Shawn Springs News

From the time most professional football players begin playing the game - and for many, that is at a very young age - they are taught to believe that the sport requires a warrior mentality, and that nearly any injury can and should be played through.

The Patriots hoped they had found an option at the third wide receiver position when Brandon Tate , the rookie third-round pick, became healthy to play three weeks ago.

While many NFL teams enjoy "Victory Mondays" - when players get the Monday after a win off, Bill Belichick gave his players Monday off this week despite their loss against Indianapolis.

New England has deactivated three starters and running backs Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor for Sunday night's game at Indianapolis.

New England has deactivated three starters and running backs Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor for Sunday night's game at Indianapolis.

Tom Brady [ stats ] is a football junkie, so he knows one when he sees one. On the other sideline Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Brady will be facing another one.

Dallas Clark has gashed many a defense over the past two-plus seasons, as the Indianapolis Colt has become one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL.

In today's blitz, the Patriots have started preparations for the Colts. Read reactions from members of the Patriots secondary, find out why offense might not be the story of Sunday's game, defensive substitutions are discussed and Adalius Thomas comments on the rivalry.

Shawn Springs has known Peyton Manning since the two were collegiate standouts. That's when the Patriots [ team stats ] cornerback was at Ohio State and the Indianapolis Colts quarterback was at Tennessee.

There's been a clear pattern to the way the Pats' pass defense has been going. First they concentrated on hitting--preventing the long breakaway plays that plagued them last year.

The Patriots were missing six players from the media portion of practice today. WR Julian Edelman, RB Fred Taylor, RB Sammy Morris, T Matt Light, CB Jonathan Wilhite and DL Jarvis Green were not seen.

The Pats aren't playing this weekend, which gives them a chance to look in the mirror.

Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather grabbed two interceptions within two minutes against Tampa Bay last week.

To wrap up the week, and head for the weekend ... One thing that's interesting about the way the Patriots have played defense this year is the developing rotation at corner.

Brandon Meriweather is starting to get noticed, though that's not hard to do when you pull in two interceptions in one game, including one for a touchdown.

The Patriots enter their bye week having beaten their last two opponents by an aggregate score of 94-7, one in a snowstorm, the other in a foreign land.

Adalius Thomas' benching took everyone by surprise and some believe it was a prelude to a bigger move at the trading deadline.

New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris will miss Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with a knee injury.

The intrigue began long before the Patriots were slated to board a plane and fly to Denver last night.

Brady and his receivers need to reconnect, get back into a groove, and ultimately work the long ball back into the mix.