Patriots Super Bowl week Thread: Practice Notes, Injury Updates, etc.

[BTTA]

From what I hear, Brown was a stud against Jacksonville, often taking two blockers and still holding his position, effectively clogging up the middle running lanes. They'll need him and the rest of the DL to be able to do the same in order to stop the Eagles' RPO. With no one else healthy who can play over the center at that level of proficiency, an argument could be made that he's just as important to the outcome of this game as Gronk. It won't be nearly as obvious, of course, unless you are looking for it.

The missing folks aren't news in that we learned of Wise and Brown yesterday and Gronk during the game. And while Gronk is the big one, I've got to hope that Brown's injury is minor and they're just being cautious with him. I wasn't aware that he got hurt during the title game. He's had a really good year and has stepped up even further after his prior injury this year. His presence is crucial against the quality runners the Eagles have.

Been an underrated defender especially second half of the season. Was likened to big Vince for last week's performance. Only backup is Branch, whose health is uncertain.

Or Wise and Brown

We need Brown

 

[maineman209]

I didn’t realize there were so many. It’s funny how most on that list are all pro. Some are pro bowl worthy

I'd guess that, at least since the draft dropped from 12 rounds to 7 rounds in the early 1990s, the total number of "consensus 1st-rounders" who have been busts is roughly equal to the number of UDFAs who have been "Pro Bowl/All-Pro worthy".

Every year there are roughly 2,500 draft-eligible college prospects. A 1st-round draft pick doesn't guarantee that a team gets a quality NFL player out of those 2,500. It merely guarantees that they have one of the first 32 chances to try to select one out of those 2,500. Their results are entirely due to the quality of the scouting reports they've read beforehand, and the work of their coaches afterward.

This is also why Jimmie Johnson's Draft-pick Value Chart is still the base standard for GMs and other decision-makers in calculating pick trades. Those values aren't based on things that haven't happened yet, nor does it attempt to project those future events. It's based entirely on the history of how teams have valued those places in line.

 

[Chris Stevenson]

Captain Stone is one of those who crapped all over Belichick for drafting the DB’s out of Rutgers, all 3 played significant roles in getting them 2 Lombardi’s, And 2 could help them get # 3.

a lot of felger/mazz minions did that. they spend their entire lives bashing bb as a pats fan. one of the creepiest things i have ever seen.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

thats pretty big news actually....if healthy he will be a big weapon against the eagles

It definitely is great, but a little bizarre too. Guy misses like 2 months, comes back for one play and gets another injury knocking him out of THAT game, then he’s not even on the next injury report lol

 

[Ring 6]

I'll concede Mongo Jr Jr, but not the others. And UDFAs don't count when evaluating a Draft class, because they weren't, you know, drafted.

Valentine and Mitchell made significant contributions to a Sb championship in their rookie year. Far more than typical for their draft slots. Roberts as a 6th round pick has been a big contributor in his first 2 years on a defense that has ranked #1 and #5 in the NFL and is in back to back SBs.
You seem to have unrealistic expectations.

 

[Ring 6]

There was nothing OK about that tackle. He knew the play was over and purposely body slammed White anyway. If anything, it was more flag-worthy than the hit on Gronk.

It can’t be more flag worthy than the Gronk hit because the Gronk hit is called 100 out of 100.

 

[DaBruinz]

It definitely is great, but a little bizarre too. Guy misses like 2 months, comes back for one play and gets another injury knocking him out of THAT game, then he’s not even on the next injury report lol

He wasn't knocked out of the game. He played on Special teams only for the rest of the game..

 

[Pats2000]

Having Bennett would be huge about now ( pending Gronk doesn't play). Now, you got Dwayne Allan, Hogan, Cooks, and Amendola. Still a good group, but it's totally different without the big guy.

There is 0 chance Gronk doesn't play in the Superbowl

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

He wasn't knocked out of the game. He played on Special teams only for the rest of the game..

Missed the st snaps but it was considerable enough to keep him out of the offensive gameplan

 

[RIpats88]

Reiss said Brown was walking around the locker room with no apparent limp smiling. Maybe im wrong, but sounds like with a bye week they are being cautious with him.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

I note Barner and Jernigan were both out with "illness."

Flu might be the big unknown for both teams here given the worst flu season in years. (Basically the egg-based vaccine didn't work because of so-called antigenic drift. Only 10% of US flu vaccines are currently made using a cell-based system that worked better).

If I were Belichick I'd quarantine all the players.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

from Reiss:

The Patriots will be practicing at the Vikings' facility in Eden Prairie, while the Eagles will be at the University of Minnesota facility, which is more in the downtown area.

If the vikings beat the eagles, it would have been the reverse situation. The league would have allowed them to practice at their own facility and make the AFC team go to University of Minnesota.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Flu might be the big unknown for both teams here given the worst flu season in years. (Basically the egg-based vaccine didn't work because of so-called antigenic drift. Only 10% of US flu vaccines are currently made using a cell-based system that worked better).

Yeah - apparently H3N2 is more prone to picking up human immune-fooling mutations when it’s grown in eggs than the other strains are, leading the H3N2 vaccine component to differ more from what’s actually going around even when they make a good guess on what strain to include in the vaccine. Wish they’d hurry up and get more modern vaccine production on line.

 

[AtomicDawg]

Great news on both accounts.

 

[Soliel]

Great news on both accounts.

Well, that should put the worry about gronk to bed

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Well, that should put the worry about gronk to bed

He’s back a lot faster than I thought

 

[SHOWTIME15]

 

[Mack Herron]

have to get through walk through without symptoms. Good sign.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

have to get through walk through without symptoms. Good sign.

sounds like he’s in step 4 of the protocol. as long as burkhead doesn’t accidently drill him in the head, he should be cleared for contact next week.

NFL Return-To-Participation Protocol - NFL Play Smart, Play Safe

 

[RobertWeathers]

IIRC he said on K&C he was getting the stitches removed this week.

Good news nonetheless.