truebluefan

The ones that got away

Bill Belichick and personnel director Scott Pioli have an excellent record when it comes to knowing when to turn veterans loose. The vast majority of them have failed to match the success they enjoyed in New England, either from a personal or team standpoint. There are, however, a few exceptions. A look:
Greg Spires, DL, Tampa Bay
The undersized defensive end played well in his final preseason in New England in 2001 before losing his job in the final round of cuts. Bill Belichick knew Spires would land on his feet and play in the league, and that turned out to be the case. After a season in Cleveland, Spires won a job in Tampa Bay in 2002, claimed a Super Bowl ring that year and has been an every-game starter for the Buccaneers since. Spires has recorded nine tackles and a sack this season.

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truebluefan

Jermaine Wiggins isn't the only Vikings player who will be facing his former team Monday night.

Wide receiver Bethel Johnson spent his first three seasons in New England before being traded to New Orleans during the offseason, but he has nothing bad to say about the Patriots.

"It was my decision," he said. "They only did what I asked them to do. I wanted to be traded, and they did what I asked them to."

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truebluefan

Jermaine Wiggins was there when it all began for the New England Patriots.

If not for his 10 catches, the Patriots probably wouldn't have beaten the Oakland Raiders in the divisional round of the 2001 playoffs, and it was his 6-yard reception that set up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal against St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI.

That was the first of three Super Bowl titles in four seasons for New England, and while quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick have received the bulk of the credit, there is at least a grain of truth in Wiggins' joking suggestion that "I like to think I was the one who got the dynasty started."

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truebluefan

It’s easy to see what Bill Belichick saw in tight end Jermaine Wiggins - or more to the point, didn’t see - during the 2002 offseason. Belichick’s analysis was identical to that of nearly every college program 13 years ago after Wiggins graduated from East Boston High School and it’s been shared by nearly every NFL team since.
Too heavy.
Too slow.
Not athletic enough.
Or as the former NFL personnel men at Scouts Inc. put it in their annual scouting guide, “Nothing pretty.”

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truebluefan

Penalty flags aren't flying in the Patriots' direction this season.

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truebluefan

This isn’t new for Jarvis Green.
He filled in as a starter when Richard Seymour missed four games last year and did it the year before for playoff wins over Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. So if Seymour’s left elbow injury is to keep the big Pro Bowler out, Green will be ready.
“I don’t take all the reps (in practice), but I take them mentally,” the fifth-year pro said. “If I was starting the game, it would be the same job I’d have to do as if I was playing 20 snaps.”
Actually, it might be a little different. This year, the Patriots have moved Green around quite a bit in the nickel, employing him on the edge as a 3-technique tackle and on the nose. That’s in addition to being in the rotation as a head-up-on-the-tackle end in the base defense.

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ryanpkt

Jarvis Green has to be the best 3rd de/dl in football- like the 6th man in hoops- the guy gets it done.

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Pats #1