Tom Brady absent at afternon practice

we havent heard anything new about meriweather's leg!?

It's too bad to see that Tommy is not back in. I'm bringing my wife and four kids in from western MY to see the game this friday and they will be be disapointed not to see Tommy. I realize it's best for him not to get hurt any more then he already is. Especially with the make shift line in front of him.
I am a little afraid he lost some of that fire that burns within him. Kind of saw it at the end of last year when he was complaining how long the season was. Now...he for the first time ever he gave up his "parking spot" to the hardest off season worker and first time ever he is skipping preseason games. Hope this isn't the beginning of things to come. We need that guy or we are doomed. No Tommy...No playoffs. Randy Moss would be comparable to '69 vette with a blown engine.
Alex...hopefully it's a good sign not to see Merriweather put on IR. Hope it's just a sprain. For the first time in years I am a little concerned going in to the season.

Alex, no one cares about Meriweather's leg because he's a bust. It wouldn't surprise me if he gets put on IR for the season so that they don't have to play him. Then he'll have one last year to prove himself before they cut him. Look for someone like Michael Lewis to be on the block as someone that Pats might pick up. Even without a hard nosed guy like Lewis, we're still going to have the best defense in the league this year.

I am more concerned with how bad the 1st team d looked on Sunday, I know it just pre-season, but thier secondary looks very open and weak on most passing plays.

Joan
you don't know anything about football. Meriweather is gonna be a stud. He got better all season last year and had really started to shine this training camp. All the veterans were talking about his leadership and communication developments. Not only that but one of the biggest knocks on him last year was his hands of stone and if you read anything about training camp you'd know that he has been picking off passes left and right even one during wet rainy conditions. Don't comment about what you don't know about because then you sound foolish.

Just an overall I don't care attitude so unlike years past. They looked washed up..amazing lack of effort. It was shameful to be a Pats backer.

@ Mike J - Only Randy Moss and Tom Brady's Mom call him 'Tommy', are you either? Borderline weird.

@Joan - They will not have the best defense in the league this year. Not with the secondary they have right now.

Steve

Jeff they had the same record after 2 preseason games last year and how did they look in the regular season.... your a bandwagon fan... loser.

Alex, no one cares about Meriweather's leg because he's a bust. It wouldn't surprise me if he gets put on IR for the season so that they don't have to play him. Then he'll have one last year to prove himself before they cut him. Look for someone like Michael Lewis to be on the block as someone that Pats might pick up. Even without a hard nosed guy like Lewis, we're still going to have the best defense in the league this year.

I am more concerned with how bad the 1st team d looked on Sunday, I know it just pre-season, but thier secondary looks very open and weak on most passing plays.

Joan, it's not even close to appropriate to label a second year player a bust. I think the jury is still out but even Vince Wilfork did not start to play well until half way through his third season (was not even our first string guy, similar to Meriweather). This year he will have two of the best safetys from the past decade advising him - Lynch and Harrison. I would say he is in a pretty good spot to pick up on some things so it's important that he does play.

Just an overall I don't care attitude so unlike years past. They looked washed up..amazing lack of effort. It was shameful to be a Pats backer.

uhh Joan if Chad Jackson is still here you best believe Merriweather will not only be here but be played in a much larger role this season. He is a natural Safety whom they tried out at cornerback and it didn't work. Much too early to be calling him a bust when he is just now comming into his own and feeling more comfortable with himself and the playbook. I hope your right about the best defense in the league but I'm sure Minnesota, San Diego, Indy, and Dallas will have something to say about that.

We need to develop some cornerbacks. That is my main concern. As of this moment, the team does not have one bonafide NFL starting CB. With the additions at safety in the off season, I was hoping that they would have moved Merriweather up to corner and re signed Ty Law.

is this a sign of our season?

Meriweather a bust? What player are you watching? Not only is he not a bust, but he's going to be a solid NFL player for years to come.

Shouldn't some of you guys be out on a ledge somewhere? For cryin' out loud. Shameful to be a Pats backer? Meriweather a bust? Brady lost his fire? Ask the refs that visited camp in early August if the guy screaming at them over spotting the ball correctly had "lost his fire." As far as Meriweather, I'll second Larry's post. Anybody who knows what they're looking at - even only marginally - saw his development towards the end of the season last year, and his performance during camp clearly indicates that development is continuing.

Shameful to be a Pats backer? Then don't be. Easy as that.