liny195
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Tom Brady didn't have any trouble finding receiver
« on: January 31st, 2019, 3:52pm »
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in the New England Patriots' opener.The reigning NFL MVP completed passes to eight players in a 27-20 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday Limited Jeremy Hill Jersey , connecting with Rob Gronkowski and Phillip Dorsett for seven receptions and a touchdown apiece."We try to spread it around quite a bit," said Brady, who was 26 of 39 for 277 yards and three scores. "If you're out there, I trust you, the coaches trust you, the team trusts you. That's why we're putting you out there."After losing Danny Amendola to free agency and Julian Edelman to a four-game suspension, the Patriots were expected to be hobbled by a lack of targets for the three-time NFL MVP. This year's corps was being compared to the one in 2006, when Reche Caldwell led the team with 63 receptions (and caught only 15 more the rest of his career).Brady hit Gronkowski for 123 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown three plays after Deshaun Watson fumbled a handoff at the Texans 19 on Houston's first offensive play . They also connected on a 28-yard pass during a 2-minute drill that left the Patriots with a 21-6 halftime lead."It's very important that they came out and played the way they did. They're our leaders," said Dorsett, who had 66 receiving yards, including a 4-yard score. "When they play well, they give an adrenaline boost to the rest of the team."It was Gronkowski's 31st career regular-season or playoff game of 100 yards or more, tying Tony Gonzalez's NFL record."We've been playing together for a long time," Brady said. "I know his body language. I know his ability to run and what routes. He can do it. He can do really all the routes. It's just a matter of giving him a chance, and it came with a big touchdown today."The 41-year-old quarterback also found James White for a touchdown; he also had an interception on a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who missed the final nine games last season with a torn right ACL, completed 17 of 35 passes for 176 yards, one score and one interception.Watson struggled to move the team in the first 40 minutes, managing just a pair of field-goal drives before Alfred Blue ran it in from 1 yard to make it 24-13 in the last two minutes of the third period. Lamar Miller ran 20 times for 98 yards for Houston.A muffed punt by New England's Riley McCarron with under five minutes left set up Watson's 5-yard TD pass to Bruce Ellington and cut the deficit to 27-20. But after getting the ball back at their 1 with 43 seconds left, the Texans failed to reach midfield.BACK FROM INJURIESWatson, defensive lineman J.J. Watt and linebacker Whitney Mercilus returned after finishing 2017 on injured reserve. Watt had two quarterback hurries, but D.J. Reader had the only two sacks of Brady, both late."It's good to play a full game to know it lasts, to know it holds up," said Watt Jordan Matthews Jersey , a three-time defensive player of the year. "I didn't think about it once. So, that's all you can ask for."UNDER PRESSUREWatson, who threw for 301 yards in a 36-33 loss to New England last year in his second NFL start, botched a handoff with Miller in the first quarter, setting up the Patriots for their first touchdown. In the second quarter, Watson inexplicably chucked the ball into the end zone for a double-covered Vyncint Smith on a second-and-3 from the New England 42.Stephon Gilmore brought it down for the interception."I think it was terrible, on my part," Watson said. "I just feel like you can put the 'L' on me."INJURIESTexans: DE Christian Covington injured his thigh in the first quarter. T Seantrel Henderson left after getting his left ankle rolled a few plays later. Kevin Johnson left with what the team said was a concussion and did not return.Patriots: RB Jeremy Hill left with a right knee injury on the Gronkowski fumble in the third quarter.LATE SERIESAfter the Texans forced New England to punt in the final minute, Ryan Allen landed the ball inside the 5-yard line and Jonathan Jones downed it at the 1. Houston advanced to the 16 on a penalty for leading with the helmet and Watson found DeAndre Hopkins for 14 yards before scrambling for 13 more.From his 43 with 5 seconds left, Watson chucked the ball as far as the 10, but it was knocked away. The New England Patriots know the importance of depth: the team had a total of 11 players listed on its final practice report last week, with 12 more currently on an injury-related reserve list. On top of that, first-round rookie running back Sony Michel suffered a knee injury during Sunday＊s game which will cost him some time and puts further pressure on the Patriots＊ running back group.Despite Michel hurting his knee, however, the team opted not to bring in any running backs during recent free agency workouts: among the eight players who were taken a look at according to ESPN Boston＊s Mike Reiss, were four specialists, two linebackers, and two wide receivers 每 but nobody to potentially add depth to the offensive backfield. That being said, let＊s take a look at the players worked out.LS Jon CondoJon Condo＊s NFL career originally started in 2005, when he joined the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted rookie. However, the Maryland product was released after only three games and via a stint on the Patriots＊ 2006 offseason roster found his way to the Oakland Raiders. After spending his first season in Oakland on the team＊s practice squad, Condo became the team＊s number one long snapper in 2007 每 a role he held until this year. Before not getting re-signed in March, the 37-year old appeared in 173 games for the club and was voted to the Pro Bowl twice.K Andrew FranksAfter going undrafted in 2015, Andrew Franks joined the Miami Dolphins and was able to win the team＊s kicker job during his first NFL training camp. He had a solid rookie campaign during which he hit 83.3% of his field goal attempts and 91.7% on extra point tries, but did not show noticeable improvement in year two (76.2% on field goals, 97.6% on extra points). This summer Jonathan Jones Jersey Salute to Service , Franks lost his job to rookie Jason Sanders and was released in early September.LB Terence GarvinIn his five years in the NFL, Terence Garvin moved around quite a bit: he spent his first three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks. The former undrafted free agent started 2018 with the Miami Dolphins before joining the San Francisco 49ers in mid-September. Primarily a special teamer, Garvin appeared in a combined 78 games over the course of his career.LB Christian KuntzLike Jon Condo, Christian Kuntz also is no stranger to the Patriots: the 2017 undrafted free agent spent one day with the club last August before getting released again. An outside linebacker in Duquesne＊s 3-4 scheme, Kuntz set school and conference records with 30.5 career sacks. Despite this, he was not selected during last year＊s draft and originally signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Following his short stint in New England, Kuntz went on to join the Denver Broncos. He also has experience as a long snapper.P Jeff LockeA fifth-round pick out of UCLA, Jeff Locke beat out incumbent Chris Kluwe in his first training camp with the Minnesota Vikings and went on to serve as the team＊s punter from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure with the Vikings, he attempted 295 punt for an average of 43.1 yards per kick. After leaving Minnesota following the 2016 season, Locke spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions 每 for whom he appeared in five games 每 before joining the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.WR Tanner McEvoyOne of the taller pass catchers in the NFL at 6＊6, 230 lbs, Tanner McEvoy started his career with the Seattle Seahawks. In his two seasons with the club 每 2016 and 2017 每 the former undrafted free agent appeared in 31 games as a rotational wide receiver and special teamer: he caught 14 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns on offense, and registered four tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked punt in the kicking game. Despite his past productivity, however, McEvoy was let go by Seattle this summer. He spent some time with the New Orleans Saints (twice) and Miami Dolphins before hitting the open market again last week.P Colton SchmidtAfter bouncing around the league during his 2013 rookie season, Colton Schmidt found a permanent home in 2014 when he joined the Buffalo Bills. Over the next four seasons, he appeared in 65 games for the club and attempted 330 punts for an average of 44.1 yards per kick. However, the former undrafted free agents was let go by the Bills in early September after they claimed ex-Patriot Corey Bojorquez off the waiver wire.WR DeAngelo YanceyDeAngelo Yancey entered the league as a fifth-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2017. While his first NFL preseason was unspectacular 每 he caught three passes for 67 yards 每 the team signed him to its practice squad, on which the Purdue product spent his entire rookie campaign. After another quiet preseason in 2018, Yancey was released and signed to the Packers＊ practice squad again. However, he was let go once more last week.None of the eight players brought in for a workout should be seen as serious competition for players already on the roster. With injuries starting to pile up, however, it is a smart move to update some of the files and sort through potential emergency call-ups.
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