Patriots Gab

Despite a loss in Super Bowl XLIV, the Colts have the inside track on winning Super Bowl XLV according to bodog.com. The Pats are right now 10/1 to win the dance again in the 2010 season. Below are all the odds on all the teams making the Super Bowl in Dallas in 2011:

Indianapolis Colts 13/2
San Diego Chargers 8/1
New England Patriots 10/1
New Orleans Saints 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 11/1
Dallas Cowboys 12/1
Green Bay Packers 12/1
Minnesota Vikings 12/1
Philadelphia Eagles 16/1
Baltimore Ravens 20/1
New York Giants 20/1
New York Jets 25/1
Tennessee Titans 25/1
Atlanta Falcons 30/1
Cincinnati Bengals 30/1
Arizona Cardinals 35/1
Chicago Bears 35/1
Houston Texans 35/1
Carolina Panthers 40/1
Miami Dolphins 45/1
San Francisco 49ers 45/1
Seattle Seahawks 45/1
Denver Broncos 50/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 50/1
Washington Redskins 50/1
Buffalo Bills 100/1
Cleveland Browns 100/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Oakland Raiders 100/1
St. Louis Rams 100/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 100/1

Patriots coach Bill Belichick is not planning to name a defensive coordinator in 2010 and instead will be more involved on defense and share the workload with his assistants. Belichick says “Titles are fine, nothing wrong with them, but the most important thing is each person’s role, that we do everything we can to help the players succeed — everyone collectively getting the job done.” The Patriots and Dean Pees, who served as defensive coordinator the last four seasons, parted ways in January.

The Boston Globe reports today that running back Fred Taylor would like to be back in 2010 to finish out his contract:

Last offseason, Fred Taylor signed with the Patriots counting on making the same impact he had for 11 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but instead, he endured a season spent mostly sidelined with an ankle injury and finished with 269 yards on 63 carries in just six games. This offseason, Taylor is motivated to leave a different impression this year. “I feel like I like some people down, including myself,” Taylor said a few minutes ago. “But I’ve got another chance, another opportunity to prove myself.” Taylor, who turned 34 on Jan. 27, assumes he will return to the Patriots to finish out his two-year contract. “I signed a two-year deal,” Taylor said. “In my mind, I would like to finish it. I haven’t really spoke to anyone regarding what’s going to happen, but we’ll see soon, I think. “I’m not going to do Brett Favre to myself. I love Brett. Don’t get me wrong. But when I’m ready to go, I’m out.”

Prior to Sunday night’s Pro Bowl, the NFL announced its 2000s All-Decade Team, and a couple Pats did make the squad as expected.

Below is the entire list of players from the squad with the Pats in bold:

Offense: Quarterback: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning; Fullback: Lorenzo Neal; Running Back: Shaun Alexander, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson; Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens; Tight End: Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez; Offensive Tackles: Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, William Roaf; Guards: Larry Allen, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Will Shields; Centers: Olin Kreutz, Kevin Mawae.

Defense: Defensive Ends: Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor; Defensive Tackles: La’Roi Glover, Warren Sapp, Richard Seymour, Kevin Williams; Linebackers: Derrick Brooks, Ray Lewis, Joey Porter, Zach Thomas, Brian Urlacher, DeMarcus Ware; Cornerbacks: Ronde Barber, Champ Bailey, Ty Law, Charles Woodson; Safeties: Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Darren Sharper.

Special Teams: Punters: Shane Lechler, Brian Moorman; Punt Returners: Dante Hall, Devin Hester; Kickers: David Akers, Adam Vinatieri; Kick Returners: Joshua Cribbs, Dante Hall. The head coaches named for the team were: Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy.

The Providence Journal reports that Wes Welker sure had reason to be upset, as it looked like he was going to get a new deal done at some point this offseason.

On the bench after limping off the field, television cameras caught Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker crying, fully aware that his season was over, and likely aware that his 2010 season was in jeopardy after suffering a torn ACL and MCL, as well. There may have been another reason for his anguish, there is speculation that Welker was preparing to approach the Patriots about re-negotiating the team-friendly five-year, $16.9-million contract he signed with the club in 2007, and clearly the chance to do so has been lost. Now a two-time Pro Bowl selection with an NFL-best 346 receptions over the last three seasons, Welker has clearly outplayed his contract.

Sporting News reports that Wes Welker has yet to have his surgery on his injured left knee:

Twenty-three days after Wes Welker’s injured his left knee at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, the Patriots receiver still has not had surgery, according to SN correspondent and Boston Herald reporter Ian R. Rapoport.

A source tells the newspaper that Welker purposely is waiting for the procedure to be performed, allowing time for his MCL to heal. Welker also tore his ACL on Jan. 3 in the regular-season loss to the Texans. It is not yet clear where or when he’ll have the procedure done.

The Patriots placed Welker on injured reserve January 6th. Two weeks ago, Welker told WWLS Radio in Oklahoma City, “We’re just taking our time right now to wait on (the MCL) to heal and make sure that we exhaust all the options.”

ESPN.com has a tidbit today on Vince Wilfork, as it seems that the talk of him not being happy about what will be their offer to get him to stay has begun:

New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork is girding up — and there’s a lot of girth to gird — for what could be a nasty contract battle.

“I want a long-term deal, or I want to be free. Point blank,” Wilfork said Wednesday on Boston sports radio station WEEI.

Wilfork’s contract is up and he wants to be paid what he’s worth. He was the Patriots’ defensive MVP and their second-best player this year behind Wes Welker. Yes, I do know Tom Brady is on their roster. But Wilfork was that good in 2009 and is that critical to the future of the Patriots’ 3-4 defense.

Wilfork stated a convincing case while a guest on the “Dale & Holley Show.”

He has completed a six-year contract he signed as a rookie. ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss wrote an analysis of the Wilfork situation and focuses on that six-year deal. Reiss notes why that would give Wilfork conviction.

“I didn’t like that six-year deal, but I did honor my six-year deal,” Wilfork said. “Now that the deal is up, it’s time for me to move forward with the Patriots or without the Patriots.”

Sporting News reports that at least one current Pat wants Pepper Johnson to be the teams new defensive coordinator:

Bill Belichick hasn’t filled the Patriots’ vacant defensive coordinator job, but free-agent nose tackle Vince Wilfork is lobbying for defensive line coach Pepper Johnson to be promoted.

“Playing under him, I want to see him as coordinator, I think he deserves it,” Wilfork told ESPN. “He has all the tools to be one. I like a coach who looks you in the face and lets you know how he feels about you. There is no beating around the bush. He has a lot of respect from me as a coach and as a person.” …