Titans pose tough challenge

Nothing much has changed in my thinking since last week. I never rule out a Patriots win against a tough team, injuries or no injuries, but I just don't see the matchups working out against a Tennessee team that's about as physical as you can get. They bring a great pas rush with Jevon Kearse and Albert Haynesworth, Carlos Hall and Kevin Carter. It's likely Damien Woody will be back in there to solidify the offensive line and that's a good thing, but enough to offset the Titans' advantage?. Probably not.

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Certainly, the Patriots are home and that is a plus on any Sunday. (Will anyone be watching with the Red Sox taking on Oakland?) Wednesday's injury list was 13 deep. New ones like Willie McGinest (neck), Daniel Graham (shoulder), David Givens (chest), and Kevin Faulk (leg) were all listed as questionable. Last week Woody and David Patten were questionable and didn't play.

If Faulk's injury is more severe than we first thought, and if Mike Cloud shows anything in practice this week, he might be in there. Cloud feels if he had a consistent opportunity he'd surprise some people. "I haven't had a consistent chance," Cloud said. "When I have had an opportunity in high school and college (Boston College) I've been very successful. That's what I've been waiting for."

Cloud, per order of his suspension for testing positive for a banned supplement last season in Kansas City, said he had no face-to-face contact with team officials during his suspension, only phone conversations.

"Certainly nothing on the site (Foxborough)," said Cloud who said he did rehab on his surgically repaired right calf out of Boston. "I watched the games on TV and kept up with things that way. I had been sitting on the meetings in training camp, so I have knowledge of what they've been doing. Today (Wednesday) I got a feeling for where we are."

Cloud who carries a one-week roster exemption until he can get himself ready, hasn't been told when he might be out there.

"I hope I can make some type of contribution after this week. I'm not sure what they have in mind yet. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and practice hard," he said.

Cloud said his surgery in training camp required immediate attention because there was pressure on the nerve in his calf that was making an area from the knee down numb. "That's pretty much how I knew what was wrong. Because I wasn't getting proper blood supply, it might have gotten worse if they hadn't caught it at that point."

Cloud, who learned so much backing up Priest Holmes, should make the running-by-committee situation a bit more competitive.   Continued...