belichick likely felt that there were 50 other guys just like him who would be available if needed.

 

[MassPats38]

I was looking forward to seeing him back on the field with Sopoaga.

In the end, he may have given it a shot and just couldn't push off on the bad leg. Par for the course this season, but the Pats will just have to roll with the punches as they have been doing all season long.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Hope Isaac works out. Maybe armstead is ready to return after the bye.

As many injuries as we have had, I think the DL is ok. If the offense can play 4 quarters instead of 2, we have a really good team. Hopefully the D holds tough, and the offense continues improvement. This team has the ability to go the distance IMO.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

were we in on Ratliff?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

were we in on Ratliff?

I doubt it. It's not even clear he's 100% (which is why Dallas released him in the first place).

 

[supafly]

I doubt it. It's not even clear he's 100% (which is why Dallas released him in the first place).

Yeah, the pursuit of Jay Ratliff never seemed to be much of a reality to me, for the reasons that you mentioned above. It would seem that Ratliff is probably a lot closer to "half-healthy" than he is to fully healthy.

 

[supafly]

I hope to see him back next see, I thought he was very impressive early on.

I don't think the odds of that happening are too good. Here is a thought from the article from boston.com:

"This injury might not bode well for Kelly's long-term future with the team. He was signed on a two-year, $5 million contract this past offseason. He would count for $3 million against the salary cap in 2013 according to sports contracts website Spotrac. The Patriots could get back all but $500,000 of that by releasing him. He will be 33 years old next season, and coming off a serious knee injury, the Patriots may have second considerations."

Thoughts on the loss of Tommy Kelly - Going Deep - Boston.com

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

i would have thought....kickin the tires at least!

 

[IcyPatriot]

NFL needs to go to 60 man rosters with 53 active each week and eliminate the practice squad.

 

[JMC00]

NFL needs to go to 60 man rosters with 53 active each week and eliminate the practice squad.

They also need change the 1 in-season IR return, to like 5-10 or even unlimited.

 

[MassPats38]

Yeah, the pursuit of Jay Ratliff never seemed to be much of a reality to me, for the reasons that you mentioned above. It would seem that Ratliff is probably a lot closer to "half-healthy" than he is to fully healthy.

It appears that did not dissuade da Bears. ESPN reports he was signed to a one year deal.