Extra Points

Nuggets from Gillette

By Mike Reiss

FOXBOROUGH — Media members had access to the Patriots’ locker room this morning (11:10-11:55 a.m.) and here were a few nuggets that stood out:

  • 1) Matt Cassel draws a crowd. The backup-turned-starter answered questions from reporters in front of his locker and the crowd was multiple layers deep. “I became a lot more popular after Sunday’s game,” he joked. The plan will be to pass along some of Cassel’s comments a bit later today.
  • 2) Jets and their end games. From a preparation standpoint, Patriots offensive linemen noted how the Jets are doing something a bit different with their ends this year. Jets DE Shaun Ellis, who is usually on the left side, has also been playing on the right side. In turn, DE Kenyon Coleman, normally on the right side, has also been playing on the left. Backups C.J. Mosley and Mike DeVito have also been rotating sides. The approach is likely to mask tendencies in the pass rush, and it has led the Patriots’ offensive linemen to study more players to become familiar with them.
  • 3) Full pads for practice. The Patriots were preparing to hold today’s afternoon practice in full pads, marking the second straight day that they’re in full pads. Bill Belichick has traditionally kept the team in pads early in the season, and last year, players noted that the team stayed in the pads for much of the year. In terms of this week, the full pads are another reminder of the physical test ahead, as the Jets are a more powerful team at the line of scrimmage than they were last year.

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