One area they have to tighten up in

By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff  |  October 17, 2007

Buckle that chinstrap or be prepared to be fined.

That's the message the NFL is sending to players this year, hitting them in the wallet if they don't buckle their chinstrap.

Quarterback Tom Brady and defensive lineman Ty Warren are both appealing fines levied against them for violating the rule, according to their agents, Don Yee and Vann McElroy.

Yee did not disclose how much Brady was fined, or in what game the violation occurred. Warren was fined $7,500 for not having his chinstrap buckled in a Sept. 23 game against the Bills.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello explained that the league decided before the season to put an added emphasis on the rule regarding buckled chinstraps. Aiello said teams were notified before the season and reminded multiple times, and that the change is to ensure the maximum protection for all players against concussions.

Players are not fined on the first offense, only if they fail to buckle their chinstraps after a warning.

In Brady's case, he has one chin cup and two straps that emanate from it, one that goes underneath the cup, and one that extends up near the top of his head. Sometimes the top strap comes off, but because of its placement, he can have difficulty realizing it when it is not fastened.

Barlow in for tryout

Perhaps preparing for life without running back Sammy Morris (chest injury) in the coming weeks, the Patriots had free agent Kevan Barlow in for a tryout at Gillette Stadium Monday.

Barlow, 28, has not played this season after the Steelers released him in camp. He spent the first five years of his career with the 49ers before the Jets acquired him in a trade last year and hoped he would emerge as their lead back.

But the 6-foot-1-inch, 234-pounder was a disappointment in New York, rushing for just 370 yards on 131 carries (2.8-yard average).

The Jets released him in February, and the Steelers signed him three months later. After spending camp with the Steelers, Barlow, a native of Pittsburgh, was released in late August.

Light guts it out

Left tackle Matt Light played in his 99th career game (including playoffs) Sunday in Dallas, and it was one of his gutsiest efforts, considering he had been battling flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to kickoff.

After starting, Light remained on the sideline on the team's second series as he attempted to conserve his stamina. He returned for the next series and played the rest of the way.

"It was a rough one," said the seven-year veteran. "You don't want to throw it all away in the first quarter, and I hadn't done much [in practice]. Luckily, I was able to go out there and not cramp up, but it was a little bit of a battle."

Despite locking up with impressive outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware from time to time, Light, who is always quick with a joke, said he actually got off easy.

"I had a little stomach virus, but I still got to go on the road, stay in a comfy hotel, and hang out with the guys while my wife [Susie] had to battle three kids with the stomach flu at home," he said. "I'd say she probably had a tougher day than I did."

Chance at a record

On the records-possibly-to-be-set front, the Patriots (6-0) have tied the NFL mark for consecutive victories by 17 points or more to begin a season. The 1999 St. Louis Rams accomplished the feat before losing to the Titans, 24-21, in Week 7 of that season . . . Brady, the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week, has set the NFL record for consecutive games with three touchdown passes to open a season. The overall record for consecutive games with three or more touchdown passes is eight, set by Indianapolis's Peyton Manning in 2004 . . . Sunday's game against the Dolphins will be the Patriots' only game on natural grass this season . . . With a win, the Patriots would improve to 7-0 for the first time in franchise history . . . Just as the Patriots focused their attention on taking away Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, Miami running back Ronnie Brown can expect similar treatment this week; he leads the NFL with 51 first downs (34 rushing, 17 receiving) . . . The Dolphins terminated the contract of safety Donovin Darius and placed defensive tackle Chase Page (shoulder) on injured reserve.

Crayton not impressed

In comments that could ultimately make their way onto the Patriots' bulletin board, Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram yesterday that he was less than impressed with New England's defense. "Offensively, they are the real deal. I'm not going to lie about that. Defensively, I can tell you no, they're not," Crayton said. "They're not [that good] at all. The only time they stopped us is when we had penalties. If that's stopping us, it is what it is. Defensively, they are not the real deal." . . . The Patriots have totaled 156 first downs this season, easily the most in the NFL among teams that have played a full schedule of six games. The Cowboys and Giants are next with 126 apiece . . . Brady is completing 76.6 percent of his passes in the fourth quarter (36 of 47), the NFL's best mark . . . With 11 catches on third down, receiver Wes Welker is tied for fifth in the league . . . Kicker Stephen Gostkowski's seven touchbacks tie him for fourth in the NFL . . . As expected, yesterday's trade deadline came and went with the Patriots not making a deal . . . The fan portion of Pro Bowl voting has begun on NFL.com.