TRUTH OR FICTION? WEEI co-hosts John Dennis and Gerry Callahan this morning were discussing an unattributed rumor that Tom Brady has a cracked bone in his foot. The story goes that Brady, who happens to be a weekly guest on the Dennis and Callahan Show, plans to play through the injury, barring a big setback in the next couple of days. Click here to listen to the audio, but keep in mind that the report is not coming from an identifiable or verifiable source.
NOT WORRIED ABOUT TOM: Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated's Bucky Brooks predicts that Brady will be the league MVP this season, and Bill Belichick will be coach of the year. ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski predicts the Pats will make another serious run at perfection, but CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco has New England second to the Colts in his updated power rankings.
CHANGES IN THE WIND? There have already been some roster surprises in the past few days for the Patriots, and Belichick indicated yesterday that he might not be done shuffling his personnel in preparation for Sunday's opener. (projo.com)
ONE POSSIBILITY: The Globe's Mike Reiss reports that the Patriots worked out former Rams and Eagles punter Reggie Hodges yesterday at Gillette Stadium. Remember, Belichick was seen on TV chewing out punter Chris Hanson after he punted the ball to Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson in preseason Week Three, a punt that Jackson ran back for a score.
AS GOOD AS IT GOT: That was Jerod Mayo this preseason, a bright spot in a sometimes ugly few weeks for Patriots fans. Shalise Manza Young reports some thoughts from Belichick on his new starting linebacker.
LAST STAND: When team general manager/president Carl Peterson took control of the Chiefs in December 1988, the franchise was downright lousy -- coming off a 4-11-1 season, with few notable players and stands full of empty seats. Things in many ways turned around during Peterson's tenure, as the Chiefs had winning records in 13 of the 19 seasons since he took charge, and turned Arrowhead Stadium into one of the great home fields in the NFL. But here they are -- a team that is widely considered to be lousy once again, coming off a 4-12 record and with no one expecting them to compete this season. Which is why Peterson -- more than head coach Herman Edwards -- is considered a man on the hot seat as his team gets set to play the Patriots on Sunday. Owner Clark Hunt -- son of longtime Chiefs boss Lamar Hunt -- doesn't cool the speculation with comments like this one in the Kansas City Star: "My father and I are clearly very different people, and I would like to think that I have some of his loyalty and I would like to think I have some of his patience. To some degree, I think patience is a real virtue when running a professional sports team. On the other hand, I'm sure I'm not as loyal as my father. And probably not as patient."
MISMATCH:Tom Brady's record as a regular-season NFL starter: 86-24. Brodie Croyle's record as a regular-season NFL starter: 0-6. (Kansas City Star) Think he'll get win number one in Foxboro?
PATRIOT GAMES: Edwards has apparently learned a few things from playing against Belichick's New England teams back when he was a coach of the "NYJ," as Bill likes to say. After Monday's closed walk-through practice, Edwards refused to divulge any information on injuries; both teams must issue an injury report today. "I'm not going to give information out that I don't have to give. It's not fair. It's not fair to this organization." In any case, Kansas City appears to be pretty healthy coming out of preseason. Big rookie left tackle Brandon Albert -- one of Kansas City's two first-round picks in the most recent Draft -- looks like a go after suffering a foot injury in the preseason. (both K.C. Star)
FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE: That sums up the stakes for Jacksonville offensive lineman Richard Collier, who was shot early yesterday morning while sitting in a parked car. Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver said in an e-mail that Collier was in critical but stable condition. In the meantime, the Jags were coping with reports that their veteran running back, Fred Taylor, was uncooperative and ignored three warnings to calm down before he was arrested by Miami Beach police on a disorderly conduct charge. (Both stories Florida Times-Union) Plenty of distractions for a team with high hopes and a tough Week One game coming up against Tennessee.
PARTING SHOT: The arrival of former Bengal Rudi Johnson in Detroit means that running back is out of a job with the Lions. Bell is now looking for work in Houston. (Detroit News) If you believe this report on profootballtalk.com, Bell made off with Johnson's possessions on his way out the door.
CHAD JOHNSON'S CHALLENGE: The NFL still doesn't know what to do about Chad Johnson's plan to wear a uniform with "Ocho Cinco" printed on the back when the Bengals begin their season this weekend in Baltimore. A league spokesman indicates that there might be plans to intervene, but in the meantime, Reebok is getting the special uniform ready, according to Yahoo Sports.
FORGET ABOUT IT: Packers coach Mike McCarthy says he's "not thinking" about adding a veteran quarterback to provide insurance for Aaron Rodgers and untested backups Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn. (Star Tribune)
WILSON LANDS A JOB: Former Patriot safety Eugene Wilson, just waived by the Buccaneers, is expected to sign with the Texans today. (Houston Chronicle)
DEION ON THE SHELF: Brady's onetime favorite target, Deion Branch, told a Seattle radio station that he is not quite ready to return from offseason knee surgery. (Seattle Times)
AND FINALLY: Great news out of New Orleans, where the Saints will be able to play their home opener this weekend at the Superdome against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (projo.com) It should be quite a party after the city was spared the worst by Hurricane Gustav, and it could be an early indication of which team is the one to beat in the NFC South.
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