FOXBOROUGH – Patriots coach Bill Belichick held his Wednesday press conference (10:50 a.m.) and media members had access to the locker room (11:10-11:55 a.m.). Here were a few nuggets of note:
1) Absorbing the loss of Rodney Harrison. Several players spoke about losing Rodney Harrison to a season-ending quad injury. Said captain Mike Vrabel: “It’s a big blow. I think that what he brings weekly and every day to this locker room, and this team, he’ll be missed. You can’t replace him. You can’t go out and find someone. There is nobody out there like that. Obviously, everybody sees what he does in the games; it’s just what he does in practice, the way he prepares, works, and pushes guys.” Follow the "full entry" link below for video reaction from cornerback Ellis Hobbs and wide receiver Wes Welker.
2) Running backs prepared to rally. Sammy Morris, who missed the second half of Monday’s game with a knee injury, was not present in the locker room during the media-access period. Both Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans talked about the Patriots’ overall mindset that everyone has to be ready if their number is called. “It’s just about doing your job, and trusting that everyone else will do their job,” Faulk said.
3) Brandon Meriweather a hot topic. With Rodney Harrison out for the season, safety Brandon Meriweather is expected to step into a more active role. Bill Belichick on Meriweather: “Brandon has played a lot of football for us. We’ve really had three safeties playing. He’ll have to play more, but I don’t think he’ll be doing anything that he hasn’t been doing. … I thought he came on toward the end of last year. I think that’s where his increased level of production and high performance started.”
4) Rams a different team after the bye. The Patriots have started their preparations for Sunday’s game against the Rams. Belichick called them “one of the hottest teams in the league right now.” The Patriots’ practice today has been moved inside today due to rainy conditions.
5) Heath Evans promotes his cause. At the end of his interview with reporters, fullback Heath Evans mentioned an event that will support his Heath Evans Foundation. He’s raffling off a night at the Boston Celtics home opener (netraffle.org) on Oct. 28, with the winner joining him and teammates such as Sammy Morris, Adalius Thomas, Matt Cassel and Kevin Faulk in a luxury suite. Each raffle ticket costs $2 and the raffle closes on Monday. “All the proceeds go to the Heath Evans Foundation, which benefits sexually abused children,” he said.
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