Former Bears receiver Tom Waddle is lashing out at Bears safety Brandon Meriweather for a style of play that Waddle believes is dirty and designed to knock opposing receivers out.

“I don’t approve of the way he plays the game,” Waddle said on ESPN 1000. “And you can call me a sissy all you want. OK? I was on the receiving end of a lot of head-to-head hits. And maybe it’s the reason I act the way I do. But in football there are going to be moments when a guy is trying to make a tackle and his helmet hits yours. It’s going to happen, and in today’s game you’re going to get flagged for it. And that’s the way it is.”

Meriweather has been fined twice for helmet-to-helmet hits, and he might pick up another fine for a hit against the Lions on Monday night. Waddle says Meriweather deserves the fines because he plays with an intent to hurt.

“When I interpret the way you go about your job that you have the intent to hurt somebody, I’ve got no time for you. I’ve got no place for you. The game’s got no place for you,” Waddle said. “He’s going to hurt himself, and he’s going to hurt someone else because of the intent.”

In Waddle’s view, Meriweather’s style of play doesn’t belong in the NFL.

“I don’t know Brandon. I haven’t had a discussion with him. But it sure looks by the way he plays the game that the intent isn’t to put a big hit on someone and legally knock them out, it’s to hurt someone,” Waddle said. “What Brandon does is he leads with his helmet all the time. There’s no place in the game, brother, at this particular time for that. It’s vicious enough. And when your intent, in my humble opinion, is to hurt or maim, I’ve got no time for you, and I don’t think the game’s got any place for you.”

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

Chicago Bears safety Brandon Meriweather has been fined $25,000 for his hit on Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson on Monday night, Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune reports. Last week, Meriweather was fined $20,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith. One would expect that another illegal hit would put Meriweather in position for further discipline from the league office, but those opportunities may be limited. Meriweather continually looking to make the big hit, and not the correct play, has prompted the Bears to remove him from the starting lineup. During the 2010 season, Meriweather, then with the New England Patriots, was fined $50,000 for a hit on Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap, Meriweather appealed that fine, which was reduced to $40,000.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(gridironfans.com)

Chicago Bears safety Brandon Merriweather was fined $20,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Panthers receiver Steve Smith last Sunday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Merriweather was not penalized on the field for the hit on Smith, who continued running for a 22-yard gain after the pass completion.
The Bears’ safety told the Tribune he planned to appeal the fine.

Last season, Merriweather was fined $50,000 for two helmet-to-helmet hits on Baltimore Ravens’ tight end Todd Heap.
Smith said the hit forced him to the sideline not because his helmet had been damaged.

“One of the hits he did lead with his helmet and it kind of bent my facemask. So I had to switch my helmets,” Smith said.

“Like I told him, he was talking about, ‘I’m going to be here all day.’ And I just told him, ‘So will I.’ So I just take that, eat it, spit it out and that’s what I thought about it. Just keep it coming.”


(charlotteobserver.com)

Brandon Meriweather signed a one-year contract with the Bears on Monday, but it wasn’t the first time the hard-hitting safety from the University of Miami wanted to join the team.

Aware that he was entering the 2007 NFL Draft with character concerns, Meriweather called Lovie Smith and invited the Bears coach down to Miami to spend a day getting to know him.

While Smith politely declined the offer, he was thrilled to land Meriweather four years later.

“He’s just a good football player,” Smith said. “He can hit. He’s got excellent ball skills, can change directions; all the things we’re looking for in a defensive back.

“He’s got a good pedigree too. You look at where he’s from. Devin Hester, knowing him quite well, said a lot of good things about him. We did research and felt like he was a good fit.”

After spending his first four seasons with the Patriots, Meriweather was released by New England on Saturday. He played in all 64 games with 40 starts, recording 261 tackles and 12 interceptions, and was named to the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons.

Meriweather was offered more money elsewhere, but decided to sign with the Bears.

“It feels tremendous to come in,” he said. “All the guys showed me a lot of love when I got here. To be playing with an old [college] teammate like Devin Hester again, it just feels great. I just thought it would be a good fit. I love coach Lovie and the organization is a first-class organization.”
While he likely will challenge second-year pro Major Wright for the starting free safety position, Meriweather knows that he won’t be handed the job.

“I expect to come in and do whatever the coach asks me to do,” Meriweather said. “If he comes in and asks me to play all special teams, I expect to do that. I just want to come in and contribute any way I can.”

Meriweather was honest when asked how long it would take him to learn the Bears defense.

“I have never been traded or released and I never had to come into a new system besides my rookie year, so I don’t know,’ he said. “I can’t answer that.”

Asked whether he would be ready to contribute in Sunday’s season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, he said: “We’ll find out. I am going to try to do my best. I am going to do a lot of studying.”

While learning a new system isn’t easy, Smith expects Meriweather to make a smooth transition.

“We do things differently, we call things differently,” said the Bears coach. “But once you kind of get by some of the different terminology, most coverages are pretty much the same.

“Most defenses are pretty much gap control. When the ball’s in the air, you go get it. When a guy’s running with the ball, you go tackle him. There will be some challenges, but when you have a veteran like that they normally pick it up pretty quick.”

Meriweather has received a warm reception from his new teammates.

“He’s a certified playmaker,” said veteran safety Chris Harris. “The guy has made plays his entire career, so anytime you can get a guy of that caliber on your roster, I think it definitely makes your team better.

“Competition raises everybody’s level of play. Anytime you bring a guy in at your position, competition is great. It only makes your level of play better and therefore it’s going to make the team’s play better.”

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chicagobears.com)

Devin Hester was a teammate of Brandon Meriweather’s at “The U.” He is very clear about what kind of player the Bears just acquired in the person of his former University of Miami pal.

An intimidator. And Hester speaks from experience.

“Yes,” Hester said, more than once, then laughed. “Yes. I played against him in college and always told him, ‘Don’t hit me hard.’ I know the type of power that he brings up when he comes up and hits. Another hard-hitting safety.”

Not always the kind of hard-hitting that the NFL approves of, as evidenced by the $50,000 fine Meriweather was assessed for a helmet-to-helmet blow to the head of Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap.

And Meriweather was involved in the notorious brawl between players from The U and Florida International, a sprawling fight in which Meriweather reportedly stomped players on the ground.

The Bears arguably have not had a safety generally feared or considered an intimidator physically since Todd Bell or more recently Tony Parrish. Meriweather has tended to play outside the defensive scheme too often to suit Bill Belichick, who released him from the New England Patriots, but he is also what the Bears crave in their defensive backfields:

“Another athlete from Florida that’s going to make plays,” Hester said. “He has the natural ability to go up and get balls and is real talented when the ball’s in the air.

“A very smart player. One thing I noticed about him at Miami is he was one player who always knew where the other guys were [supposed to be] and if a guy was confused on the defensive side of the ball, he would be the guy that knew everything.”

Meriweather and safety Chris Harris walked together off the practice field Monday, Harris explaining in great detail the intricacies of the Bears’ scheme as it applies to safeties, including depth of positioning, partitioning of the deep areas of the field and such.

You just have to assume that Meriweather in fact knew to whom he was talking.

Name tags?
Getting along with teammates off the field isn’t remotely as important as connecting with them on it. Meriweather is off to more than a good start with the former.

More or less.

The latest No. 1 draft choice (of another team) signed by the Bears was swarmed at his locker stall Monday by microphones, recorders, pens and one sidekick.

Harris was in the pack of interrogators and, holding a microphone, led off with questions of the newest Bear.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is new safety Brandon Meriweather,” Harris intoned. “First, how does it feel to be a Chicago Bears right now?”

Meriweather went with the moment.  “It feels great,” he said with exaggerated enthusiasm and high-pitched voice. “I get to play with guys like Chris Henry and ...”

He couldn’t hold his straight face and laughed. So did everyone, Harris too, sort of, since Chris Henry was the Cincinnati wide receiver who died from a fall from a truck nearly two years ago.

The Bears can laugh at an obvious slip of the tongue. They won’t at slips in coverage, however.

To make room for Meriweather, the Bears released cornerback Joshua Moore, the team’s fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft. Moore played in just three games last season, was inactive for the other 13 and was credited with just 1 special-teams tackle.

Scheming
Meriweather, while expected to move into the starting lineup sooner rather than later, won’t until coaches are convinced he will make fewer mistakes than Major Wright at free safety.

Meriweather was a two-time Pro Bowl player for the New England Patriots, who play a 3-4 defense under Belichick. He obviously didn’t play that scheme to Belichick’s satisfaction, and as far as how long it will likely take for him to fully grasp the intricacies of a Cover-2 safety vs. one in a 3-4, Meriweather admitted he wasn’t sure.

“I have never been traded or released,” Meriweather said. “I have never had to come into a new system besides my rookie year. I don’t know. I can’t answer that.”

Meriweather’s aptitude with defenses that Hester described will get a test this week. The most difficult aspect of the Bears’ defense is “the mental part of the game,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We do things differently, we call things differently.

“But once you get by some of the different terminology, most coverages are pretty much the same, most defenses are pretty much gap-control, when the ball’s in the air, you go get it; guy’s running with the ball, you go tackle him. There’ll be some challenges but when you have a veteran like that, they usually pick it up pretty quick.”

And, the Bears hope, intimidate an offensive player here and there in the process.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(csnchicago.com)

The Philadelphia Eagles cut rookie running back Graig Cooper. The Eagles are deep at the running back position, so look for Cooper to sign as a free agent with another team, he looked quite good this pre-season. The Eagles also cut WR Sinorice Moss. Moss had another great training camp, but was a victim of a deep crop of WRs. Moss has the talent and has shown it when given the opportunity and when healthy. WRs go down due to injury quite often, look for a team to pick him up.

The Miami Dolphins cut TE Dedrick Epps. Epps was cut last year as well but eventually made the Dolphins practice squad. Look for him to latch onto the practice squad again considering how thin the Dolphins are at the TE position.

WR Darnell Jenkins was cut by the New England Patriots. Most scouts seem to think he will find a spot on someone’s roster.

S Jared Campbell, brother of Arizona Cardinal Calais Campbell was cut by the Cardinals. Campbell played well in limited action in the preseason. He may be able to make a practice squad.

The New England Patriots, in a surprise move, cut safety Brandon Meriweather. Meriweather who has been to two consecutive Pro Bowls reportedly freelanced too much in the Patriot backfield and was underperforming. It’s not clear as to whether it was also money issue, but Meriweather is definitely still an elite talent at safety in the NFL. Look for teams thin at that position like the Dolphins and Chiefs to go after Meriweather.

Baraka Atkins LB/DE who had been signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason was cut as well. Atkins was one of the final cuts of the Denver Broncos last year after spending the beginning of his career with the Seahawks.

10-year veteran DL Damione Lewis was cut by the Houston Texans. Lewis was a late addition to the Texans squad last year and played very well both last year and this preseason. What didn’t help Lewis this year was the fact that the Texans changed to a 3-4 defense and Lewis is much better suite as a DL in the 4-3.

Brett Romberg who was a surprise signing by the Atlanta Falcons only a couple of days ago, after not playing at all during the 2010 season, was cut by the Falcons as concerns over their starting center’s health subsided. Don’t be surprised to see Romberg get signed if the Falcons sustain an injury there.

Running back Damien Berry was cut by the Ravens. Berry was slowed by an ankle injury that he suffered in the first game of the pre season, and as a result didn’t play until the fourth game. Berry has NFL skills. BERRY WAS SIGNED TO THE RAVENS PRACTICE SQUAD.

LB Tavares Gooden. Gooden was drafted by the Ravens to eventually replace Ray Lewis at the MLB position, but injuries have really slowed his career. Gooden, if healthy, can start for most NFL teams, but this pre season was no different as he continued to deal with injuries. THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SIGNED GOODEN TO A 1-YEAR DEAL.

Rookie defensive back Ryan Hill was waived by the Minnessota Vikings. Hill didn’t play a lot this pre season but when he did, like in the final pre season game for the Vikings, he performed well leading the team in tackles. The Vikings had Hill listed as a safety. He has the size and speed to play both corner and safety which gives him the type of versatility a lot of teams look for.

Javarris James, RB who led the Indianapolis Colts last year in rushing touchdowns after playing only about half the season was cut by the Colts.

Second-year defensive lineman Dwayne Hendricks who was on the NY Giants practice squad last year and was called up and played in a regular season game last year for the Giants was cut. Giants did have a very good pre-season. THE GIANTS SIGNED HENDRICKS TO THEIR PRACTICE SQUAD.

Rookie DB Corey Nelms was cut by the 49ers. Nelms was a surprise free agent signing and did get playing time in the preseason. THE 49ERS SIGNED NELMS TO THEIR PRACTICE SQUAD.

Rookie Fullback Patrick Hill was cut by the Tennessee Titans. Hill didn’t get any carries in the preseason for the Titans.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Brandon Meriweather chose against re-living his surprise release from the New England Patriots, opting instead Tuesday to speak optimistically about his prospects with the Chicago Bears.

Signed to a one-year contract by the Bears on Monday, Meriweather -- a two-time Pro Bowl selection -- said he's unsure whether he'll play Sunday when the team hosts the Falcons at Soldier Field. Less than an hour after being fitted by the team's equipment staff for pads, Meriweather ran onto the field for practice. The field work finally came after Meriweather stayed up late Monday night studying the team's scheme with assistant defensive backs coach Gill Byrd.

"Do I want to be (ready to play on Sunday)? We'll find out," Meriweather said. "I'm gonna try my best. I'm gonna do a lot of studying."

Meriweather started 40 of 64 games over the past four years for the Patriots, who selected him with the 24th overall pick of the 2007 draft. But in somewhat of a stunning move, the Patriots released him on Saturday.

Meriweather declined to comment specifically about the conversation he had with Patriots coach Bill Belichick upon his release, saying "to be honest, that's between me and coach," adding that that "I'm sure you can call Bill and ask him. I'm sure he'll give you all the details."

Belichick didn't do that, but he definitely indicated on Monday that Meriweather's skills had diminished to the point at which the Patriots felt the need to move on.

"Brandon played a lot of good football for us. We kept the players this year that we felt would be the best makeup for the 2011 team," Belichick said. "It's not the 2009 team. It's the 2011 team. That's the players we selected. Each year is a new year. I just don't think you can pick teams, pick your players, based on what's happened in the past. You have to pick them based on what you think is going to happen this year. That's relative to the competition, the makeup of your team, and the player's performance. All those are obviously a part of it."

Meriweather expressed "respect for Bill, and the rest of the staff (in New England)," adding the situation is "behind me. Now I'm focused on being a Bear."

With Bears safeties Craig Steltz (hip), and Chris Conte (head) nursing injuries, there's a chance Meriweather could see action -- on special teams at the very least -- against the Falcons.

Steltz and Conte appeared to practice with the team Monday, but an official injury report won't be released until Wednesday.

Bears coach Lovie Smith, meanwhile, indicated the club plans to prepare Meriweather to play as soon as possible.

"We'll get him into the mix," Smith said. "You can't have too many good players at any position."

Right now, Meriweather continues to take a crash course in the Bears defensive system, but isn't sure he'll absorb enough to make meaningful contributions, considering the matchup with the Falcons is less than a week away.

"I have never been traded or released, and I never had to come into a new system besides my rookie year. So I don't know," he said. "I can't answer that. I haven't been able to wrap my mind around all of (this system) as I did with my last team. But I'm looking forward to it. I'm just trying to get better. They gave (the defense) to me fast. Luckily we've got people like Chris (Harris) who know the defense very well and he could help me out with the small questions. I've got Coach Byrd, and the rest of them to help me out with the bigger questions."

With Harris and second-year man Major Wright seemingly firmly entrenched as the starters, it's unlikely Meriweather will wrest away one of those jobs immediately. That's not to say it's impossible. After all, the Bears under Smith have opened the season with eight different combinations at safety over the past eight years.

Smith's penchant for switching out the safeties is well known at Halas Hall, and the addition of Meriweather indicates the team might not be entirely sold on Wright as a starter. But even if that's not the case, Meriweather might provide enough of an upgrade for the club to decide to go another direction at the position.

"He's just a good football player," Smith said. "He can hit. He's got excellent ball skills, change of direction, all of the things we're looking for in a defensive back. He's got a good pedigree, too. We did our research and felt like he's a fit here. We'll see how it goes this game week."

Meriweather's aggression has gotten him in trouble in the past, whether the result was a big gain for the opponent or a big hit to his checkbook.

He was initially fined $50,000 last season after a helmet-on-helmet hit to Baltimore's Todd Heap, a penalty that was later reduced to $40,000. Before that, he was known mostly for his role in an on-field fight during a 2006 game against Florida International while at Miami. A few months earlier, he fired a gun at an assailant who had shot Miami backup safety Willie Cooper outside the house Cooper shared with Meriweather and another teammate, police said. Meriweather wasn't charged and police said he used the gun legally.

And despite Meriweather's pedigree as a Pro Bowl performer, he seemed to be saying all the right things Tuesday, by hinting that his plans aren't necessarily to come in and start, but "to come in and do whatever the coach asks me to."

Wright, meanwhile, wasn't concerned about the addition or extra competition it might bring.

"(Meriweather is) just going out, working to get better and that's it," Wright said. "I'm very confident in what I'm doing. I know what I'm doing, and there's more room to improve."

Bears receiver Devin Hester played with Meriweather in college at Miami. Hester laughed at recalling college practices, in which the receiver "used to always tell (Meriweather), 'Don't hit me hard,'" Hester said. "I know what type of power he brings when he comes up and hits."

Meriweather also brings intelligence and playmaking ability to the Bears, Hester said. It's an observation the receiver quickly made while the duo played at Miami.

"He's real talented when the ball is in the air; a very smart player," Hester said. "One thing I noticed about him at Miami is he was one of those safeties that knew what the other guys had, and would always get guys in order. If any guy was confused on the defensive side of the ball, he was that guy that knew everything, knew every position."

What Meriweather doesn't know just yet is where he fits in the team's plans.

All he knows is he fits.

"It feels tremendous to come in. All the guys showed me a lot of love when I got here," Meriweather said. "To be playing with an old teammate like Devin Hester again, it just feels great. I think it will be a good fit. The style of defense they play. ... I love Coach Lovie and the organization."

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

FOXBOROUGH - The Brandon Meriweather release has been covered extensively here the last few days, but the media was finally afforded its first opportunity to speak to coach Bill Belichick since the move was made.

Looking at his comments, it's pretty clear that the organization felt that Meriweather was headed in the wrong direction.

Here's what he had to say:

"Yeah, no doubt about it. Again, I think each year is a new year and I just don’t think you can pick teams, or pick your players based on what’s happened in the past," Belichick said. "You have to pick them based on what you think is going to happen this year, and that’s relative to the competition, to the make of your team, and player’s performance. All of those are obviously a part of it. Brandon played a lot of good football for us. We kept the players this year that we felt would be the best make up for the 2011 team. It’s not the 2009 team; it’s the 2011 team, so those are the players that we’ve selected."

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(masslive.com)

The Bears ended the preseason with not enough plays, too little experience, and insufficient depth from their safeties. That changed Sunday when they picked up Brandon Meriweather, agreeing to terms with him on a one-year deal.

The Patriots cut the safety Saturday and the Bears pounced on the 2007 first-round draft pick who had made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons. It is believed the Patriots tried to trade Meriweather without success.

Meriweather is the third former first-round pick the Bears have added to the roster since the end of last year, not counting Vernon Gholston, who has been cut. The others are receiver Roy Williams and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.

Meriweather's coverage has been in question this year, even though he has a history of making plays on the ball. He has been known to freelance a bit.

He has had 12 interceptions over the last three seasons, fourth most by an NFL safety during that time. He also has had 24 passes defended over the past three seasons.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chicagotribune.com)

FOXBOROUGH - It has become clear in recent days that the Patriots are not happy with what they have at the safety position.

The first sign came two Sundays ago, when they hosted - and then offered a contract to - Dashon Goldson. A 26-year-old who started all 32 games over the last two seasons for the 49ers, Goldson ultimately decided to re-sign with San Francisco.

Then came word that the Patriots would have Darren Sharper in for a workout. Sharper, a 14-year veteran who was a key member of the Saints’ run to the Super Bowl in the 2009 season, is 36 and underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee shortly after New Orleans’s win over Indianapolis in that game.

He played in just eight games last year, missing the first six.

Sharper’s workout was done behind closed doors, but during Monday’s practice, there was another sign: Sergio Brown took the majority of the first-team snaps alongside Patrick Chung, stepping in over Brandon Meriweather.

Yesterday, Meriweather and Brown split repetitions with the top defense once again, this time with Meriweather appearing to have the edge in number of snaps.

Nick Caserio, the Patriots director of player personnel, said Monday that bringing in players for workouts is just part of “due diligence,’’ and he would not talk specifics about Sharper.

But two league sources have told the Globe that the Patriots are unhappy with Meriweather, who was roundly criticized for his play last year despite being selected to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.

Caserio said Meriweather, now in his fifth season, has been productive for New England.

“He’s got a lot of experience in our system,’’ said Caserio. “He’s a talented player. Is it perfect? No. Is he working to get better? That’s the most important thing.

“I think Brandon has improved since he’s been here.’’

New England’s depth at safety is already thin, since James Sanders has missed all but four practices. If Sanders is healthy, pairing him and Chung is likely the best option, but it isn’t known right now when Sanders will be able to get back on the field.

Chung wouldn’t say much about playing time for Brown and Meriweather.

“That’s not for me to comment,’’ he said. “Whoever is out there is out there, period. If it’s me and Brandon, if it’s Brandon and Sergio, if it’s James, it doesn’t matter who is out there to me. Whoever is out there, you have to be able to play next to them.

“We all know the same things. We all know our responsibilities. We all know what we have to do regardless of who is out there.’’

The most important thing, Chung said, is that there is communication between the players roaming the backfield.

“It’s very, very critical, because if we mess up, it’s more than just a couple yard gain,’’ Brown said. “You have to be able to communicate, you have to know your teammates, know what they’re thinking. And if you don’t, you’ve got to at least talk and be able to know everything that you’re supposed to do and you have to know what everyone around you does so it will be easier for you to talk and know the defense.’’

The second-year player out of Notre Dame, an undrafted free agent last year who was promoted off the practice squad just before a game in San Diego, said he feels more confident this year but knows he’s still fighting for a spot.

For what it’s worth, Bill Belichick may not be that enamored of Brown. When asked yesterday about Andre Carter, he raved about the veteran defensive lineman the team brought aboard this month. But a couple of questions later, when asked to assess Brown’s performance in camp, he said he wouldn’t “get into an analysis of every player’’ and that in general the players who have been on the field practicing have made progress.

“Sergio is in good condition, he’s worked hard, and he hasn’t missed any time,’’ said Belichick. “He’s been out there on a consistent basis and he’s gotten better, like I would say everybody else has who has been out there on a consistent basis working at it. How could you not improve?’’

In the preseason opener against Jacksonville, while many defensive starters got the night off, Meriweather and Chung played the entire first half together. It will be telling if that changes tomorrow night in Tampa Bay.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(boston.com)

EAST PROVIDENCE — If the NFL’s lockout ended today and training camp opened in a day or two, Brandon Meriweather knows he’d be more than ready to play football.

 If Bill Belichick needs any proof, he can head over to the Punch Kettlebell Gym in Rumford. In a sometimes-intense 60-minute workout on Tuesday, the Pats’ All-Pro safety and a friend, James Roberts, were put through a cutting-edge set of exercises by gym owner Anthony DiLuglio.
 Instead of the traditional strong-guy drills dominated by bar bells, the Punch workouts offer a wider variety of tests that feature kettlebells, ropes, power jumping and even Strongman logs. Meriweather and a growing legion of NFL players are big boosters of the program.

 “I‘ve been ready since April 1,” said Meriweather. “Seriously, I’m ready. I’m about 207 (pounds) now. I’m running, I feel good, I’m strong. All the things I needed to work on, I did. I’m ready to go.”

 Meriweather left Punch on Tuesday morning and headed to West Warwick to appear at a camp run by ex-teammate Ellis Hobbs. Then he planned to fly home to Apopka, Fla., hopefully for the final time before the start of the 2011 preseason. But don’t ask Meriweather for any inside info on the latest lockout news. Like many fans, the four-year veteran has grown tired of the legal back-and-forth that’s dominated the football landscape for the last several months.

 “To be honest, after about two months of the lockout I didn’t pay too much attention to it,” he said. “It seems like everybody knows more about the lockout than I do because I don’t watch TV. I don’t watch (ESPN’s) SportsCenter. I don’t like to get my hopes up and get brought back down the next day. I feel like that’s what SportsCenter’s been doing. They said 100 days ago the lockout should be over and now they’re saying the same thing.”

 While the potential changes to salary structure and free agency could affect players such as Meriweather, he says he has a quick plan if he’s asked to vote on a potential new labor deal.

 “When I get an e-mail saying it’s time to vote, that’s when I’ll call (Matt) Light and Vince Wilfork and Tom (Brady) and the people who I know understand what’s going on,” he said. “That’s when I’ll put my ear to the ground and see what I can find out before I vote.”

 When the Pats do hit the field again, Meriweather will be one of the team’s most important players. Evidence of that came in a recent ESPN poll in which fans were asked to vote for the best possible starting lineup for a team that would play from 2014-16. Meriweather (at strong safety) and kick returner Brandon Tate were the only Patriots to make the cut.

 This is not news to DiLuglio, a Cranston native who’s introduced kettlebell training to not only Meriweather but also Jerod Mayo, Darius Butler and a slew of other Patriots. His first taste of the NFL came when Tennessee Titans assistant strength coach Jason Novak became a disciple and sold the theory to his boss, Newport native Steve Watterson.”

 “This is great for football because we believe in drills to build resilience, lower-injury rates and build confidence,” said DiLuglio.

 Kerry Taylor, a former Patriots lineman, is now an owner and trainer at Punch Gym and sees the gains pro players can make through the program.

 “With kettlebell, it’s your whole body moving weight, not lifting weight,” said Taylor. “It’s a whole range of motion that you’re not used to doing, adding different aspects of training into what they do.”

 While Meriweather and Roberts worked on one side of the gym with DiLuglio, other trainers put a dozen middle-aged men and women through similar drills on the opposite side of the large room that occupies prime space in the renovated Rumford Center. Meriweather seemed to get the most enjoyment out of clean-and-jerking a 210-pound log that looked like it just fell from a redwood forest.

 “We work out with a lot of different tools and weights. It’s not traditional bench press, squats,” he said. “We do different things with weight. You can’t get these things from an ordinary gym. Now I go into a regular gym and am pretty much puzzled because I don’t see that stuff as helping me as much.”

 DiLuglio met Meriweather through Mayo, another Patriot he considers a “lifer” who owns an unbending work ethic.

 “There are guys that do this for a living and guys who do this for a job. This is his life,” DiLuglio said of Meriweather. “Guys like Brandon, Mayo, Brady, it’s in their bones. I can’t teach him a better skill set for the game, but I can give him more confidence and more resilience and we can build on that.”

 DiLuglio says he has a close relationship with Harold Nash and Moses Cabrera, two Patriots’ conditioning coaches who believe in kettlebell training. Meriweather says he’s happy to keep up the drills, wherever they are offered.

 “I took like two weeks off after the season and then I started working out on my own. Then I got into the groove of it, heavy,” Meriweather said. “I feel like the stuff A.D. does you can’t find nowhere else. I feel it separates players from the pack.”

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(projo.com)

Friendly Disclaimer: The following list is influenced largely -– but not strictly -– by film study of all 32 teams from the 2010 season. Stats weren’t acknowledged, but players with poor numbers generally don’t make top 10 lists anyway. Vague enough for you? Criteria for top 10 lists tend to be. That’s why most of you will have no trouble finding some disagreement with what you’re about to read.
(Last year’s ranking of safeties in parentheses.)

10. O.J. Atogwe, Redskins (NR)
Solid role player, but not a big-time creator.

9. Roman Harper, Saints (7)
Stupendous in the box but not so much in space. Save for the wild-card disaster in Seattle, that’s been just fine in New Orleans’s scheme.

8. Jim Leonhard, Jets (NR)
A Swiss Army Knife in Rex Ryan’s pocket.

7. Malcolm Jenkins, Saints (NR)
Superb natural talent who can cover the slot man-to-man and make rangy plays from centerfield. If he can learn to harness his aggressive instincts, he’ll be elite.

6. Eric Berry, Chiefs (not in league)
Physical young whiz who eats up a lot of ground in a hurry. The writing on the wall is in all caps: FUTURE SUPERSTAR.

5. Nick Collins, Packers (5)
Classic rangy free safety. Understands angles and route combinations. 4. Antoine Bethea, Colts (6)
About as flashy as a Tuesday afternoon in Lubbock, Tex., but there’s something to be said for calendar-like consistency. Indy’s secondary has survived injuries over the years because its centerfielder does everything well.

3. Antrel Rolle, Giants (8)
Played the role of Charles Woodson for the Giants last season. All-around versatility is a huge asset.

2. Ed Reed, Ravens (2)
Nothing new to report here.

1. Troy Polamalu, Steelers (1)
A future first ballot Hall of Famer. Great as he is, just for fun as an aside, let’s ponder this question: What would his reputation be if he didn’t have long hair?

On the cusp:
Kenny Phillips, Giants; Brian Dawkins, Broncos; Michael Griffin, Titans

Dropped from list:
Darren Sharper, Saints (3)
Brian Dawkins, Broncos (4)
Brandon Meriweather, Patriots (9)
Adrian Wilson, Cardinals (10)
Sharper and Dawkins are long in the tooth. Meriweather, for some reason, stopped listening to his coaches early last year (he rebounded down the stretch). Wilson’s severe limitations in coverage make him a de facto linebacker.


(nytimes.com)

Pat Kirwan from NFL.com ranks the top 30 safeties in the NFL. 3 proCanes made the list.

Each player listed has either an (^) for players on the rise and has room for growth, (>) for players maintaining their status and playing at their peak level or (v) for those who can't sustain their level of play and are on the decline.

4. Ed Reed, Ravens (>): A free safety with special ball-hawking skills. He has missed 10 games in the past three years and still has 11 interceptions in his last 22 games. Reed is a Hall of Fame player and the best deep middle player in the NFL. He's forced 32 turnovers (interceptions and forced fumbles) the last four years.

18. Antrel Rolle, Giants (>): The Cardinals' defense suffered when Rolle left in free agency last year. He had one interception for the Giants in 2010 after recording 10 interceptions during the three previous seasons. A free safety who does a solid job in the deep middle of the field, or in the deep half in the Cover 2.

24. Brandon Meriweather, Patriots (>): Made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2010. He has had some issues off the field, but on the field finds the football with 12 interceptions and 24 passes defended the last three seasons.

Click here to see the full rankings.

Click here to order Ed Reed’s or Antrel Rolle’s or Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

Over on ESPNBoston.com, PFW friend and former writer Mike Reiss has a couple of interesting notes pertaining to the Patriots defense.

The first is from playmaking safety Darren Sharper’s recent appearance on NFL Network. Apparently the Saints star – who knows a little something about being an impact safety thanks to his 63 career interceptions and 11 touchdowns – listed his top safeties in the league.

Sharper led off with the usual candidates in Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu and Baltimore’s Ed Reed. Then he continued with Green Bay’s Nick Collins, New York’s Antrel Rolle and Arizona’s Adrian Wilson.

Coming it at No. 6 on his list, though, was oft-criticized Patriots two-time Pro Bowler Brandon Meriweather. Meriweather is questioned inside Patriots Nation for his tackling, angles and consistency but seems to maintain a pretty high ranking nationally and, apparently, among other players.

That’s probably why CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco lists Meriweather as his most overrated Patriot in his annual rundown of the most overrated/underrated players on each NFL team. (Prisco, by the way, lists former Patriots Asante Samuel as the most overrated Eagle.)  The underrated nominee for New England? Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the former undrafted rookie coming off his first 1,000-yard season.

In writing about Meriweather, Prisco states: “He is a problem when it comes to coverage, yet he goes to Pro Bowls. How does that happen? He even came out on some downs.”

Meriweather also comes up in another blog posting as the Football Outsiders ranked New England as the surest-tackling defense in the NFL. According to Football Outsiders very unofficial numbers, James Sanders led the Patriots with seven missed tackles on the 2010 season while the much-maligned Meriweather was tied for third-most with just four for the year.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.


(patriots.com)

Welcome to our 1st annual and long overdue proCane Rankings where we look back at the 2010 NFL season and rank the 43 proCanes that took snaps in 2010 (except for Sinorice Moss who was placed on IR before the start of the season).

Stay tuned as we countdown from number 43 to number 1. Our rankings are based on each player’s performance last year. In August we’ll go ahead and re-rank the player’s based on our 2011 expectations. For now read our review of each player’s 2010 season and where they rank overall. Enjoy!

To read our rankings of players 43-35, click here.

To read our rankings of players 34-26, click here.

25. Jeremy Shockey TE New Orleans Saints/Carolina Panthers: In Shockey’s nine-year career he has not once been able to play all 16 games in a single season and unfortunately 2010 was no different. Shockey was only able to play in 13 games which ultimately led to the emergence of fellow proCane TE Jimmy Graham and Shockey’s release in the offseason and signing with the Panthers. Shockey accumulated a career low 408 yards receiving, and career lows in receptions (31) and yards per reception (31.2). Shockey will be reunited for the 2011 season with proCane offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski in Carolina. If he can stay healthy and the Panthers can find a quarterback, Shockey could have a big season because Chudzinski’s offenses emphasize the TE.

24. Bryant McKinnie LT Minnesota Vikings: After making the Pro Bowl in 2009, but not being voted to the Pro Bowl in 2010, most would think McKinnie did not have as good of a 2010 campaign, but on the contrary McKinnie according to himself and coaches played more consistently in 2010 while protecting Favre’s backside as well as Tarvaris Jackson’s. McKinnie still needs to lose some weight this offseason to improve his quickness versus edge rushers and vowed to do that with a personal trainer, especially since he will be seeing Julius Peppers twice again this season.

23. Willis McGahee RB Baltimore Ravens: McGahee the last two seasons has been stuck behind Ray Rice as the number two back for the Ravens. As a result in 2010 McGahee had his worst year statistically with only 380 yards rushing and 5 TDs on the ground and 1 TD through the air on only 100 rushing attempts. McGahee in 2009 had totaled 14 TDs as he was the main red-zone threat for the Ravens, but wasn’t featured as much inside the 20-yard line in 2010. McGahee can still be a starter in the NFL and is approaching free agency this year where it looks like he will not be resigned by the Ravens. Look for him to have a bigger impact in 2011.

22. Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints: After not appearing in the first two games of his rookie season, Jimmy Graham slowly made his presence known for the Saints as he topped 70 yards receiving in two games and finished the 2010 season with five touchdowns as he subbed for fellow injured proCane Jeremy Shockey. Graham performed so well in 2010 and showed so much potential that the Saints released Shockey this offseason and plan on using Graham as their feature TE in 2011.

21. Rocky McIntosh LB Washington Redskins: McIntosh had his best season statistically with 73 tackles despite playing for the first time in his career in a 3-4 defense as the RILB. McIntosh has had a solid and somewhat underrated career and turned many heads by showing his versatility and playing so well in a 3-4 defense as well as versus the pass. Most seem to think he won’t be with the Redskins next year, but look for him to have no trouble signing with another team and picking up where he left off.

20. Kenny Phillips S NY Giants: Phillips played in only two games in 2009 because of the need of microfracture surgery on one of his knees. Many at the time said Phillips’ career was over and he would never be able recover after such a serious injury and surgery. Not only did Phillips come back, but he had a solid season in his first season playing beside fellow proCane Antrel Rolle. Phillips played in all 16 games and started 15 of them. Though he only recorded one interception he had career highs in tackles (77) and pass deflections (5). Phillips did admit that it took him a while to feel 100% physically and mentally but he did stay healthy and put up good numbers which leads us to believe he is in for a big 2011 season.

19. Antrel Rolle S NY Giants: In his first season with the Giants, Rolle was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and had a solid though not spectacular season for the Giants. Rolle started all 16 games and the fact that he had only one interception may be misleading as he played a lot closer to the line of scrimmage than most safeties. Look for Rolle to become more comfortable in the Giants’ defense and as long as he continues to play well on the field and create less headlines off of it, he and Phillips could become one of the best safety tandems in the NFL.

18. Eric Winston RT Houston Texans: The only explanation we can come up with for Winston not making a Pro Bowl yet, is that he plays for the small market Texans. Winston has been stellar at RT for the Texans and 2010 was no exception. Winston played at an All-Pro level during 2010 with one exception versus the Tennessee Titans where he was beat for two sacks. Look for 2011 to be an even better season for Winston and the Texans, and look for him to make his long overdue first Pro Bowl.

17. Brandon Meriweather S New England Patriots: Meriweather made his second consecutive Pro Bowl after a good 2010 season, though he was inconsistent at times. Meriweather started 13 of the 16 games and in three games only record one tackle while versus the Colts, for example, recorded 7 tackles and an interception. His inconsistency led to him sharing time with the other Patriot safeties as his numbers did slip from his 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Patriots do expect more from Meriweather, and look for him to step up in the 2011 season with the increased competition at the safety position.

16. Chris Myers C Houston Texans: Despite having a solid 2009 season Myers did take a lot of heat in the offseason from Texan fans mainly because of the lasting image of Kris Jenkins throwing him to the turf towards the end of that season. Myers followed up his solid 2009 campaign with a stellar 2010 season where he was ranked as the #3 center in the league by ProFootballFocus.com and anchors a Texans offensive line which at one point featured three proCane starters; Myers, Eric Winston, and Rashad Butler. Look for Myers to continue his stellar play in 2011 and hopefully make his Pro Bowl debut.

Check back tomorrow to see which proCanes were ranked 15th through 8th!

New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather, who has been in a media storm over his possible involvement in a recent Central Florida shooting, should no longer be considered a suspect, according to his lawyer.

Fort Lauderdale attorney Adam Swickle met with Orange County Sheriff's Office investigators today to deliver witness statements that he said proves his client was not responsible for the Feb. 28 shooting.

"We have confirmed that Brandon was nothing but a peace-keeper," Swickle told the Orlando Sentinel. "All of the witnesses confirmed that at no point did Brandon have a gun, or threaten to shoot, and did not shoot anyone."

Swickle added that his investigator, Robert Crispin, interviewed at least one person who identified another man who had a gun and was threatening people with it immediately prior to the shooting.

Swickle declined to name that person, but said he has a lengthy criminal history. That information was passed on to investigators at the sheriff's office, Swickle said.

The sheriff's office said the shooting is still under investigation.

"An attorney met with investigators today and provided them with several witness statements," Sheriff's spokesman Cpt. Angelo Nieves said. "Some of those individuals have also been interviewed by Orange County deputies."

Nieves said investigators are not ready to make an arrest or charge anyone with the shooting.

"We are not ready to characterize him [Meriweather] in any other fashion," Nieves said. "The investigation is continuing to move forward."

The Sheriff's Office earlier released information that Meriweather, a former star at Apopka High School and Pro Bowl NFL player, was present when two men were shot on Feb. 28.

Swickle does not deny his client was there the night of the shooting, but said he had nothing to do with it.

Nico Glendale Stanley, 23, and Quentin Louis Ramone Taylor, 24, were injured during the shooting which occurred about 2 a.m. near Marvin C. Zanders and 17th Street in Apopka. One of the victims is related to Meriweather, Swickle said.

Sheriff's records show there was a fight at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Apopka on the night of shooting. Later a fight broke out at a nearby home where the shooting took place.

But when deputies responded to the area, they found no evidence of a shooting.

A short time later an Apopka police officer working at Florida Hospital Apopka alerted Orange County deputies that two gunshot victims arrived at the hospital on their own.

Taylor, who was shot in the face, spoke to detectives for the first time on March 9, more than a week after the shooting. Stanley, 23, who was grazed by a bullet in the face, spoke to detectives on March 7, according to the sheriff's office.

A website broke the news of Meriweather's possible involvement in the shooting on March 10 and quoted high-power, Orlando attorney John Morgan, who said he represented the two men injured in the shooting.

He later told the Orlando Sentinel he was not sure of Meriweather's involvement in the shooting.

Stanley and Taylor attended Apopka High School with Meriweather, who graduated in 2002.

Meriweather was a star athlete for the Blue Darters and later a star football player at the University of Miami. He was a first-round draft pick by the Patriots in 2007.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sun-sentinel.com)

The gunshots narrowly missed Meriweather, one bullet striking his cousin, Quentin Taylor, near his mouth and another grazing the head of Taylor's friend, Nico Stanley.

The witness, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, said the incident began at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Meriweather's hometown of Apopka, Fla. As a melee erupted around closing time, Stanley's sister became involved in a physical confrontation with another of Meriweather's cousins, Cedric Payne, their relative said.

After the melee, a number of patrons, including Meriweather, rode to Payne's residence in Orlando to continue the party. In the meantime, Nico Stanley went elsewhere to pick up Taylor, then rode to Payne's house to confront him over the incident with Stanley's sister, according to the witness.

"When Quentin came full force at Cedric, Brandon jumped in the middle to try to break up the fight," their relative said. "Brandon had no influence on the fight and didn't have a gun on him."

As Meriweather jostled between his two cousins, one of Taylor's friends, whom the witness identified at Anton Massey, drew a handgun and fired at Payne, mistakenly striking Taylor and Stanley. The witness said Meriweather played no other role in the incident but peacemaker.

"It was very scary," Meriweather's relative said. "Once the gunshots went off, everybody took off running. I was the only person still there because Quentin fell directly at my feet."

The witness recalled screaming, "Help him, help him, pick him up."

"That's when another guy came over and threw Quentin in the car and rushed him to the hospital," the witness said.

By then, Meriweather was gone, having headed for home, his relative said. The alleged gunman was not a friend of Meriweather, according to the witness.

A Florida lawyer was the source of a story this morning that accused Meriweather of being involved in a shooting in Florida, but despite initial reports to the contrary, the lawyer said he did not know if Meriweather was the shooter.

The Orange County sheriff's department this afternoon confirmed that Meriweather was present during the shooting.

"William Brandon Meriweather, among others, has been identified as being present during a shooting... being investigated by this office," Capt. Angelo Nieves said in part of a written statement.

The sheriff's department has stated it is not ready to "characterize" Meriweather's status in the case, but would like to interview him. According to the sheriff's department, a lawyer claiming to represent Meriweather called the department on Wednesday to facilitate an interview.

According to the Sentinel, Meriweather has retained south Florida lawyer Adam Swickle, who told the Orlando newspaper this afternoon that he is aware of the circumstances involving his client.

"I am aware of the investigation," Swickle said. "We are doing our own investigation."

Swickle said would have no other comment because a criminal investigation is ongoing.

John Morgan, who claims he represents the two victims, was asked by sports radio WEEI this morning if he had any doubt that Meriweather was the shooter of his clients.

"I have a lot of doubt about that,' Morgan said. "That's what these fellas told me, but I don't assume that to be true at all. I assume nothing to be true until we get an investigation completed. Their allegation to me is …
one of the fellas was in a fight with someone else out there and their allegation is that Meriweather shot him. That bullet grazed that fellas head and hit the second client, went through the cheek and head…
the cops have had this case for two weeks.'

The Globe's Greg A. Bedard reported via Twitter that a source close to Meriweather said it "wasn't him."

The Patriots released a statement on the matter: "We are aware of the reported allegation, but do not have any additional information." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is aware of the report and "looking into it to determine the facts."

According to the Sentinel reportreported on Feb. 28

The story began to spread when reports on the shooting surfaced Wednesday on the Twitter page of Florida radio personality Dan Sileo, who, like Meriweather, is a former University of Miami football player.

A report on the website Deadspin this morning attributed the details of the case, including naming Meriweather as the shooter, to Morgan.

"I became involved when two clients came to our firm, referred to me, who had been shot at a party two Sundays ago outside a home in Apopka,' Morgan said on WEEI this morning. "There's an ongoing investigation. The only thing that I can tell you today that's indisputable is that our clients were shot.'

Morgan was asked if his clients knew Meriweather.

"Yes, they went to high school together,' Morgan said. "One played football there, and one knew him there. I spent a lot of time speaking to them about that, they said, 'Yeah, that's who pulled the gun. That's who shot us.' '

Morgan was asked about the progress of his firm's internal investigation in terms of confirming Meriweather's whereabouts on the night of the shooting.

"We have a lot of things that we believe happened, about where he [Meriweather] was then, and when he left, and when maybe he even came back,' Morgan said. "So, I don't want to comment on that, but we're working on that.'

Morgan was asked if he would back out if he found out his clients were lying to him.

"Hell yes. If my clients are lying? Hell yes," he responded. "That's why if I was representing Meriweather, I would get out in front of this and if I'm innocent I'd get out in front of this [Thursday] morning."

In 2006, the summer before his senior year at Miami, Meriweather was involved in a gun controversy when he and teammate Willie Cooper went to check out a suspicious car parked outside their residence when a man next to the house shot at them, hitting Cooper. Meriweather returned the gun fire and the shooter ran away. No one was seriously injured in the exchange.

Meriweather, who had a permit for the gun, was not charged as it was determined he was acting in self defense.

As a senior at Miami, Meriweather was part of a group of Hurricane players who were seen stomping on several Florida International players that were on the ground during an on-field fight. Meriweather was suspended by Miami and the ACC for his participation in the melee.

Meriweather was the Patriots' first-round draft choice in 2007. He is currently the team leader with 12 career interceptions and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.



(boston.com)

 

The Orange County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday afternoon that Pro Bowl NFL player Brandon Meriweather was present during a shooting in Apopka last month, but law enforcement officials made no other characterization of his role.

The Sheriff's Office said Meriweather, a former star at Apopka High School and a safety with the New England Patriots, was present when two men were shot on Feb. 28.

At a news conference this afternoon, the Sheriff's Office said it wants to talk to Meriweather about the shooting of Nico Glendale Stanley and Quentin Louis Ramone Taylor.

Meriweather has not spoken yet to detectives, who told the player's south Florida lawyer, Adam Swickle, that they want to question him about the shooting, Capt. Angelo Nieves said.

Meriweather’s lawyer, Adam Swickle, reached out to the sheriff who stated he was looking to “facilitate an interview with his client. We are receptive to this overture (opportunity) and detectives are seeking to further this interview if it can b arranged.”

The police also refused to “characterize or disclose Mr. Meriweather’s status in this case, though we do seek to interview him.”

Thursday evening, sheriff's crime scene technicians were in Apopka scouring the front yard of a home at the corner of Marvin C. Zanders and 17th Street, identified on Thursday as the suspected location of the shooting.

As night fell, investigators had placed almost 100 evidence markers in the grass. A technician was scanning the area with a metal detector, and two others were working on an area of the driveway. Detectives said they have yet to find the gun or guns used in the shooting.

Taylor, 24, who had been shot in the face, spoke to detectives on Wednesday for the first time. Stanley, 23, who was grazed by a bullet in the face, spoke to detectives on Monday, according to the sheriff's office.

Investigators believe the shooting followed an earlier confrontation at the Blue Jeans Lounge, a nightclub near Apopka

Stanley hung up on a reporter who tried to reach him on his cell phone Thursday afternoon. However, he and Taylor say Brandon Meriweather shot them, their lawyer told the Orlando Sentinel.

"I represent the victims who say they were shot by Brandon Meriweather," Orlando attorney John Morgan said. "I don't know if it happened or not. I am presuming him [Meriweather] innocent until proven guilty."

No charges have been filed in the shooting. Swickle told the Orlando Sentinel he is aware of the circumstances involving his client.
"I am aware of the investigation," Swickle said. "We are doing our own investigation."

Swickle said he would have no other comment because a criminal investigation is ongoing.

"William Brandon Meriweather, among others, has been identified as being present during a shooting . . . being investigated by this Office," Nieves said in a written statement.

Meriweather's agent, Joby Branion, declined comment on any potential criminal matters.

Meriweather, victims know each other

Stanley and Taylor attended Apopka High School with Meriweather, who graduated in 2002.

Meriweather was a star athlete for the Blue Darters and later a star football player at the University of Miami. He was a first-round draft pick by the Patriots in 2007.

"We are aware of the reported allegation, but do not have any additional information," the Patriots said in a statement.

Sheriff's records show there was a fight at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Apopka on the night of shooting. Deputies were later dispatched about 2 a.m.to Marvin C. Zanders and 17th Street in Apopka in reference to a shooting, according to a four-page report released Thursday.

Deputies arriving on scene didn't find any victims or a crime scene. But as they checked the surrounding area, Apopka police alerted the Sheriff's Office that officers were at Florida Hospital Apopka with two shooting victims.

Meanwhile, Apopka police pulled over a car with four people inside at the intersection of 7th Street and Central Avenue. Three women and a shirtless man were inside the car, reports show.

Officers said they found an unloaded Smith & Wesson handgun wrapped in a sweaty black T-shirt inside a black, nylon backpack inside the car.
None of the four people in the car claimed to know the bag or gun was inside the car, according to the report. However, investigators identified the shirtless man, 23-year-old Theo Sean Peterson, as the suspected owner of the gun.

The group told the officer they were at the Blue Jeans Lounge when a fight broke out. Two people in the car told the officer they are related to one of the gunshot victims who was at the hospital, the report states.

Meriweather is not mentioned anywhere in the four-page report.

Stanley and Taylor were driven to Florida Hospital Apopka where Taylor was listed last week in critical condition.

Officers spoke to Stanley in the emergency room. He signed a 'declination of intent' to prosecute, which states he did not wish to pursue charges. He also claimed to not know who shot him, according to the Sheriff's office.

Taylor suffered a possible seizure while an officer tried to interview him and was taken into surgery, the report states.

Former Player of Year
Meriweather was the Orlando Sentinel's 2001 Central Florida high school player of the year after leading Apopka to a 14-1 season and Class 6A title. He was recruited to college as a safety, but also played other positions for the Blue Darters, including quarterback during the second half of the state championship game after starter Kenard Bradford was injured.

He played at the University of Miami from 2002-06 and was an All-ACC selection his final two seasons.

His college career also included some controversy. In 2006, the summer before his senior season, Meriweather and teammate Willie Cooper saw a suspicious car parked outside their residence. When they went to check it out, a man next to the house shot at them, hitting Cooper in the rear end.

Meriweather returned fire and the man ran away. No one was seriously injured.

Meriweather had a permit for the gun, and it was determined he was acting in self defense. He was not charged.

As a senior, Meriweather was seen stomping on several Florida International players on the ground during a fight. He was suspended by the ACC and Miami.

In 2007, he was drafted No. 24 overall by the New England Patriots.

During his four-year career he has played in every regular-season game, recording 261 tackles including two sacks, with 12 interceptions and five forced fumbles. He has been named to the last two Pro Bowls.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sun-sentinel.com)

New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather allegedly shot two men, one of them in the head, during a fight on Feb. 27 outside a house party in Apopka, Florida, according to John Morgan, attorney for the victims.

The trouble started at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Apokpa when a friend of Meriweather's allegedly beat up a woman, according to Morgan. The woman's brother arrived later with his own friend, and the conflagration shifted to a nearby party, where the brother soon got the better of Meriweather's friend in a fight. That's when Meriweather allegedly pulled out his gun and fired at the brother, grazing the man's face and hitting the other victim in the head, according to Morgan.

"He's extremely lucky to be alive," Morgan said.

Both victims attended Apopka High School with Meriweather, who later played football at the University of Miami. Detectives from the Orange County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case but have made no arrests, Morgan said. The public information officer at the sheriff's office did not return phone calls yesterday.

Former Hurricane and current sports talk radio host Dan Sileo appears to be the first to mention the shooting. Until we hear back from the cops, however, these are all just allegations. But we'll keep you posted.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.



(deadspin.com)

Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather reached escalators in his contract that increase his base salary from $650,000 to $1.65 million for the 2011 season. His contract included up to $2.75 million in escalators for 2011.

Meriweather, the team's first-round draft choice in 2007, leads all current Patriots with 12 career interceptions. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, although his up-and-down play is often a lightning-rod topic among those who follow the team.

At one point during the 2010 season, vs. the Bears on Dec. 12, Meriweather was relegated to special teams and playing in the dime package (6 defensive backs). Yet by the end of the season, no safety had logged more playing time and he finished with 66 tackles.

Meriweather enters the final year of his contract in 2011.

Click here to order Brandon Meriweather’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Here is a photo of three of the 10 proCane Pro Bowlers in Honolulu this past weekend. Vince WIlfork, Ray Lewis and Brandon Meriweather ar throwing up “The U” in Honolulu.

6 proCanes made early exits out of the NFL playoffs after he wildcard round this weekend.

Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles) all lost their respective games and will start their offseason.

Below are the remaining proCanes in the NFL playoffs.

AFC: Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).

17 proCanes will participate in the 2010 NFL playoffs. 8 from the AFC and 9 from the NFC. Below is a list of the players.

AFC: Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).

SAN DIEGO — Brandon Meriweather may have learned his lesson.

For the second consecutive week, the Patriots safety initiated a hit that could make a viewer cringe. Only this time, the hit was legal. In the first quarter yesterday, Meriweather hit San Diego receiver Patrick Crayton with the kind of force that could cause whiplash. Meriweather popped up, saluted toward the sideline, and moved on to the next play.

The salute, Meriweather said, was for a friend who joined the Army. The hit was a tackle that fell within the NFL rules.

“I just did what my coaches asked me to,’’ Meriweather said. “I lowered my aiming zone. I tried to be aggressive. I wasn’t trying to be overly aggressive, and take his head off. But I was trying to play within the rules.’’

Last week the NFL announced it would be more aggressive in penalizing players for hits to the head and neck area that violate the current rules. The increased penalties could include higher fines and suspensions. Last week Meriweather was among three players fined a combined $175,000 for illegal hits.

Meriweather was tagged with a $50,000 fine for what the league determined was a flagrant violation of “player safety rules’’ for his hit on Ravens tight end Todd Heap.

Meriweather apologized for his hit on Heap, who was listed as questionable yesterday but did play in the Ravens’ overtime win over the Bills.
With all the attention focused on Meriweather last week, he didn’t let it affect his approach yesterday.

“You know it’s a game,’’ Meriweather said. “You’re going to play to have fun. I’m not going to think about it. I’m just going to go out there and play.’’

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(boston.com)

The NFL imposed huge fines on three players Tuesday for dangerous and flagrant hits in last weekend's games and warned that, starting with this weekend's contests, violent conduct will be cause for suspension.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was docked $75,000, and New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson each were fined $50,000 by the league.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap took a vicious hit from Meriweather on Sunday and called it "one of those hits that shouldn't happen." Robinson and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson were knocked out of their game after a frightening collision in which the Falcons' cornerback launched himself head first to make a tackle. Both sustained concussions.

Harrison and Meriweather will lose the equivalent of nearly two game checks in the fines. Harrison makes $44,411.76 in base salary per game, and Meriweather receives $32,352.94. Robinson is paid $294,117.65 per week in base salary, so the $50,000 fine is just one-sixth of a game check for him.

Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston -- who was Meriweather's teammate at the University of Miami and Robinson's from 2006 through last season in Houston -- saw dissimilarities in the tackles involving those players.

"I love Brandon to death, but that was a flagrant foul. That's what the league is talking about," Winston said. "Dunta's hit, that wasn't even with the helmet. That was just a collision."

Winston said the difference was that Meriweather launched himself at Heap.

Andre Johnson, the Texans' All-Pro wide receiver, said stiffer penalties would make players more hesitant to make hits, and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards didn't support suspensions.

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(nfl.com)

Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork made his weekly appearance on the Dale & Holley show as part of WEEI’s Patriots Monday. To hear the interview, check the Dale & Holley audio on demand page.

Wilfork said Sunday’s win over the Ravens was as physical at it looked.

“It was a very physical game,” he said. “I think that’s probably one of the most physical games I’ve ever been in. We knew what Baltimore was going to come in and do. We knew our game plan. We knew they weren’t going to back down, and we weren’t going to back down. It was from whistle to whistle.”

Added Wilfork: “They wanted to be physical. They wanted to run the ball. And you know what? We answered the call. We knew that they wanted to do that. And don’t forget, we’re built the same way. We’ve been around here for a long time, too. We’re built to stop the run. We’re big and we’re physical. That’s one thing we said: We have to play up to our potential. And I think yesterday we did.”

Patriots defensive back Brandon Meriweather was hit with a 15-yard penalty and faces a fine from the league for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Ravens tight end Todd Heap after an incomplete pass in the second quarter. “Brandon wasn’t happy with himself,” Wilfork said. “That’s something that he’s going to have to deal with. … From a guy that’s been fined [for rough play], the last thing I want to do to him is go harp on it. Because he’ll hear it from every point — from the media, from friends, from family, from the Patriots. He’ll hear it from everywhere. The last thing I want to do is be that voice also. I’m the voice for him, ‘Hey, look, that’s bygone. What going to happen is going to happen. But don’t allow it to happen anymore.”

However, Wilfork said Meriweather’s hit may have served to inspire the Patriots. “I just think at that time, it was like, ‘Wow, somebody’s out here trying to be play some football and trying to be physical.’ Yes, it’s a penalty. But at the same time, something happened in that play. After that, I think after that everybody was, like, in tuned. We were in tuned. That was one thing I saw happened after that play.

“Like I said, I didn’t wish anything on anyone on anything like that there. The last thing I want to see is guys get hurt — and the penalty, a 15-yarder for Meriweather. But it was like after that play, it was like, ‘OK, let’s play some football.’ We started rolling from that. … Whatever it was, it worked. I hope it wasn’t the 15-yard penalty that got us riled up or got us going. But whatever it did, we were ready to play.”

Wilfork said the Patriots did what they had to to make sure the Randy Moss situation would not be a distraction to the team in the days leading up to the Ravens game. “That’s one thing we didn’t want to happen,” he said. “Guys understood that. … Whatever’s being said outside of here, let it stay outside of here. When we come to work, let’s work.”

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(weei.com)

2. Andre Johnson - Houston Texans
Comment: Johnson has provided an explosive threat on the perimeter and has put up elite numbers. He has a rare combination of size, speed, athleticism and receiving skills. He has the speed to stretch the secondary deep as well as the route-running skills and size to be a threat on underneath routes across the middle or to the sidelines. He is explosive off the line and can overpower or avoid cornerbacks trying to jam him at the line of scrimmage. Johnson can sink his hips to get in and out of his breaks with a burst to separate and shows a second gear to pull away from most defenders once he gains a step on them.

14. Ed Reed - Baltimore Ravens
Comment: Reed was banged up some in 2009 and missed four regular-season games. Reed has rare instincts that enable him to be around the ball often. He has elite range and is one of the few backend defenders whom quarterbacks truly fear. Reed is a game-changer from his deep center-field position and allows the Ravens to be very aggressive with their schemes. Not only is he a supreme ball hawk with rare anticipation and ball skills, he is an extremely dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands and is an immediate threat to score. He is also a superb kick- and punt-blocker when used in that capacity. Reed has been a mainstay in the Ravens’ secondary and there is a noticeable drop-off when he is not in the lineup.

32. Reggie Wayne - Indianapolis Colts
Comment: With the departure of Marvin Harrison before the 2009 season, Wayne became the Colts’ No. 1 receiver and responded with a big year. He has good size for the position with excellent deep speed, quickness, agility and body control. He can sink his hips to get in and out of breaks with a burst to separate from defenders and has the extra gear to maintain the separation. He does a good job of reading coverages and finding the soft spots in zone to provide a good target for the quarterback. He is effective after the catch and shows vision as well as elusiveness in the open field.

36. Vince Wilfork - New England Patriots
Comment: Wilfork is coming off his sixth year in the league where he had another solid season before sustaining a foot injury late in the season. He has the size, strength and natural leverage to be productive versus double-team blocks as well as penetrate gaps when in a stunting mode. He can locate the ball after contact quickly and feels pad pressure well to restrict running lanes. Wilfork is a very good athlete for his size showing lateral agility between the tackles. He can push the pocket with a bull rush technique from the inside, but his production as pass-rusher is average at best. Wilfork is a good football player who continues to be the centerpiece for the Patriots 3-4 defensive front.

42. Jon Beason - Carolina Panthers
Comment: Beason has started all 16 games for three consecutive seasons and led the team in tackles in 2009 with 141. He has arguably become the face of the Panthers’ defense and provides leadership both on the field as well as in the locker room. He is a tackling machine
who brings instincts, effort and competitiveness. He is not the biggest linebacker, but does bring a lot of pop and explosion to his tackles.
He is more effective when protected by a big defensive line, but flashes the ability to step up and shed blocks in time to make the play. He gets good depth in his drops and is quick to pull the trigger both against the run and when closing on the pass.

58. Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers
Comment: Gore has been a quality back who has consistently produced over the five years he has been in the league. He has gained in excess of 1,000 yards in each of the past four years, including 1,120 yards in 2009 with an average of 4.9 yards per carry. He is a compact runner who does an excellent job of running behind his pads and has the kind of balance that consistently gains yards after contact. Gore fights for yards and does a good job of finishing runs off but lacks the premier top end speed that makes him a big home-run threat. He is a good receiver out of the backfield as well as on downfield routes and knows how to read coverages and adjust his routes. He is a patient runner who does a good job of letting his offensive line create run lanes.

72. DJ Williams - Denver Broncos
Comment: Williams rebounded in 2009 after missing five games during the 2008 season due to injuries. He is an extremely gifted athlete who possesses great lateral range and the kind of quickness, agility and body control to be a factor in coverage. He can come off the edge with an explosive burst of speed or can slip through small creases when blitzing the quarterback. Williams has enough upper-body strength to take on and shed blockers and shows the ability to unload with a good pop when making the tackle in the hole. He lacks the top bulk and power to squeeze blocks down and force the ball carrier to bounce it to the outside. He has improved on his route recognition and can close on the ball with a good burst once he pulls the trigger when in zone coverage. He is still improving and appears to be on the verge of becoming an elite linebacker.

91. Kellen Winslow - Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Comment: Winslow is a former first-round draft pick who can be a franchise tight end when healthy. He is a big matchup problem as he is generally too fast and too athletic for linebackers to cover and can overpower most safeties. He can stretch the secondary down the middle and will often line up wide to match up against smaller cornerbacks. He is a willing blocker who shows effort and tenacity, but lacks the size and power to be a dominating inline blocker.

111. Vernon Carey - Miami Dolphins
Comment: He is the most versatile offensive lineman on the Dolphins roster because he has played four positions at one point or another. Carey has settled in well at the right tackle spot. He possesses a nice combination of size and strength for the position. He is a good overall athlete. He has left tackle-quality feet and athleticism. He does a good job of protecting the edges in pass protection and adjusts well versus double moves. Carey will ride the defender wide and allow the QB to move up into the pocket. He plays with good leverage in the run game. He is a solid player on an underrated offensive line.

119. Ray Lewis - Baltimore Ravens
Comment: Lewis, entering his 15th year, is coming off another extremely productive season. He has diminishing skills, but his experience, toughness and instincts enable him to be a force in the middle of the Ravens’ defense. He is a powerfully built player with outstanding tackling power between the tackles. His ability to wrap up and tackle with jolting force is still evident. He has excellent instincts and vision to react quickly to the run and pass. He has outstanding football intelligence and is able to make all the checks and adjustments needed in the complex Ravens scheme. He uses his hands to work through trash and has natural power to run through blockers. Lewis is a crafty veteran who takes great angles in pursuit and maintains leverage on the ball carrier. He is a solid pass defender primarily because of excellent anticipation and route recognition. Lewis has been remarkably durable over his career, but he clearly is on the backside of his career.

140. Eric Winston - Houston Texans
Comment: Winston has been the Texans’ starting right tackle for the past four years and has done a good job of solidifying his side of the line. He has excellent dimensions for the position with good initial quickness, body control and balance. He has a good understanding of blocking schemes and angles and is quick to engage and work his blocks. He shows good recognition of games up front like twists and stunts, and he plays the game smart. Winston is a good knee-bender who can keep his pad level down to leverage blocks and does a good job of keeping his feet moving to sustain and finish blocks off. He will overextend and let his weight get too far forward when in space and struggles to react and adjust to counter moves by the pass-rusher. Overall, he is a solid right tackle who still has potential to grow in technique and strength.

148. Jonathan Vilma - New Orleans Saints
Comment: Vilma is a slightly undersized middle linebacker who can be a disruptive playmaker thanks to rare speed, agility and a very good nose for the ball. He is a student of the game who understands blocking angles, defensive schemes and how to leverage his way to the ball. He has excellent range laterally and shows a good burst to close on the ball. He pretty much needs to stay protected by the defensive front as he lacks the size and power to take on blockers and squeeze the play down. He gets very good depth in his drops and shows good route recognition as well as the ability to read the quarterback to get a jump on the ball.

162. Brandon Meriweather - New England Patriots
Comment: Meriweather had another productive season in 2009 and has settled in as the Patriots’ starting safety. Meriweather has adequate size with very good athletic skills for the position. He displays good instincts, speed and range. He shows good versatility as he is used in a variety of alignments. Meriweather still has some inconsistencies in coverage. He struggles to maintain leverage on wide receivers and has taken poor angles out of breaks. He’s aggressive and active in run support and has been one of the most consistent players on the New England roster.

196. Calais Campbell - Arizona Cardinals
Comment: After spending his rookie season as a situational backup with the Cardinals, Campbell earned a starting position and played in all 16 games, starting 15 and finishing with 48 tackles and seven sacks in 2009. He has rare size for the position, and he is quicker and shows better speed than you’d expect for someone with his length. He shows a good feel for the position as he recognizes blocking schemes and will fight through pressure with good hand use. He must work on keeping his pad level down to leverage blocks and could use more upper-body strength to control and disengage. He has a lot of potential and has become a quality starter.

200. Devin Hester - Chicago Bears
Comment: Hester has become a larger part of the Bears’ air attack and was utilized less as a pure return specialist in 2009. He is an excellent athlete with outstanding speed, burst and quickness. He has developed as a route-runner and has made marked improvement in this area. Hester can eat up a defender’s cushion quickly with deceptive push off the line of scrimmage and can stretch deep zones with a second gear downfield. Hester is an explosive player with the ball in his hands because he can distort angles in the open field. He has average size, struggles to break tackles downfield and can get rerouted at times versus press man coverage. Hester continues to be utilized as a punt and kick returner but has lost some of his edge in this area.

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FOXBORO - Even though he made the Pro Bowl last year (snuck in as an alternate), Brandon Meriweather was a maddening player to watch. Some games he hit. Other games he watched. Some games he covered well. Other games he gambled and lost. His tackling? Not something you want to use to teach the kids.

But instead of getting fat and happy with the Pro Bowl honor, Meriweather is at least saying and doing the right things to get ready for 2010. He's breaking down film of the games gone bad, working with Ravens safety Ed Reed, concentrating on his weaknesses and augmenting his strengths. If there were an All-Pro team in March, he'd be getting my vote.

In a rangy conversation on the Gillette Stadium turf Thursday, Meriweather hit on a ton of topics including the insertion of Corwin Brown as secondary coach.

"I think it'll be extremely important," Meriweather said of the former NFL safety who most recently was defensive coordinator at Notre Dame. "I sat down and talked to him about five times and every time I talk to him I'm intrigued by how much he knows and how much he says he could help. I'm not one who believes talk but he can have his chance to show it and I'll have my chance to show I'm a good student. It's gonna be good to have someone I can actually communicate with who actually has played the position and knows what I'm looking at."

If that statement sounds like an indictment of coaches who haven't played at the NFL level, well, it kind of is. Although Meriweather tries to couch it as tenderly as possible, it's clear he prefers knowing there's someone on his side of the ball who's looked at the same things he's looking at.  

"It's easy to say something when you're just looking at it from an X and O's perspective but until you actually have done it, you get a lot more credit when you say something," he said. "Everybody knows Bill (Belichick) is a mastermind at what he do. He's a great coach. No disrespect to Bill or anybody else. But once you are actually in that spot and you know exacly what I'm looking at back there, you know exactly what I'm thinking.

"Bill is very great at it but for him not to have ever played in the NFL he knows 90 percent of what I'm looking at and what I'm thinking but I think with (Brown and Belichick) together and (former secondary coach Josh Boyer) and the rest of the defensive staff we'll be very, very good this year," Meriweather said.

Meriweather pinpointed aspects of his game he wants to improve - tackling, aggressiveness, communication in the secondary. The film work, he said, is ongoing.  

"I usually watch the games that we did terrible in," he said. "Today, I'm going to watch the Saints game. I'm going to see what the Saints did so good and what we did so bad that made Drew Brees throw for 400 yards. I'm going to see the things that we did and hopefully what I find I can go back and tell Jonathan (Wilhite), Darius (Butler) and Leigh (Bodden)."

Meriweather says he'll be dividing his time between Foxborough and Miami.

"I go down there because of Ed (Reed) and because it's home," he said. "I also think you need to get a different part of working out. I don't think it's necessary that we all have to be here to get that experience. For instance, when I go home, Ed always tells me my break is too flat. I would never have got that from watching film myself."

Given the adoration Belichick has for Reed's ability, Meriweather was wise to choose Reed as a mentor. He says he owes a significant amount to the future Hall of Famer.

"A lot of the things I do to make plays, I would’ve never did if he wouldn’t have told me to try it," said Meriweather. "Other than Ed, a lot of it goes to my college coaches, and actually Bill. Bill helped me, too."

Oh yeah, that guy.

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(necn.com)

At least 40 players were in attendance on Monday at Gillette Stadium for the Patriots’ first day of voluntary offseason workouts, which is a “great attendance” figure, according to a source.

Vince Wilfork, who just signed a five-year contract extension, was among the team’s stars who attended the workout. Linebacker Jerod Mayo, safety Brandon Meriweather and running back Laurence Maroney were a few others who attended the workout. Quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Randy Moss and linebacker Adalius Thomas were among those not in attendance. Wide receiver Wes Welker, who is recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries, was also missing.

These camps are typically attended by younger players, and veteran absences aren’t out of the ordinary. Yet, after Wilfork said last week he wanted to help the team improve its leadership, it comes across as a positive sign that he was among the large group of players who showed up to Gillette. Players often rave about how these offseason workouts go a long way toward the team-building process.

Monday’s workouts focused on cardio and weightlifting, and the players were in and out of the facility within a few hours. The workouts will steadily progress throughout the offseason and leading up into minicamp. If players want to be compensated for the workouts, they must show up for four workouts in a given week.

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(nesn.com)

Check out our exclusive photos from Saturday Morning's AFC and NFC Pro Bowl Practices. Six of the record 11 proCane Pro Bowlers were on hand, including Warren Sapp of the NFL Network. Click here or above on the proCanes Gallery link to view the photos.

The NFL 2010 Pro Bowlers were announced with 11 proCanes named on the AFC and NFC rosters.

AFC:
- Andre Johnson - WR - Houston Texans - Starter
- Brandon Meriweather - S - New England Patriots - Starter
- Reggie Wayne - WR - Indianapolis Colts - Starter
- Vince Wilfork - DL - New England Patriots
- Ray Lewis - MLB - Baltimore Ravens - Starter
- Ed Reed - S - Baltimore Ravens - Starter
- DJ Williams - OLB - Denver Broncos - Alternate

NFC:
- Bryant McKinnie - OL - Minnesota Vikings - Starter
- Jonathan Vilma - MLB - New Orleans Saints
- Antrel Rolle - S - Arizona Cardinals - Starter
- Frank Gore - RB - San Francisco 49ers - Starter

*Updated 1/25/10

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Baltimore Ravens wear purple, but several of the stars on this team said they still bleed green and orange -- the colors of the University of Miami.

The Baltimore roster is replete with former Canes, and we're not just talking the guys at the bottom of the roster.
Ed Reed is the starting free safety. He had an interception and a 25-yard return Sunday that helped set up a touchdown.

Ray Lewis is the starting middle linebacker. He led the Ravens with 13 tackles, a sack, two quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss.

Willis McGahee is the team's change-of-pace running back. He carried the ball 20 times for 62 yards and one touchdown.

The Ravens, it should be noted, rushed 52 times for 234 yards against and four touchdowns against the Patriots.

``We had a good running game coming in,'' McGahee said, ``but busting the first run just opened everything up. We had three different styles of runners coming in, and we just switched it up and they didn't know how we were going to run the ball. It was a great feeling.''

Not all former Hurricanes went home happy Sunday.

Brandon Meriweather and Vince Wilfork play for the Patriots.

``I feel for Vince,'' Reed said. ``He's a Hurricane, so you know he came to play [Sunday]. Hurricanes don't quit. When we played there, we played a lot of big games and always expected to win. We always expected to go undefeated.''

TIME FOR LEWIS TO STUDY
The Ravens will play Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, who beat Baltimore 17-15 this season.

``I will be [studying] film on the plane going home,'' Lewis said. ``I give my team the 24-hour rule, but for myself, it's back to work. This journey has been up and down. We are on a great journey right now. We know what is going to be coming up next playing in Indy. We know that [Peyton Manning] is probably the best quarterback in the last 10 to 20 years. So here we go again.''



(miamiherald.com)