In order to help cure some of your downtime between now and the game I thought I’d issue a little Patriots Player Quiz. Let’s see how well you, the Patriots fan know your team.

1. Which player is a certified pilot and owns his own aircraft?

• a. Kevin Faulk
• b. Adalius Thomas
• c. Kyle Brady
• d. Mike Vrabel

2. If he weren’t a football player, this Patriot would like to be an animator for Disney.

• a. Laurence Maroney
• b. Ben Watson
• c. Stephen Gostkowski
• d. Ellis Hobbs

3. One Patriots player has two brothers who are professional baseball players. The player is:

• a. Heath Evans
• b. Matt Cassel
• c. Eugene Wilson
• d. Lonnie Paxton

4. This Patriots player will shortly be opening five Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in the south.

• a. Donte Stallworth
• b. Heath Evans
• c. Vince Wilfork
• d. Wes Welker

5. One player owns a restaurant with former Celtics star Antoine Walker. Who is he?

• a. Randy Moss
• b. Junior Seau
• c. Donte Stallworth
• d. Troy Brown

6. One Patriots player plays the trombone. This player is:

• a. Rodney Harrison
• b. Logan Mankins
• c. Ben Watson
• d. Richard Seymour

7. This player was also drafted as a baseball player and was Josh Beckett’s teammate in Class A ball.

• a. Kelly Washington
• b. Matt Cassel
• c. Stephen Gostkowski
• d. Mel Mitchell

8. Speaking of baseball, this player was drafted as a catcher out of high school by the Montreal Expos but chose to go to college instead.

• a. Matt Gutierrez
• b. Tom Brady
• c. Mike Vrabel
• d. Tedy Bruschi

9. Last off season this player interned at two Providence RI restaurants in preparation for opening his own sports bar and grille.

• a. Jarvis Green
• b. Ty Warren
• c. Dan Koppen
• d. Matt Light

10. Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky and this player are from the same hometown.

• a. Kyle Eckel
• b. Nick Kaczur
• c. Russ Hochstein
• d. Larry Izzo

Put your answers in the comment section, the answers will post in 24 hours.

As Ian wrote earlier today, five New England Patriots were named 1st team All-Pro’s today with four more being tabbed for the second team.Wide Receiver Randy Moss was a unanimous pick and quarterback Tom Brady was nearly so as one voter split their vote between Brady and Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre who was named to the second squad.

In addition to Brady and Moss the other Patriots named to the first team were tackle Matt Light, Cornerback Asante Samuel and Linebacker Mike Vrabel.

Patriots named to the second team were Wide Receiver Wes Welker, Center Dan Koppen, Guard Logan Mankins and Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork.

All of the players with the exception of Moss are first timers. Moss was named an All-Pro for the fourth time in his illustrious career the previous three he was a member of the Minnesota Vikings when he was an All-Pro in 1998, 2000 and 2003.

Brady was also named the NFL MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, AP Male Athlete of the Year, ESPN.com All-Pro Team, Sporting News Sportsman of the Year and a Pro Bowl starter this season as he set records for TD passes with 50. He was also mentioned today on ESPN.com for having one the 25 greatest sports seasons of all time as he finished 5th on the list.

Brady had this to say about being named to the squad:

“Every week, we come in here on Monday and you win and everybody’s excited, the plane flights home are great,” Brady said, referring to what has been a historic season so far for the 16-0 Patriots. “It’s been a lot of fun. To see what we’ve accomplished thus far is great. At the same time we realize that, as coach put it, there’s another mountain to climb.”

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No one can deny that since Robert Kraft and his family took over ownership prior to the 1994 season, the New England Patriots have enjoyed incredible success both on and off the field.

In a recent article several alumni players told Paul Doyle of the Hartford Courant that Robert Kraft has been the franchise’s stabilizing influence. Kraft has turned the Patriots from a laughing stock to a model franchise that transcends the sport. Teams in other sports, as well as football, are modeling themselves after the Patriots both on and off the field, doing things “the Patriot way”.

In the five years before the Kraft’s bought the team the Patriots were 19-61 and had no playoff appearances. Since then the team is 160-85, they’ve played in four Super Bowls winning three championships. They’ve won 8 AFC East titles and have been to the playoffs 10 times in fourteen seasons. They also have more Super Bowl titles, plyed in more playoff games and have more playoff victories than any other NFL franchise in that time span.

Since Kraft purchased the team in 1994 only MLB’s New York Yankees and the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs have won more championships than the three won by the Patriots.

But maybe the best thing about the Kraft ownership is the commitment the family gave to keep the team here in New England. And in return the fans have paid them back with 148 consecutive sellouts dating back to opening day 1994. The season ticket base went from 17,635 in 1991, which barely helped the team survive to 61,759 with 50,000 more fanatics on a waiting list. Unlike fans in other NFL cities New England fans have not been faced with a TV blackout in the last 304 games (266 under Kraft).

And with the success of this year’s team, Patriots games are the four most-watched programs of any kind in the 2007-08 television season. 34.5 million people nationwide saw the Patriots-Giants game on Dec. 29, making it the most-watched TV program of the 2007-08 television season while New England’s 24-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 4 was seen by 33.8 million people on CBS. The Dec. 9 Patriots-Steelers game was seen by 30.3 million people on CBS and the Patriots’ 48-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 14 was seen on CBS by 29.1 million people. The next largest audience for a TV show this television season was for the season premiere of CSI, which attracted 25.4 million people on CBS on Sept. 27. The 2007 World Series only averaged 17.5 million viewers per game.

With the Kraft family around you know the team is in good hands for years to come and for Patriots fans that’s great news.

 

We start in our regular spot with the Monday afternoon appearance of head coach Bill Belichick on WEEI‘s “The Big Show” with Glenn Ordway, Pete Sheppard, Fred Smerlas and Steve DeOssie. 

Well last week was a great week for the Patriots as two members behind the perfect 16-0 season collected some new hardware for their trophy cases.

First, Belichick was named Associated Press Coach of the Year as he collected 29 of the 50 votes for the award. It was the second time Belichick won the award, the first time was in 2003.

Then quarterback Tom Brady was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player as he earned 49 of the 50 votes in winning the award for the first time. The 8 year veteran set a NFL record with 50 touchdown passes this season as the team set NFL records for points, touchdowns and scoring differential. Brady is the first Patriot to win the NFL MVP. Former Patriots Gino Cappelletti and Jim Nance won AFL MVP’s in the 1960’s.

We also found out that the Patriots would play the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. On Friday, Sox & Dawgs will have the “In The Red Zone Game Preview” just as we did each week during the season.

Cheerleader Lindsey Barrows, who has a younger sister with autism, is spotlighted on the team’s website this week. Check out Lindsey’s message that comes with her bio and photo gallery links.

This is from the “will these guys ever learn” category. Back in September when the unfortunate camera incident came to light Jacksonville defensive lineman Paul Spicer had this to say:

“Do like the NCAA and kick them out of the playoffs or something,” Spicer told The Associated Press after news of the scandal broke. “Put them on probation; they can’t go to no playoff games. Roger Goodell has definitely enforced some new rules. He’s been hard on players. Now let’s see how hard he’s going to be with a team.”

“Everybody’s been running around calling them geniuses for years.  What are they gonna say about it now.  This ain’t news. I’ve heard it in the past. They finally got caught. The Patriots got caught. They’re busted.”

When Richard Seymour made his weekly appearance on WEEI in Boston with Dale and Holley and was told of the comments he had this to say:

“He’ll see us Saturday.  We’ll be right on that field at 8.”

I think I just got all tingly inside. 

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After Tom Brady, Jonathan Papelbon, Josh Beckett and Kevin Garnett, Glenn “Big Baby” Davis is my new man crush. No one ever accused Danny Ainge of not being a fine evaluator of college talent. This kid looks like he has something to prove and last night in Detroit, when it mattered most, he made Rasheed Wallace look like a high schooler in the paint.

Tom Brady has another trophy to add to his mantel as today he was named the MVP of the NFL. Brady was a nearly unanimous choice for Associated Press NFL MVP as he garnered a whopping 49 of the 50 votes. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre got the other vote.

Brady helped the Patriots to a 16-0 record, something that hadn’t been done in the regular season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins went 14-0 and finished that season with a Super Bowl Trophy. Nothing short of his 4th Super Bowl Trophy will be good enough for Brady and the Pats though.

Brady was a part of New England’s record setting offense as he threw 50 touchdown passes and led them to an NFL record 589 points in a season. 23 of those 50 touchdown passes went to Randy Moss, which broke Jerry Rice’s single season record of 22. As a team the Patriots scored 75 touchdowns which was also an NFL record.

This what Mike Vrabel had to say about TFB winning the MVP:

“He’s our MVP. I think we’ve known that for quite some time. “I think his work ethic day in and day out (is most impressive). We get to practice against him so I think that makes us better. I think it makes us a better defense. He puts a lot of time into it. It’s important to him. Going out there every week and then trying to play his absolute best is a priority for him.”

Brady becomes the first Patriot to ever win the award.

It shouldn’t be long before the haters come out and say he cheated too and isn’t deserving of the award. I’d like to see you lead an NFL team to a perfect 16-0 record during a long and grinding regular season and help the Patriots to the records that he and the TEAM put up.

The NFL announced today that they had fined New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork $15,000 for what they determined was unsportsmanlike conduct during the Patriots 16th win over the New York Giants last Saturday.

The incident happened when Patriots linebacker Junior Seau was penalized for holding down Giants tight end Kevin Boss late in the first half. There was some pushing and shoving by both teams and Wilfork was seen poking his finger through the helmet of Brandon Jacobs.

Wilfork said it was an accident but obviously the league decided otherwise. It’s not known whether or not Wilfork will appeal the fine.

This was also the third time he’s been fined this season by the NFL. His first fine was $12,500 back in September when he delivered a low-blow hit on Bills QB J.P. Losman, a hit that knocked Losman from the game. He was also fined $5,000 for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the Dallas game.

New England Patriots offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels has notified the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens that he will not interview for any open head coaching positions for 2008.

Atlanta and Baltimore had asked New England permission this week to talk to McDaniels and because it is for a head coaching position New England has to honor the request but McDaniels is not compelled to interview if he so chooses. He has chosen to stay put and prepare for the playoffs.

“I am very grateful for the chance to interview for NFL head coaching positions, but I have decided not to pursue those opportunities at this time,” McDaniels, 31, said in a statement Thursday. “I plan to focus all my attention on our postseason preparation.”

Clubs hiring new head coaches can interview assistants from teams that have a playoff bye this week, but must do so by Saturday.

McDaniels joined the New England organization as a personnel assistant in the scouting department. He became the quarterbacks coach in 2004 and was named offensive coordinator in January 2006.

Can’t get enough of Richard Seymour? Well the Patriots defensive end will be part of the ESPN Sunday Morning Countdown team this weekend for the Wild Card round of the playoffs. I love Richard if I didn’t have such a man crush on Brady I’d have his jersey. He’s soft spoken but very articulate I look forward to seeing him on the set. Maybe as a bonus he can beat the hell out of Chris Berman, Tom Jackson and Emmitt Smith.

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The New England Patriots will continue their quest for the undefeated season and their fourth Super Bowl championship in 7 years when they host the AFC Divisional playoff game on Saturday January 12, 2008 at 8 p.m. It is the fifth year in a row the team has hosted at least one playoff game.

The team is 5-0 in the playoffs at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002.

The team will place on sale a limited number of tickets to the January 12^th game this Friday, January 4^th starting at 10 A.M. Here are the particulars on the ticket sales:

Tickets will only be sold through Ticketmaster phone center at 508.931.2222 or 617. 931.2222 or online at Ticketmaster’s website.

You are limited to FOUR tickets per person and VISA is the ONLY FORM OF PAYMENT.

Ticket prices which are set by the NFL are: $164, $130, $115 and $95

On Thursday January 3, 2008 anyone on the Patriots season ticket waiting list will be given a chance to purchase tickets to the game in an advanced private sale. Any remaining tickets plus a limited number that were held aside for public sale will be made available on Friday at 10 A.M.

You can also get a pair of lower bowl tickets to game by donating $2,500 to the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation to support high school sports in New England. By doing so the Kraft family will thank you with a ticket package to the January 12^th game.

The Patriots have a bye this week for the clinching the top seed in the AFC. Because of the bye and the New Years holiday, the players don’t come back to practice until Thursday. So with this in mind I figured for this edition of “In The Red Zone” I’d look at how the team stacked up statistically league wide in several offensive and defensive categories for the year.

First the offense:

• 1^st in touchdowns with 75 (17 rushing; 50 passing; 2 returns; 6 defensive)
• 1^st in points scored with 36.8 points per game
• 1^{st  in} total yards with 411.2 yards per game
• 1^st in passing yards 295.7 yards per game
• 13^th in rushing yards with 115.6 yards per game
• 8^th in FG% – 88% (21 made in 24 attempts)
• 4^th in kickoff return yards with 25.2 yards per return
• 1^st in longest kickoff return at 108 yards
• 3^rd in kickoff returns for a touchdown with 2
• 11^th in punt return yards with 9.4 yards per return
• 24^th in longest punt return at 35 yards
• 13^th in punt returns for a touchdown with 0
• 30^th in interceptions thrown with 9
• 31^st in total fumbles with 14
• 29^th in fumbles lost with 6
• 28^th in sacks allowed with 21

On defense:

• 4^th in total points allowed with 17.1 points per game
• 4^th total yards allowed with 288.3 yards per game
• 6^th in passing yards allowed with 190.1 yards per game
• 10^th in rushing yards allowed with 98.2 yards per game
• 2^nd in total sacks with 47
• 6^th in interceptions with 19
• 3^rd in interceptions returned for a touchdown with 3
• 8^th in forced fumbles with 20
• 13^th in fumbles recovered with 12
• 1^st in fumbles returned for a touchdown with 3
• 3^rd in turnover differential with +16