Patriots Re-Sign James Sanders

James Sanders #36 of the New England Patriots intercepts a pass from David Carr of the Houston Texans on December 17, 2006 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

According to Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe, the New England Patriots have re-signed safety James Sanders to a 3-year deal. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Reiss reports that Sanders turned down more money to stay with the Patriots. Sanders is expected to start at safety alongside Brandon Merriweather.

In 4 seasons with Patriots, Sanders has made 195 tackles and has made 5 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown back in his rookie season in 2005.

James Sanders agrees to terms on 3-year deal [Reiss’s Pieces]

Ray Allen To Buy Willimantic Country Club

Ray Allen, in California for a celebrity golf tourney, spelled out the rules of the fame game to a paparazzo. (Michael Buckner/Wireimage.com)

Just a got a tip from a source that former UConn Husky and current Boston Celtic Ray Allen and a group of investors will be buying the Willimantic Country Club located in Willimantic, CT. The deal is expected to be announced sometime tomorrow afternoon. The plan is to make it a private country club. It is currently a semi-private country club.

Update: In doing some digging of my own and I am now hearing from the source that it may be former UConn Husky Donny Marshall and not Ray Allen who will purchase the club. I do hope to get an official answer in the next day. I do apologize for the misinformation.

Pistons Get To .500 In Win Over Celtics

Boston Celtics: Former UConn Husky Richard Hamiton had 25 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 105-95 win over the Boston Celtics at the TD BankNorth Garden.  Paul Pierce led the Green with 26 points while Glen “Big Baby” Davis added 18.  In his second game with C’s, Stephon Marbury was held scoreless. Tayshaun Price and Rasheed Wallace both added 15 points for the Pistons.  Next up for the Celtics is a trip to New Jersey for a matchup with the Nets on Wednesday night. [ESPN.com]

UConn’s Maya Moore And Kaili McLaren Sing National Anthem

Kaili McLaren, left, and Maya Moore sang the National Anthem before the start of UConn's game against Seton Hall at the XL Center - CLOE POISSON / HARTFORD COURANT

Before last night’s UConn Huskies women’s basketball game, Maya Moore and Kaili McLaren sang the national anthem on Senior Night. They are the first active players to sing the national anthem since Stacy Hansmeyer did it on her Senior Night back in 2000.

Courtesy of Boneyarder Daddychoc, here’s the video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_F8flWogeY[/youtube]

Maya and Kaili had a song in their hearts [UConn Women’s Basketball]

Anatomy of an anthem [Elm City to Eagleville]

American Idol Hits The XL Center … UConn Style [Connecticut Post]

1 Million Visitors

One million

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I would have 1 million visitors to my little site.

I started monitoring hits to the website officially back on July 21, 2006. Around 1:15 PM this afternoon, (3/1/2009), I passed the 1 million mark in visitors.

All I can say is that I’m truly humbled right now. I just want to thank everyone for their support and hope that you’ll continue to come back.

Once again, thank you to everyone for helping making SOX & Dawgs what it is today. I couldn’t do it without you the reader.

Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 3/1

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

After a couple of days off for the move, I’m back and ready to roll.

It was Senior Day for both the UConn Huskies men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams yesterday. Both teams also won which makes Senior Day a little more special. We even had Maya Moore and Kaili McLaren sing the national anthem at the XL Center last night. Both teams also have clinched double byes in the Big East tournament.

UConn women’s basketball links

Huskies conquer Pirates, emotions [New Haven Register]

Seniors: There’s no place like Hartford [New Haven Register]

Moore, UConn rout Seton Hall [Connecticut Post]

UConn women’s notebook [Connecticut Post]

UConn women’s report card [Connecticut Post]

Seniors sent off with a bang [Norwich Bulletin]

Montgomery’s leadership shows through [Norwich Bulletin]

Big East champions [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn Women Wrap Up Regular Season Title [Hartford Courant]

Top Recruit From Delaware Visits UConn [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women Senior Night [Hartford Courant]

Auriemma Rewards Seniors [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Extras [Hartford Courant]

Three emotional seniors go out as champs [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn women wrap up Big East regular-season title [New London Day]

UConn men’s basketball links

Seniors help Huskies clinch double bye [New Haven Register]

UConn can be the 1 in number of ways [New Haven Register]

Emotional day for seniors [New Haven Register]

Adrien, UConn trip Notre Dame [Connecticut Post]

UConn can claim title at Pitt [Connecticut Post]

UConn walk-on Bird living the dream [Connecticut Post]

UConn men’s notebook [Connecticut Post]

UConn men’s report card [Connecticut Post]

Thabeet shines in possible finale [Norwich Bulletin]

Adrien, Huskies prevail on Senior Day [Norwich Bulletin]

Huskies Fight Off Irish [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Senior Ceremony [Hartford Courant]

Thabeet Shaken Up, But Returns [Hartford Courant]

Who’s Stepping Up? Walker A Step Ahead [Hartford Courant]

UConn men’s extras [Hartford Courant]

Senior moment [Journal Inquirer]

Special group of seniors says adieu [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn’s win over Irish gritty, not pretty [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn men’s basketball notebook: Thabeet’s farewell? [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn men outlast Notre Dame 72-65 [New London Day]

UConn men’s basketball notes [New London Day]

Time To Induct Adrien Into Jim Calhoun Hall Of Fame [New London Day]

UConn Wins Hard Fought Contest [YouTube]

DESTINATION DETROIT The contenders: UConn [Detroit Free Press]

It’s been rough week But Calhoun has UConn focused [Boston Globe]

Other UConn related links

Women’s Ice Hockey Season Ends with 3-0 Loss at Providence [UConnHuskies.com]

Five-Goal Run Falls Short in 17-10 Lacrosse Loss at Fairfield [UConnHuskies.com]

Olt, Springer Homer to Lead Baseball to 10-2 Victory over North Florida [UConnHuskies.com]

Bayers Late Goal Propels Men’s Hockey To 2-2 Tie With Bentley [UConnHuskies.com]

Cassel Traded To The Chiefs

** FILE ** This is a Dec. 28, 2008 file photo showing New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel throwing a pass during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. 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. (AP Photo/Don Heupel, File)

Another day another trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for the New England Patriots. This time they traded quarterback Matt Cassel for a second round draft pick (34th overall).

Cassel took over for Tom Brady in Game 1 of the season and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record, falling just short of a playoff berth. Cassel threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while starting 15 games.

Bill Belichick had high praise for Cassel in a brief statement:

“It is very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who do everything the right way and flourish as a result. As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career.”

I’m not sure I understand how the Patriots only could get a second round pick for Cassel. I honestly figured that he would have netted the Patriots a 1st and 3rd round pick.

The Patriots will now move forward with Tom Brady as their QB1.  As of right now, Kevin O’Connell and Matt Gutierrez will compete for the back up position.

In other Patriots news, they announced that they have signed running back Fred Taylor to a contract.

Update: It turns out that the Vrabel trade was also part of this. So it was Vrabel and Cassel for a second round pick. Now this really makes me wonder if the Patriots gave Pioli a little friendly discount. I understand the cap implications but they really could have gotten more for both of them.

Celtics Win In Marbury’s Debut

Boston Celtics: Ray Allen scored 30 points and Stephon Marbury keyed a late 9-0 run with 6 of his 8 points to help lead the Boston Celtics to a 104-99 win over the Indiana Pacers at the TD BankNorth Garden. Glen “Big Baby” Davis added 18 points, Paul Pierce had 14 points and Leon Powe came off the bench to score 14. Rajon Rando had just 3 points but tied his career-high with 17 assists. T.J. Ford led the Pacers with 23 points while Troy Murphy added 20. The Celtics are back in action on Sunday when the struggling Detroit Pistons come to the Garden. [ESPN.com]

Rush The Court Live Blog Of UConn vs Notre Dame

Rush The Court

Our friends over at Rush The Court will be holding a live blog of tomorrow’s UConn Huskies men’s basketball game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 2 PM.

They have invited UConn fans to stop by on Saturday to leave comments and questions on the live-blog, the best of which they will be taking into the locker room and media interviews.

Since I won’t be around I won’t be able to make it but I do hope that some SOX & Dawgs readers and UConn fans can stop by to participate.

RTC Live: Notre Dame at #2 UConn – Saturday 2 PM ET [Rush The Court]