Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Quick-hit thoughts around NFL, Patriots

Quick-hit thoughts around the NFL and with the Patriots:

1. One topic that comes up most often when meeting with Patriots followers, such as last week’s tweet-up in Indianapolis, is the future of cornerback Darrelle Revis. Does he like it in New England? Would he be interested in re-signing in 2015? I’ve been impressed with Revis on multiple levels -- his play, lack of diva-ness, overall buy-in and how he’s compartmentalized the here-and-now (winning games) from the future business side (maximizing dollars). Looking ahead, I wouldn’t expect any “hometown discount” type situation from Revis’ side. But if the Patriots ante up, and are competitive with the best offers, there is no reason to think the Patriots-Revis partnership wouldn’t continue. To this point, I think this has unfolded exactly the way both sides hoped it would.

2. Patriots running back Jonas Gray could have overslept two weeks ago and no one probably would have noticed. But to do so after his 201-yard, 4-touchdown performance was a case of bad timing (in more ways than one), as his phone battery died overnight, his alarm didn’t go off Friday morning, and he was told he couldn’t practice based on Bill Belichick’s longstanding team rule. If I had to make an educated guess, something similar probably happened to linebacker/defensive end Akeem Ayers on Friday, Nov. 14 when he wasn’t at the facility that day, listed on the injury report as having not participated for non-injury reasons (like Gray), and then didn’t start two days later against Indianapolis before being used extensively. But hardly anyone said a peep about that one.

3a. Former Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli once said that teams always have to factor how a player will respond to receiving a new contract. With more security, will the player be as hungry and fall into line? Pioli’s words came to mind this week after watching what unfolded with running back LeGarrette Blount in Pittsburgh. Every team is put together with a mix of players at different stages – some seeking the bigger contract, some having just received it, some on the decline and hanging on -- and that’s one of the more challenging aspects of building a club.

3b. The point above is one reason I have little doubt that the Patriots and safety Devin McCourty will ultimately strike a long-term extension. It might take some time to get there, but McCourty is the type of player with whom a team can have as much assurance as possible that he won’t change once he receives more security. He's also very good, which makes it a winning combination.

4a. As part of the weekly “getting to know” the opposition posts, I usually try to pick out 1-2 competitive games to review to get a feel for the Patriots’ next opponent. I had to go back to Week 8 for next week’s opponent, the Green Bay Packers, because they have annihilated their last two foes at home, Chicago and Philadelphia. So that brought me back to the Oct. 26 Packers-Saints game (a New Orleans win) as the most competitive game they’ve played over the last month. A few early Packers thoughts:

  • Big plays on offense can come in an instant; they are the best big-play attack in the NFL that I’ve seen and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the master at extending plays.

  • The defense can be run on (28th in average yards per carry), but the issue for teams of late is that the Packers get ahead so quickly that it makes it a one-dimensional game.

  • They lead the NFL in turnover differential (plus-14, with 22 takeaways, 8 giveaways).

  • In five games at home this season, all wins, they have outscored opponents 220-85.

4b. Players and coaches have to take a one-game-at-a-time approach, and that’s obviously the right way to go. But from a media and fan perspective, we have the luxury to look ahead and next Sunday at Lambeau has the potential to be one of those special regular-season games we remember for years to come.

5. Did you Know: The Patriots have won 13 consecutive games against the NFC North, the longest active streak by one team against a division. Since the NFL realigned to eight divisions in 2002, the only streak that was longer was 15 straight by the Colts against the AFC North between 2002 and 2010. With the Patriots hosting the Lions today, and then visiting the Packers next Sunday, we’ll find out quickly if they can match it.

6. I view the “tough love” that is now unfolding between Washington coach Jay Gruden and quarterback Robert Griffin III as a case of perception (shaped in large part by media hype) now starting to come more in alignment with reality. Take the hype away, and look at things from a pure football standpoint, and Griffin simply hasn’t been very good. The troubling signs were there for visitors to see in training camp.

7. The Lions had former Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko in for a workout on Friday, which had us reaching out to Mesko. His response: “Detroit just needed a decent guard to go up against Suh, so I volunteered.” Mesko, who last punted for the Steelers and Bengals in 2013 (appearing in eight games), is obviously still quick with a joke. As for football, he is still keeping himself in shape to be ready for any potential opportunity. As for his workout in Detroit, it's safe to say it was likely more a result of the Lions trying to give their returners a look with a lefty punter in advance of today’s game against the Patriots and left-footed punter Ryan Allen.

8a. Sometimes we’re reminded of the divide between players and media members, and one such case came late this week when I approached veteran defensive tackle Alan Branch in the locker room and asked him his thoughts about what was unfolding in Buffalo, where he played in 2013 and remained until being released by the Bills in August of 2014. “That’s in the past. I’m not even thinking of Buffalo,” Branch said. Then the next day, as players returned from practice, I watched Branch immediately check his phone, turn to fellow defensive tackle Chris Jones and say, “Oh man, they’re getting picked up in snowmobiles. Check this out!” Oh well.

8b. One more locker-room nugget: Earlier this year, around the time he was promoted from the practice squad, running back Jonas Gray had his locker moved to a four-person row that included kicker Stephen Gostkowski, snapper Danny Aiken and punter Ryan Allen. It hasn’t been a frequently populated area in the time reporters are in the locker room and that’s the way the specialists like it, but it changed this week after Gray’s big game. When a crowd gathered around Gray on Thursday, crowding Allen's locker as well, the punter turned to him and joked, “Hey, didn’t we talk about this when you moved down here?” Fun stuff and provides a little bit of a feel of the ribbing that goes on inside those walls.

9. Perhaps there’s a little bias here for my alma mater, but here’s a tip of the cap to University of Massachusetts alum James Ihedigbo for once again getting the most out of his abilities to rise into a difference-making role in his first year with the Lions. The 6-foot-1, 217-pound Ihedigbo might miss a few tackles, and his athleticism is closer to average compared to most NFL safeties, but his toughness, smarts, big-game experience and history around winning teams is an asset worthy of being tapped. Ihedigbo, now in his seventh NFL season, was a real good signing for the Lions (2 years, $3.15 million). He’ll once again be in the starting lineup today, this time against Tom Brady & Co.

10. Sunday marks 14 years ago to the day when Tom Brady made his NFL debut on November 23, 2000, in a game against the Lions in the Silverdome. Brady relieved Drew Bledsoe in a 34-9 loss and was 1-of-3 for 6 yards in one series of action. A few notes from that game to remind us of how Brady has stood the test of time:

  • Then-Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri is the only other player who was part of the game still playing today.

  • The Patriots’ starting offensive line was Bruce Armstrong, Joe Andruzzi, Damien Woody, Sale Isaia and Greg Robinson-Randall.

  • Brady’s first pass, to running back J.R. Redmond, was dropped. He then had a 4-yard pass to Redmond negated because Woody was an ineligible man downfield. So Brady’s first official completion was a 6-yarder to tight end Rod Rutledge on third-and-10.

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