It’s time for the Colts, which means we’ve got us some good Indianapolis talk in this week’s mailbag. I’ve been fortunate enough to have covered the Patriots since 2001, and this is, without a doubt, the best week of the year when it comes to the regular season. There’s always a great energy around the stadium this week — it’s the closest thing to a postseason atmosphere you’ll get before January rolls around.
These are two classic franchises that measure success not in wins and losses but in the number of banners they hang in their building. It’s always a great game, and this year is going to be no exception. (It’s also awesome because I’m going to indulge in some Steak 'n Shake when I get out there on Saturday, but that’s a story for another day.)
This week, we tackle a number of other topics, including a look at Adalius Thomas, what the reporters do in the locker room when an injured player walks by, and the possible impact of BenJarvus Green-Ellis on the offense. If you want to be a part of the fun next week, drop me a line at cprice@weei.com by Tuesday at noon. We do this every week, people.
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Chris,
If Coach Bill [Belichick] could add one more player to his roster, what position would it be?
Dr. Jeff
Wellesley
A: Great question. I think it probably varies from week to week depending on the opponent, but I’d say if he had his druthers, at this point, he’d go after a true No. 3 receiver. The Patriots are starting to see the emergence of guys such as Sam Aiken and Brandon Tate at that spot, but I think he’d love to get his hands on a veteran No. 3 after having swung and missed on both Greg Lewis and Joey Galloway.
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Chris,
For so many years, Rodney Harrison was the guy who was asked to stop Dallas Clark, and now he’s not around anymore. Who is going to get the call on Sunday night? My guess is Brandon McGowan.
Thanks,
Richard
A: You guessed right, Richard. I don’t think McGowan is going to be in single coverage against Clark, but I think he’s going to have the lion’s share of responsibility when it comes to slowing him down. McGowan has been a beast against tight ends this year, doing a great job at holding Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez (one catch) and Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow (two catches) in check by being physical with them off the line. It’s a matchup that certainly bears watching.
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I think someone should try to find out what’s really going on [with] the Adalius Thomas story. Why was he not active several weeks ago? Does he have personal issues? Is he suddenly too old and slow? Is he just collecting his check? Is being a player rep for the union causing issues with Pats front office?
Scott Boal
A: Scott, it’s my belief that Adalius Thomas has struggled this season because of a variety of issues, including the fact that he may not have been utilized to his fullest potential earlier in the season. (I detailed those reasons in a mailbag earlier in the season.) I do think he looked a step behind earlier in the season, but I believe he played very well — maybe his best performance of the year — on Sunday against the Dolphins. He was active in coverage, made a nice tackle on a busted end-around and scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown (only to see it called back). I don’t think he is just collecting a check, and I don’t think the fact that he’s the team's player rep is causing issues with the front office.
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Hey Chris,
That was a great article and insight on the practice squad players. I always wondered how that squad worked.
Regarding running backs, why do the Pats keep bringing in running backs to look at each week? If they aren’t willing to give BenJarvus Green-Ellis a chance at running the ball then
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