Ex-NFL player charged with rape released on bail
(Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:10:45 PST)
A former NFL lineman and high school football coach in Walpole has been released on bail as he awaits trial on charges he raped a 15-year-old girl. Daniel Villa posted $7,500 bail Tuesday and was fitted for an electronic monitoring bracelet. The conditions of Villa's bail include staying away from children under 16.

Bruschi will return if Patriots still want him
(Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:23:24 PST)
Tedy Bruschi signed a two-year contract last February, and as long as the New England Patriots want him back,...

Patriots Team Report
(Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:48:21 PST)

The easy choice would be to blame the Patriots' absence from the playoffs on the absence of league MVP Tom Brady, who tore up his left knee in the season opener and missed the rest of the year.

The right choice would be to look beyond one position.

Matt Cassel did a superb job as Brady's replacement—better than expected—by throwing for 3,693 yards with 21 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions. Of the five games the Patriots lost, at least four can be pinned primarily on the defense's inability to make key stops at opportune times.

The Patriots allowed 38 points in a home loss to Miami, 30 in a loss at San Diego, 34 at home to the Jets and 33 against the Steelers.

Report: Patriots to put franchise tag on Cassel
(Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:05:25 PST)
The New England Patriots plan to put the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel, according to a published report. Cassel's future hinges heavily on Tom Brady's recovery from a season-ending knee injury in the first game this season. Franchising Cassel would keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent and give the Patriots an option if they feel Brady might not be ready for the start of the...

Pats may slap Cassel with franchise tag
(Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:13:19 PST)
NFL teams can place the franchise tag on players from Feb. 5 to Feb. 19, although that hasn't stopped speculation...

Pats' McDaniels to meet with Broncos Sunday
(Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:37:06 PST)
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who interviewed with the Cleveland Browns for their...

Colts prove again they are the NFL's ultimate 'paper tigers'
(Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:37:00 PST)
Another 12-victory season ... and nothing. Another Peyton Manning MVP season ... and nothing.

Browns may have to pick between Mangini, Pioli
(Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:54:32 PST)
The Cleveland Browns ' strong interest in fired New York Jets coach Eric Mangini could impact their search for...

AFC playoffs: Colts have favorable path to Tampa
(Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:26:22 PST)
NULL

Back to the basics: Ravens get shun the spread, play physical offensive football
(Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:46:14 PST)
In a time when spread offenses are all the rage, the Ravens get back to the basics of physical, smashmouth football.

Browns owner Lerner to interview McKay Thursday
(Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:36:08 PST)
Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner is scheduled to interview Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay Thursday,...

12 Questions: Tomlinson's redemption shot
(Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:56:00 PST)
The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson gets a chance to prove he hasn't lost a step – but he isn't healthy.

What will Patriots do with Cassel?
(Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:40:19 PST)
As the New England Patriots transition from the regular season to the team-building season (a.k.a.

Report: Pats' Pioli 'very interested' in Cleveland GM job
(Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:05:39 PST)
Scott Pioli, New England Patriots vice president of player personnel, is believed to be very interested in the...

Belichick: 'A tough day for all coaches'
(Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:44:02 PST)
FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- "Black Monday" turned out to be a dark day for former Bill Belichick assistants.

Vegas odds favor Giants, Titans to make Super Bowl
(Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:04:50 PST)
Las Vegas sports books favor the New York Giants over the 11 other teams in the NFL playoffs to win the Super Bowl, giving 2-to-1 odds on the NFC's No. 1 seed to repeat as champions. The Tennessee Titans are the favorite among AFC teams to win a title at 4-1, closely followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers at 9-2.

Pats didn't make playoffs, but they did many good things
(Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:05:11 PST)
OK, 11-5 wasn't enough, but after what the New England Patriots did this season, and especially in the final...

Winners and losers: McNabb, Reid stay alive
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:57:00 PST)
Written off after a blowout loss to the Ravens, Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid aren't quite done in Philly.

Patriots miss playoffs despite 11-5 record
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:13:05 PST)
The New England Patriots had television sets on their plane as they flew home from Buffalo, so they were able to watch as their playoff hopes slipped away. On the bus ride from the airport, they learned the Miami Dolphins had defeated the New York Jets to clinch the AFC East. A year after becoming the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season, the Patriots are missing the playoffs.

Report: Patriots QB Brady well behind in recovery
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:00:03 PST)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's recovery from knee surgery is well behind schedule - to the point it may endanger his 2009 season, according to a report on NBCSports.com.

Former Pats OL Villa plans to plead not guilty
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:16:45 PST)
The lawyer for Danny Villa says the former New England Patriots player and high school football coach will plead not guilty to child rape charges. Villa, who had been working as the football coach at Walpole High School, was arrested in Tucson on Saturday. He is expected to be returned to Massachusetts within a week to face three counts of rape of a child over 14 and three counts of enticing a...

Winds play havoc before Patriots-Bills game
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:09:28 PST)
Winds gusting up to 75 mph tore a strip off the Bills' practice fieldhouse and tilted both goal posts inside Ralph Wilson Stadium before Buffalo's game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Though the blustery conditions didn't delay the start of the game, work crews used ropes and a forklift to re-secure and re-center the goal posts, which shook heavily in the wind.

Patriots DE Seymour misses game against Buffalo
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:37:32 PST)
Patriots starting defensive end Richard Seymour didn't play in New England's critical game Sunday against Buffalo, missing his first game of the year because of a sore back. Seymour joined linebacker Tedy Bruschi on the sidelines in a game that had significant playoff implications for the Patriots. The Patriots can win the AFC East with a victory over the Bills and a Miami loss to the New York...

Pats without DT Seymour, LB Bruschi
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:04:02 PST)
New England Patriots defensive tackle Richard Seymour and linebacker Tedy Bruschi are inactive for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

Your comprehensive guide to week 17 in the NFL
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:01:53 PST)
NFL fans are getting a belated holiday gift from the league today with a whopping 16 games, ten of which have...

Ex-Patriot Villa surrenders to police
(Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:56:30 PST)
Daniel Villa, a former New England Patriot and state champion high school football coach, turned himself into police in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday after being charged with raping a student at Massachusetts' Walpole High School.