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Coach Bill Belichick said he did not know of any issue with the Patriots’ game balls in Sunday’s AFC Championship, and did not learn the league was investigating his team until Monday morning. He also said he did not know how the Patriots’ footballs became underinflated during the game.

For the second-straight season, the loss of Aqib Talib during the AFC title game affected the way the Patriots defense played the rest of the game, and not coincidentally, New England, without its No. 1 cornerback, lost to the Ravens last year and to the Broncos on Sunday. As soon as Talib, who collided with Wes Welker while trailing Demaryius Thomas on a crossing route, was injured and had to leave the game, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning begin targeting Welker and cornerback Devin McCourty. On Monday, Belichick said in his postseason press conference that Welker -- Belichick's former player who...

Patriots mascot among 14 arrested in RI sex stingDecember 12, 2009 2:00 AM PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A man who acts as a mascot for the New England Patriots is among 14 people who have been arrested for prostitution-related crimes in Rhode Island since a new law went into effect that banned indoor prostitution. The bill signed into law in November made prostitution a misdemeanor crime regardless of where it occurs. Previously, indoor prostitution was allowed because of a legal loophole. State Police say Robert Sormanti of Warwick was among those arrested in an undercover sting at a hotel. The...

Here is video from last night following the Indianapolis Colts stunning comeback win over the New England Patriots in Indianapolis. Patriots Coach Bill Belichick is seen walking off the field shadowed by who USA Today calls his "bodyguard." If you watch carefully, you will see the man appear to grab a cameraman trying to get a shot of Belichick as he walked off the field and pull him to the ground. Belichick was stunned at the loss after making the inexplicable decision to go for a 4th and 2 at his own 28 yard-line even though the Patriots led 34-28...

Bill Belichick began his news conference yesterday talking about anything but football. Instead, the somber coach discussed the death of Ted Kennedy, the iconic senator from Massachusetts who had become a personal friend of Belichick and the Patriots [team stats]. “We have a lot of personal regret today on the passing of Senator Kennedy,” Belichick said. “And (we) send the condolences on behalf of the team to the family. He was personally supportive of this team, also of me.” Belichick recalled how Kennedy would send him yearly notes to offer congratulations on a successful season or encouraging notes when the...

In football, the Spygate scandal is just now settling down (no thanks to Arlen Specter's rabblerousing). In baseball and track, BALCO keeps rearing its Barry Bonds-sized head. In basketball, flopping has become so prevalent that the NBA is going to start penalizing it. In tennis, meanwhile, players are being investigated for fixing matches. And let's not forget NASCAR, where fender-bending seems to have taken a back seat to rule-bending. But wait! All hope may not be lost. I call your attention to two recent episodes in the state of Washington - one in college softball, the other in high school...

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli issued a broad denial Sunday in a report on The Boston Globe's Web site regarding suggestions by a former employee that their team taped a St. Louis Rams walk-through before the 2002 Super Bowl. "In my entire coaching career, I've never seen another team's practice film prior to playing that team," Belichick told the newspaper Sunday. "I have never authorized, or heard of, or even seen in any way, shape, or form any other team's walk-through. We don't even film our own. We don't even want to see...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents' defensive signals since he became the New England Patriots' coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday. "There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over," Specter said. Specter said Goodell gave him that information during the 1-hour, 40-minute meeting, which was requested by Specter so the commissioner could explain his reasons for destroying the Spygate tapes and notes.

So, I think that Belichick is the greatest coach in history, Brady the best quarterback, and the Patriots the best team in the history of the sport. My prediction, Patriots win 42-19. You??? ;-/

An unnamed source has claimed a New England Patriots employee secretly videotaped the St. Louis Rams' pre-game walkthrough the day before Super Bowl XXXVI, the Boston Herald reported Saturday.

Belichick voted coach of year for second time in four years Associated Press Updated: January 3, 2008, 2:35 PM ET NEW YORK -- New England's undefeated season now includes yet another achievement: Bill Belichick is The Associated Press 2007 NFL Coach of the Year. The first coach since Don Shula in 1972 to lead his team through a spotless regular season, Belichick won the award Thursday for the second time in four years. In 2003, the Patriots went 14-2 and won their final 12 games. This time, Belichick's team rampaged through the first part of the schedule, then won a...

PHILADELPHIA -- Sheldon Brown and the Eagles hoped a blitz would rattle Tom Brady. One problem: Every time the Eagles rushed Brady in the Super Bowl, the Patriots nullified the defensive attack with screen passes. Lots of them. On almost every play defensive coordinator Jim Johnson called for a blitz, the Patriots used the short pass to confuse the Eagles. After the Patriots beat the Eagles 24-21 in 2005 to win the Lombardi Trophy, Brown thought the Patriots beat them with nothing but sharp offensive playcalling. Now, he's not so sure. With spying accusations leveled this week against the Patriots,...

Bill Belichick was hit with a $500,000 fine Thursday night -- the maximum allowable by NFL by-laws -- for violating the league's policy on videotaping the Jets defensive signs Sunday. In addition, Roger Goodell notified the Patriots that they would forfeit a 2008 first-round draft choice if they reach the playoffs, or second- and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs. The club was also fined $250,000.

New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on an opponent's defensive signals. Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't. "This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots. The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from...

Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, who is now dealing with memory loss and depression related to repeated concussions during his 10-year NFL career, said that Patriots Coach Bill Belichick encouraged him to engage in full-scale practice while recovering from a concussion, against the advice of the Patriots' trainer. Johnson, who retired on the eve of 2005 training camp, told the Boston Globe that he began having serious memory problems when he sustained two concussions in four days in August, 2002. The first was in an exhibition against the Giants, the second after colliding with a teammate in practice. Johnson told...

Brady, unfazed by pressure, picks apart Pro Bowlers JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - The Eagles figured they could use man coverage on the New England receivers and blitz quarterback Tom Brady from every angle. With three Pro Bowl selections — cornerback Lito Sheppard and safeties Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis — Philadelphia thought its defense matched up well with New England's offense. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is regarded as one of the most creative in his profession. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Patriots pick up the blitz as well as anyone. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Deion...

PHILADELPHIA -- The David Rittenhouse Laboratory is home to the University of Pennsylvania's Physics and Astronomy department, where courses such as "Physics 514: Mechanics, Fluids, Chaos" and "Physics 632: Relativistic Field Theory II" are taught. I sat in Thursday on a course so complicated that I was completely lost just listening to the professor explain when next week's midterm would be. In other words, these are some pretty smart people. And as such, they are eminently qualified to address the issue that is worrying Eagles fans this week as the Super Bowl nears: Is New England coach Bill Belichick really...

Okay FR football fans, this is it. Championship Sunday. We have the Patriots in the Steel City to battle the Steelers. We have the QB/RB/HB/All-around-fast-guy Michael Vick and his Falcons taking on the Chuncky Soup eating Donovan McNabb (his mama made him eat it) and the Eagles in Philly. Offensive octane in Philly, defensive titans in Pittsburgh. Sounds like it's gonna be a fun day today! Post your picks. Who do you think will win and why? Here are my choices, so take a peek and tell me where I'm wrong if I'm wrong. New England is -3 in Pittsburgh....

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Dec. 26, 2004) -- Tom Brady was back to his old self. So were his New England Patriots. New England dominated division rival New York, winning 23-7 to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Jets (10-5), meanwhile, must win their finale at St. Louis next week to be assured of making the AFC playoffs as a wild card. The Patriots (13-2), coming off an embarrassing 29-28 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, looked completely different from the squad that had some critics questioning whether the Super Bowl champions had finally lost a step....

#1:Jeremy Shockey was right!#2:David Blaine's latest: 44 days in a giant condom.#3:Alright, David, now you're just being silly!