Patriots Notebook

No flag football for them

Penalty-free production is first in franchise annals

By Christopher L. Gasper

Globe Staff / October 27, 2008

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FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots enjoyed the first penalty-free performance in team history (731 games) yesterday.

New England was not assessed a single accepted penalty in its 23-16 win over the Rams at Gillette Stadium. Meanwhile, St. Louis had nine penalties for 63 yards.

The Patriots were the first team since the Seahawks last December, against Baltimore, and the 50th team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to not have a penalty in a game.

Coach Bill Belichick said the paucity of penalties wasn't an accident.

"This is something we talked about this week," he said. "You always want to play penalty-free. That is a goal each week for every unit.

"Obviously, you are not going to go through a whole season without getting a penalty. But offensively, defensively, and in the kicking game, before each game our goal is to play penalty-free in each of those units. So, that's great.

"Everything they get, make them earn it. That was outstanding really. I can't remember how many of those we had, but we haven't had many." None it turns out.

The Patriots haven't had many penalties this season. They entered yesterday second in the NFL to Houston in accepted penalties with 22.

Still, there was some luck involved.

Left tackle Matt Light was actually flagged for a holding penalty in the fourth quarter, but it was declined because Chris Long had sacked quarterback Matt Cassel.

The Patriots also appeared to have incurred an infraction in the second quarter, when linebacker Adalius Thomas got a grip on the facemask of Rams quarterback Marc Bulger as Thomas recorded a sack. A flag was thrown but then picked up and no call was made.

Hobbs hurts shoulder
It was rough day for cornerback Ellis Hobbs. He was twice beaten on long pass plays - a 69-yard touchdown to Donnie Avery in the first quarter and a 44-yarder in the third quarter. Hobbs injured his shoulder breaking up a long pass to Avery in the fourth quarter and was run down by Rams kicker Josh Brown on a 49-yard kickoff return.

Hobbs, who had offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, appeared to land hard on that shoulder on the fourth-quarter pass breakup. He also had been forced to leave the game in the first half with an undisclosed injury.

Hobbs, who went straight to the locker room after the shoulder injury, said he thinks he'll be all right for next week against the Colts.

"The shoulder is fine," said Hobbs. "[It's] just getting ready for next week and trying to heal up. I'm fine. I just hit the ground kind of funny, too funny. I didn't feel right."

As for being tackled by Brown on the kick return, which help set up the tying field goal, Hobbs blamed it on fatigue, comparing himself to a virtual player in a video game.

"I had no gas, man," Hobbs said. "You get to about that time of the game and you're tapping that 'X' button but there ain't nothing working. You just keep trying to run hard. It took all my energy to just catch the ball and come back across the field."

Hobbs shouldn't feel bad. Brown also has brought down Bears returner Devin Hester.

"Two years ago, I had to get a hold of Devin Hester, and he's about the toughest guy I've ever had to bring down," Brown said. "[Yesterday] was the first time I had to kick in the old wheels a little bit and see if I still had 'em."

Warren bags sack
Ty Warren recorded his first sack of the season when he hauled down Bulger for a 5-yard loss in the fourth quarter. "It was good, man, my first one of the season," he said. "Maybe I can start a little streak here. It took a while. I've been getting back there, but I finally got one." . . . Placekicker Stephen Gostkowski continued his on-target start to the season. Gostkowski booted three more field goals (30, 27, and 41 yards) to make him 16 of 17 this season. The 41-yarder, which came with 8:22 remaining in the game, tied the contest, 16-16. The extra point on the winning 15-yard touchdown toss from Matt Cassel to Kevin Faulk gave Gostkowski 303 career points, moving him past Ben Coates for sixth-place on the team's all-time list . . . With Sammy Morris (knee) and LaMont Jordan (right calf) out, rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis made his first career NFL start. It was a mixed bag for Green-Ellis. He had nine rushes for 16 yards and capped the Patriots' first possession, a 13-play, 73-yard drive, with a 2-yard run with 1:43 left in the first. However, he was stopped on a big fourth and 1 from the St. Louis 36 in the third quarter.

Making the list
Cornerback Lewis Sanders, who aggravated a hamstring injury last week, right tackle Nick Kaczur (right ankle), defensive lineman Jarvis Green (right ankle), linebacker Eric Alexander (hamstring), linebacker Shawn Crable (shin), and wide receiver/safety/special teamer Matthew Slater (ankle) were the other inactives for the Patriots . . . Wide receiver Wes Welker had seven receptions for 79 yards, becoming the fourth player in NFL history to have six or more catches in each of his team's first seven games . . . Rams running back Steven Jackson, a game-time decision, was not active because of a strained right thigh. Antonio Pittman got the start instead. St. Louis was also without starting defensive tackle Adam Carriker, who did not make the trip because of a sprained left ankle.