March 2012 - New England Patriots Wiretap

Matthew Slater Earns $300k Bonus For Pro Bowl Selection

Aug 20, 2014 4:03 AM

Matthew Slater's Pro Bowl selection triggered a $300,000 incentive clause in his contract.

Slater was a special teams selections.

Slater was the only member of the Patriots to be named to the Pro Bowl with a financial incentive, according to a source.

Field Yates/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, All-Star

Discuss
Full List Of 2012 Pro Bowlers

Nov 12, 2014 9:46 AM

The following players have been voted to the 2012 Pro Bowl.

AFC Offense

Quarterbacks — Tom Brady, New England Patriots; Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos; Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Running backs — Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs; Arian Foster, Houston Texans; Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

Fullback — Vonta Leach, Baltimore Ravens

Wide receivers — A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals; Andre Johnson, Houston Texans; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts; Wes Welker, New England Patriots

Tight ends — Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots; Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tackles — Duane Brown, Houston Texans; Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos; Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns; Marshall Yanda, Baltimore Ravens

Guards — Logan Mankins, New England Patriots; Wade Smith, Houston Texans

Centers — Chris Myers, Houston Texans; Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC Defense

Ends — Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos; Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins; J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

Interior linemen — Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens; Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots

Outside linebackers — Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts; Von Viller, Denver Broncos

Inside/middle linebackers — Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs; Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Cornerbacks — Champ Bailey, Denver Broncos; Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets; Johnathan Joseph, Houston Texans

Strong safeties — Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs; LaRon Landry, New York Jets

Free safety — Ed Reed, Baltimore

AFC Specialists

Placekicker — Phil Dawson, Cleveland Browns

Punter — Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City Chiefs

Kick returner — Jacoby Jones, Baltimore Ravens

Special team — Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

NFC Offense

Quarterbacks — Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Running backs — Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers; Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks; Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Fullback — Jerome Felton, Minnesota Vikings

Wide receivers — Victor Cruz, New York Giants; Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions; Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons; Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears

Tight ends — Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons; Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

Tackles — Russell Okung, Seattle Seahawks; Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers; Trent Williams, Washington Redskins

Guards — Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints; Mike Iupati, San Francisco 49ers; Chris Snee, New York Giants

Centers — Jeff Saturday, Green Bay Packers; Max Unger, Seattle Seahawks

NFC Defense

Ends — Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings; Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears; Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants

Interior linemen — Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Henry Melton, Chicago Bears; Justin Smith, San Francisco 49ers

Outside linebackers — Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers; Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys

Inside/middle linebackers — NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers; Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

Cornerbacks — Tim Jennings, Chicago Bears; Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals; Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears

Strong safeties — Donte Whitner, San Francisco 49ers

Free safeties — Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers; Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks

NFC Specialists

Placekicker — Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings

Punter — Thomas Morstead, New Orleans Saints

Kick returner — Leon Washington, Seattle Seahawks

Special team — Lorenzo Alexander, Washington Redskins

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, All-Star

Discuss
Gronkowski Still Not Ready To Return

Sep 17, 2014 2:19 PM

Rob Gronkowski continues to be listed as day-to-day after suffering a broken forearm in Week 11.

"We'll see how he is," Belichick said. "He did more last week than the week before, and we'll see where he's at today and tomorrow when we go out there (to practice); we'll see what he can do. We'll take it day-to-day, we'll make decisions day-to-day based on where he's at. He's moving along, (he's) not ready yet. We'll take it day-to-day and see how it goes." 

Gronkowski has been listed as questionable for each of the past 23 games.

Field Yates/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Fantasy, Injury

Discuss
Gronkowski Out Week 16

Jun 3, 2014 2:51 AM

Rob Gronkowski will miss another week, sitting out against the Jaguars.

Gronkowski is recovering from a broken forearm.

Shalise Manza Young/Boston Globe

Tags: New England Patriots, Injury

Discuss
49ers' Success Against Brady Came When Taking Away Quick Pass

Dec 15, 2014 2:01 AM

The San Francisco 49ers blitzed Tom Brady on just 12 of his 69 drop-backs on Sunday.

The 49ers intercepted Brady twice with both coming when they didn't pressure him.

The Patriots kept the pass rush at bay with quick throws, but Brady's QB rating was 26.2 when forced to hold onto the ball for more than 2.5 seconds.

Ben Stockwell/Pro Football Focus

Tags: New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, IQ

Discuss
Brady Expected 28-Point Comeback

Oct 31, 2014 11:36 AM

The New England Patriots scored 28 unanswered points to tie the score at 31 in the fourth quarter against the 49ers before ultimately losing 41-34.

Tom Brady expected the comeback to happen.

"When we were down 31-3 that was my thought," Brady said on Monday. "I didn't think anything different. I thought we were going to come back and win the game, and a lot of our problems on offense were self-inflicted. I have a lot of respect for that defense. They're very good; they rush, they cover, they're physical, they force turnovers. It was just a sloppy game by us." 

Brady was asked how he remained so confident despite the big deficit.

"Because I look around at the quality and character of the guys that we've got and I have a lot of confidence that we could do it," he added of the comeback. "It's not that I was worried we couldn't score points. We put together, I don't know, was it four touchdown drives in a row? That's pretty good. You can't play, whatever, (just) 25 minutes of good football against a team, you can't do it." 

The Patriots play the 2-12 Jaguars next week.

"Our season is not over by any means," he said. "We lost to a good team playing very average football. We're 10-4, it's certainly not a great record, but that's where we deserve to be. We've got to be able to move on with mental toughness this week and put this loss behind us and go down to Jacksonville and try to win a football game."

Field Yates/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers

Discuss
Brady Throws Ball Within Three Seconds On 70 Percent Of Attempts

Oct 7, 2014 11:44 PM

Tom Brady has taken 20 sacks on 517 dropbacks this season, as he holds onto the ball three or fewer seconds on 70 percent of his pass attempts.

The San Francisco 49ers have recorded 24 of their 32 sacks after three seconds.

Aldon Smith leads the NFL with 19.5 sacks.

Mike Sando/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, IQ

Discuss
Gronkowski Returns To Practice For First Time Since Injury

Jul 25, 2014 1:52 AM

Rob Gronkowski returned to practice Friday for the first time since breaking his left forearm Nov. 18 against the Colts. 

Gronkowski joined his teammates for Friday's in-stadium workout in anticipation of Sunday night's game against the 49ers. 

Mike Reiss, Field Yates/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Fantasy, Injury

Discuss
Branch Signs With Patriots

Oct 9, 2014 12:44 AM

Deion Branch has returned again to the New England Patriots.

Branch was released on Nov. 17 and missed the past four games.

It’s been nearly seven years since Branch was named MVP of the Super Bowl after catching 11 passes in a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

‘‘It was a long time ago,’’ he said, ‘‘but that stuff is in the past. It’s behind us. I think we all need to be grateful, be thankful just to play the game that we play. I'm thankful. I seize every moment that I get. I'm just glad to be back.’’

Howard Ulman/AP

Tags: New England Patriots, Misc Rumor, Signing

Discuss
Brady Began Preparing For 49ers After Thanksgiving

Sep 24, 2014 4:46 AM

Tom Brady began preparing to play the San Francisco 49ers after the New England Patriots' Thanksgiving Day win over the Jets.

Brady used that extra time since the Patriots have a short week following their victory over the Texans.

“So after the game on Monday night I felt like I just had to watch their most recent game and I was caught up; tried to take advantage of a little extra time, a little planning,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t have done that 10 years ago.” 

Brady compared how much more important it is for quarterbacks to study film.

"It's probably most important for the quarterback position. I don't think the receivers are necessarily doing that; they study what they need to study. I kind of have my own routine and preparation, and a lot of guys prepare differently," he said. 

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, IQ

Discuss
Talib Injures Hip
Aqib Talib injured his hip during the second quarter of the Patriots' win on Monday.

AP

Belichick: Brady Not Behind On Preparation Following Birth Of Daughter
Tom Brady was about one hour late to practice on Thursday following the birth of his daughter, but Bill Belichick said he's been just as reliable otherwise.

Jeff Howe/Boston Herald

Patriots 19-1 Over Final Four Games Since 2007
The Patriots have a 19-1 record over the final four games of the season since 2007.

ESPN

Brady, Gisele Name New Daughter Vivian
Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen welcomed their second child together on Wednesday, a child named Vivian.

Field Yates/ESPN

Patriots Re-Sign Donte Stallworth
Donte Stallworth recently worked out for the Patriots.

Jason La Canfora/CBS Sports

33 Percent Of NFL Playoff Spots Clinched
Four of the NFL's 12 playoff teams for 2012 have been set with the Falcons, Patriots, Broncos and Texans clinching berths.

Peter King/Sports Illustrated