With the San Francisco 49ers next on the schedule for the Patriots, it offers an opportunity for Adalius Thomas to reflect on an important choice he made in his career. When Thomas was a free agent in March 2007, two teams jumped to the forefront as suitors - the Patriots and 49ers. One of the draws to possibly playing for the 49ers was Coach Mike Nolan, who had been Thomas's defensive coordinator in Baltimore. Thomas never traveled to San Francisco on a free agent visit, but he seriously entertained the possibility of signing there. "I knew the defense and knew what I would get, and there was also Mike Singletary [as assistant head coach/defense]," Thomas said yesterday. "So, I had an idea of how I would be used and what the system is all about. That was one of the things for me, knowing familiar faces, because you often see players following coaches around the league because they know the system. That could have been the case there." In the end, though, Thomas chose New England despite the 49ers' willingness to offer more money.

Troy Brown is expected to announce his retirement during a press conference on Thursday morning, according to Boston Globe. The Patriots will hold the press conference at Gillette Stadium with Brown, team owner Bob Kraft and Coach Bill Belichick. Brown has played in 15 NFL seasons.

Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady has reportedly been spending time with his son as he prepares for surgery on his torn ACL, according to Boston Herald. His son John Edward Thomas Moynahan lives on the West Coast with mother Bridget Moynahan.

Ronnie Brown led the Dolphins to a shocking 38-13 win over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Brown rushed seventeen times for 114 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw one pass, a 19-yard strike to tight end Anthony Fasano. He accounted for all of Miami's five touchdowns. Matt Cassel went 19-for-31 for New England, throwing 131 yards, one touchdown and an interception. The regular season loss was the Patriots' first since the Dolphins defeated them 21-0 on Dec. 10, 2006 in Miami. They hadn't lost at home since Nov. 12, 2006 against the Jets.

Mike Shanahan has run a successful NFL offense for almost two decades, but he has retooled the Broncos by borrowing a lot of the spread formations and passes ran by the Patriots last season. "We really liked what the Patriots were doing with some of their empty sets," quarterback Jay Cutler said, referring to some offseason study. "We've got similar weapons with our guys, with our tight ends, and our backs are able to get out. "Offensively, we kind of matched up with what they were doing and we thought we might put it in, and it's working so far."

Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter took some jabs at Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel heading into their matchup on Sunday, claiming that facing him "shouldn't be that hard", according to Miami Herald. "I just know [Cassel] is not a Tom Brady," said Porter, when asked about facing him and the Patriots this weekend. "If it's not Tom Brady, it shouldn't be that hard. ... They won last week, but it's not like they were putting up the crazy 40 points they were when they had Tom. "So, it's a different offense, it's a different team without Tom there. I don't care what anybody says. It's not the same team without Brady."

Joey Porter took some jabs Wednesday at New England Patriots' QB Matt Cassel. "I just know he's not a Tom Brady," Porter said. "So if it's not Tom Brady, it shouldn't be that hard."

Patriots' receiver Randy Moss had a message for the team's critics after Sunday's win over the Jets on the road, according to Boston Herald. "I don?t think there?s one person in my face with his microphone that picked us to win today," Moss said. "I?m going to end (my comments) today. The New England Patriots are 2-0. We got one in the division. So all you haters keep hating. We?re coming!" Moss caught just two passes against the Jets for 22 yards, but the team has soldiered on without Tom Brady. "That?s how this team is really designed. They really emphasize that this organization is really a team. That?s how they build it," Moss said. "If one guy goes down, we rely on someone else to step up and make it happen. Today was definitely a team victory. (Matt) Cassel made some great plays out there with his mind, his feet, and his arm. So I think overall, you can be satisfied."

The Patriots have added quarterback Matt Gutierrez to their active roster for Sunday's game against the Jets, according to Boston Herald. Gutierrez, who had been assigned to the practice squad, officially joins starter Matt Cassel and backup Kevin O?Connell.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning feels for Tom Brady and what he is going through with his recent season-ending injury, according to Indianapolis Star. "I'm sick about Tom Brady," Manning said. The pair are friends, despite the numerous battles that have had on the field. "Brady texted me and said it must not have been in the cards for him to stay healthy this year, and he's going to fight hard in rehab and be back next year," Manning said.