AFC East: Myron Pryor
Jets scratch Brad Smith; Hernandez to play
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New York Jets have scratched Brad Smith for Sunday's playoff game against the New England Patriots.
Smith was the Jets' top kickoff returner, bringing back two for touchdowns in the regular season. He also is a potent weapon in the run game as an option quarterback in their Wildcat-style offense.
Newsworthy for the Patriots is that tight end Aaron Hernandez is active after missing the last two regular-season games with a hip injury.
Here are the rest of Sunday's scratches:
New York Jets
- Quarterback Kellen Clemens
- Fullback John Conner
- Tight end Matthew Mulligan
- Tight end Jeff Cumberland
- Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
- Defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert
- Outside linebacker Vernon Gholston
New England Patriots
- Running back Fred Taylor
- Running back Thomas Clayton
- Receiver Taylor Price
- Guard Rich Ohrnberger
- Tackle Mark LeVoir
- Defensive tackle Myron Pryor
- Linebacker Marques Murrell
- Cornerback Tony Carter
Seasons greetings from Orchard Park, N.Y.
Temperature at kickoff will be about 23 degrees, but it will feel like 9 degrees, with winds gusting up to 23 mph. The chance of snow is 50 percent.
New England could clinch the AFC East title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, while a victory over the Patriots would make Buffalo's season. The Bills have won four out of their past six games, including an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Buffalo has lost 14 straight games to New England and 19 out of 20 in the series.
The inactives:
New England Patriots
- Quarterback Levi Brown
- Running back Jehuu Caulcrick
- Tight end Mike Caussin
- Center Geoff Hangartner
- Guard Colin Brown
- Tackle Ed Wang
- Defensive end John McCargo
- Defensive tackle Kellen Heard
- Running back Thomas Clayton
- Receiver Taylor Price
- Tight end Aaron Hernandez
- Guard Dan Connolly
- Defensive end Mike Wright
- Defensive end Brandon Deaderick
- Defensive tackle Myron Pryor
- Outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham
Aaron Hernandez among Patriots scratches
On Christmas night they announced six players wouldn't dress against the Buffalo Bills because of injuries.
Most notable is rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez, who is battling a hip problem. Hernandez had two touchdown receptions last week against the Green Bay Packers.
His absence could mean a big day for rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski in his homecoming. Gronkowski is from suburban Buffalo.
Also out are right guard Dan Connolly (concussion), outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (calf) and defensive linemen Mike Wright (concussion), Myron Pryor (back) and Brandon Deaderick (shoulder). All have started this year.
Connolly, who made highlight reels with his 71-yard kickoff return last week, has been one of New England's most valuable depth players. He has started 13 games, filling in at left guard until Logan Mankins ended his contract dispute and then at right guard when Stephen Neal suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Ryan Wendell or Quinn Ojinnaka will replace Connolly at right guard.
Cunningham has started 11 of the Patriots past 12 games.
Wright, Deaderick and Pryor have combined for 11 starts.
New York Jets
- Quarterback Kellen Clemens
- Receiver Laveranues Coles
- Tight end Jeff Cumberland
- Tight end Matthew Mulligan
- Guard Vladimir Ducasse
- Defensive tackle Marcus Dixon
- Defensive tackle Matt Kroul
- Linebacker Jamaal Westerman
- Running back Thomas Clayton
- Receiver Taylor Price
- Guard Rich Ohrnberger
- Tackle Mark LeVoir
- Defensive end Mike Wright
- Defensive tackle Myron Pryor
- Outside linebacker Eric Moore
- Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Here are the scratches for Sunday's game between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium:
Indianapolis Colts
- Running back Joseph Addai
- Running back Mike Hart
- Guard Jaimie Thomas
- Defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews
- Linebacker Clint Session
- Linebacker Gary Brackett
- Cornerback Justin Tryon
- Safety Bob Sanders
New England Patriots
- Running back Fred Taylor
- Receiver Taylor Price
- Guard Stephen Neal
- Guard Rich Ohrnberger
- Tackle Mark LeVoir
- Defensive lineman Myron Pryor
- Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite
- Safety Jarrad Page
Patriots rule out four players, including Neal
Connolly was pried from his left guard position last week because two-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins ended his contract standoff. But Connolly likely will be in Sunday's lineup against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.
The Patriots have announced right guard Stephen Neal (shoulder), running back Fred Taylor (toe), defensive lineman Myron Pryor (back) and safety Jarrad Page (calf) have been ruled out with injuries.
Before this season, Connolly had four career starts, all at right guard for Neal last year.
"He filled in last year and did a great job," Neal told me two weeks ago for a story about Connolly. "He plays good football and has just been waiting around for an opportunity.
"He can play center, guard, fullback, tight end. He's a great asset for this team. I don't think it's a surprise to anyone in this locker room what he's doing out there."
Rapid Reaction: Patriots 28, Vikings 18
What it means: With the New York Jets losing earlier Sunday, the Patriots assumed sole possession of first place at 6-1.
Pryor scores the knockout: No, not Aaron Pryor. Patriots defensive lineman Myron Pryor delivered the blow that sent Favre to the locker room with 7:31 left in the game. Pryor's helmet nailed Favre in the chin, opening a nasty cut and making Favre wobbly.
Moss not a factor: Moss was quiet in his return to Gillette Stadium. He had one catch for 8 yards and no touchdowns, but he could have had an easy one. After drawing a pass interference penalty in the fourth quarter, he gave up on a play, allowing the ball to land nearby at the goal line for an incompletion. Favre threw at him once in the first half.
Law Firm closes the deal: With 35 minutes gone, Danny Woodhead was New England's leading rusher with 7 yards. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (aka The Law Firm) pounded out the victory with 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.
Big man Tate: Patriots receiver Brandon Tate scored his first NFL receiving touchdown on an improvised route with Tom Brady scrambling. Tate turned up the left sideline. Brady found him wide open, and Tate ran diagonally across the field for 65 yards.
What's next: Bill Belichick gets to shake hands with old pal Eric Mangini next week, when the Patriots visit the Cleveland Browns.
with Patriots WR Julian Edelman and DT Myron Pryor about preparing for their second NFL season.Falling
1. Rex Ryan, Jets coach: Everybody in the stadium knew Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez was the target on that fateful fourth-and-goal play with 1:38 left, but Ryan's defense still couldn't stop it. Moments later, Ryan blew up at referee Ron Winter, then walked into his postgame news conference and declared his team has been eliminated from the playoff hunt. Except they haven't been.
2. Chad Henne, Dolphins quarterback: Henne threw for a career-high 349 yards and guided the Dolphins to a 15-point, fourth-quarter rally and forced overtime in Nashville. But he threw the last of his three interceptions three plays into sudden death, frittering the hallowed first possession. The Titans kicked the winning field goal four plays later.
3. Mark Sanchez, Jets quarterback: A game away because of a knee injury didn't seem to help Sanchez settle down. The rookie came back Sunday and threw three interceptions, his fourth game with at least three in 13 NFL starts. His 20 interceptions are second in the league. He ranks 29th in passer rating.
Rising
AP Photo/David DupreyNew England's Randy Moss rebounded with a strong game against Buffalo.2. Patriots pass rush: Without nose tackle Vince Wilfork and defensive ends Ty Warren and Myron Pryor, the Patriots rung up a season-high six sacks. Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain recorded three of them. Bills quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards both suffered ankle injuries.
3. Fred Jackson, Bills running back: Jackson, the supposed backup to Pro Bowler Marshawn Lynch, is 189 yards from the coveted 1,000-yard milestone. Not bad for an undrafted Division III player who came up through the arena bush leagues. Jackson rushed 15 times for 80 yards against the Patriots. He also caught four passes for 32 yards and returned four kickoffs for 108 yards.
But at least the snow that has socked in the rest of the Northeast has stayed away.
In watching the doppler Saturday night, I found it amusing how this gargantuan white sheet was covering five states, but as it approached Buffalo, some mystical force field on the eastern rim of Lake Erie seemed to be batting it away with ease.
So no snow here, folks. Based on the flags atop the stadium and the streamers on the goal posts, the wind seems tolerable for now.
The Patriots already announced all the surprises from their inactive list Saturday night.
Particularly noteworthy about the Bills' inactive list is that receiver Terrell Owens isn't on it. Owens missed practice Thursday and Friday with an illness.
The complete rundown of scratches reads thusly:
New England Patriots
- Receiver Isaiah Stanback (third QB)
- Running back Fred Taylor
- Right guard Stephen Neal
- Right tackle Nick Kaczur
- Nose tackle Vince Wilfork
- Defensive end Ty Warren
- Defensive end Myron Pryor
- Cornerback Terrence Wheatley
- Quarterback Brian Brohm
- Receiver Steve Johnson
- Receiver James Hardy
- Tight end Joe Klopfenstein
- Tackle Jamon Meredith
- Defensive end Chris Ellis
- Cornerback Ashton Youboty
- Cornerback Cary Harris
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
 | |
| AP Photo/Stephan Savoia | |
| The Patriots made a move to bolster the defensive line after losing Vince Wilfork. |
Boston Herald reporter Ian R. Rapoport wrote Monday afternoon that New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork's sprained left ankle wasn't considered serious.
An unnamed source familiar with the injury told Rapoport it's "not expected to be long-term," but the Patriots made a roster move apparently in response to Wilfork's condition and a minor shoulder injury to defensive lineman Mike Wright.
The Patriots signed free agent defensive tackle Terdell Sands. The Oakland Raiders made the 6-foot-7, 335-pound behemoth a late cut after five-plus ordinary seasons. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Sands in the seventh round in 2001. He also played one game for the Green Bay Packers.
Don't expect Sands to supplant any defensive linemen previously on the roster. As AFC West blogger Bill Williamson notes, Sands was a disappointment in Oakland, making only a dozen starts and registering the only four sacks of his career.
Rookies Myron Pryor and Ron Brace likely will help Wright fill the considerable void if Wilfork can't play in Sunday's intriguing matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Gillette Stadium.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Inactives for the Monday night opener between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium:
Buffalo Bills
- Quarterback Gibran Hamdan
- Receiver Steve Johnson
- Tight end Derek Fine
- Offensive lineman Kirk Chambers
- Linebacker Ashlee Palmer
- Defensive end Chris Ellis
- Cornerback Drayton Florence
- Cornerback Ellis Lankster
- Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis
- Receiver Julian Edelman
- Offensive lineman Dan Connolly
- Offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger
- Offensive lineman Kendall Simmons
- Defensive lineman Myron Pryor
- Cornerback Terrence Wheatley
- Safety Matthew Slater
Patriots trade looks like master stroke for future
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
The New England Patriots enter 2009 as a Super Bowl contender.
That didn't stop Bill Belichick from trading away one of his best players Sunday for an asset that won't bear fruit for two years.
And he probably strengthened the organization by sacrificing for the short-term.
The Patriots sent five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders for their 2011 first-round draft choice.
"Seymour's a great one," Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson said. "I think Seymour's a Hall of Famer. He won't be easily replaced.
"But let's remember: The Raiders pick could be first overall. They're perennially bad."
Seymour was entering the final season of a four-year extension he signed in 2006. The Patriots made a business decision by trading him. Rather than lose him at the end of the season and get nothing in return, they now have more salary-cap space to sign defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who's also entering the final year of his contract and wants an extension.
"Nose tackles are harder to find," Williamson said. "Wilfork is younger. He's in the prime of his career. Seymour's still very effective, but I would rather have Wilfork if you're going to have one or the other."
Seymour, who will turn 30 next month, led the Patriots with eight sacks last year. But he has missed eight games over the past two seasons because of injuries.
"To me, he's not worth the potential first overall pick," Williamson said. "I thought he'd be more of a second-round pick. He was hurt at the end of the year, and how many more good years are you going to get out of him?"
Williamson isn't convinced the Patriots will suffer in Seymour's absence. The Patriots expect to use more four-man fronts. Derrick Burgess, acquired from the Raiders in early August, is a pure 4-3 defensive end.
A four-man front will mean bigger roles for rookies Ron Brace and Myron Pryor. The Patriots selected Brace out of Boston College with the 40th overall pick. They selected Pryor out of Kentucky in the sixth round, and he performed well throughout the preseason.
"It opens the way to play more 4-3 with Wilfork and Brace at the defensive tackles," Williamson said. "That's 675 pounds. Those are two big, beefy bodies in front of [inside linebacker Jerod] Mayo."
Holdout watch: unsigned AFC East draftees
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
As of Tuesday morning, here's the rundown of which AFC East draft choices are under contract and when training camp opens for each club:Buffalo Bills (opened Saturday)
- Unsigned: First-round (11th overall) defensive end Aaron Maybin; first-round (28th overall) guard Eric Wood; second-round defensive back Jairus Byrd.
- Signed: Second-round guard Andy Levitre; fourth-round tight end Shawn Nelson; Fifth-round linebacker Nic Harris; Sixth-round cornerback Cary Harris; seventh-round defensive back Ellis Lankster.
New England Patriots (opens Thursday)
- Unsigned: Third-round outside linebacker Tyrone McKenzie; sixth-round long-snapper Jake Ingram.
- Signed: Second-round safety Pat Chung, second-round defensive tackle Ron Brace; second-round cornerback Darius Butler; second-round tackle Sebastian Vollmer; third-round receiver Brandon Tate; fourth-round guard Rich Ohrnberger; fifth-round offensive tackle George Bussey; sixth-round defensive lineman Myron Pryor; seventh-round receiver Julian Edelman; seventh-round defensive tackle Darryl Richard.
New York Jets (opens Friday)
- Unsigned: None.
- Signed: First-round (fifth overall) quarterback Mark Sanchez; third-round running back Shonn Greene; sixth-round guard Matt Slauson.
Miami Dolphins (opens Sunday)
- Unsigned: First-round (25th overall) cornerback Vontae Davis; second-round quarterback Pat White; fifth-round safety Chris Clemons.
- Signed: Second-round cornerback Sean Smith; third-round receiver Patrick Turner; fourth-round receiver Brian Hartline; fifth-round tight end John Nalbone; sixth-round tackle Andrew Gardner; seventh-round outside linebacker J.D. Folsom.
Sanchez leads AFC East impact rookies for 2009
The mathemagicians at WhatIfSports.com have ranked the top 100 rookies in terms of projected impact on their new teams.
Because I avoided math like the swine flu and delayed taking my one required collegiate course until the winter quarter of my senior year, I better let Paul Bessire of WhatIfSports.com explain how it works:
We run a very complex set of algorithms that factors collegiate performance, role in college, strength of collegiate competition, "measurables," likely NFL role, previous performance of a similar player in that NFL role for this coaching staff and trends of similar rookies in the past. This gives us the player's projected ratio stats (expected yards per carry, completion percentage, etc.), as well as his forecasted usage for the upcoming season. From there, we can compare all rookies based on who we think will make the biggest positive impact for his new NFL team in his first year.
In other words, they do a little more than break out a slide rule, some graph paper and a solar-powered calculator.
We have done pretty well with this approach. Leading into the 2008 season, not only did this methodology correctly rank first round draft choices like Jonathan Stewart, Jerod Mayo, Jake Long and Sedrick Ellis among the top ten, it helped to point out some steals like Steve Slaton, Charles Godfrey, Matt Forte, Trevor Scott, Jamaal Charles and Cliff Avril.
WhatIfSports.com also had Joe Flacco at No. 11 last year. Then again, it ranked James Hardy No. 8 and Vernon Gholston No. 20, too.
The Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions generated the most positive projected rookie impact for 2009. The New York Jets, with only three picks, have the least depth, but posted the highest-ranked player within the AFC East.
AFC East highlights from the rankings:
- 3. Mark Sanchez, Jets quarterback
- 27. Eric Wood, Bills offensive lineman
- 35. Jairus Byrd, Bills defensive back
- 36. Sean Smith, Dolphins defensive back
- 50. Darius Butler, Patriots cornerback
- 58. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
- 67. Andrew Levitre, Bills guard
- 73. Aaron Maybin, Bills defensive end
- 75. Myron Pryor, Patriots defensive tackle
- 79. Pat White, Dolphins quarterback
- 87. Shawn Nelson, Bills tight end
- 93. Patrick Chung, Patriots safety
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
