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Behind Enemy Lines, NY Edition 09.02.09 at 4:39 pm ET
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A quick spin around the Internet to see how the New York media outlets are doing to preview Thursday’s Patriots-Giants preseason opener.

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Carl says "Go Big Blue!"

The New York Times has New York’s right defensive end Osi Umenyiora apologizing for a brief walkout that happened because of a dispute with the coaching staff. “It was a very, very bad moral decision on my part and an even worse financial decision,” Umenyiora said. “It was so stupid and trivial for me to do that. I can’t believe I acted that way. I’m sorry for it. I apologized.” When asked if he might be punished by being benched for Thursday’s final preseason game at New England, Umenyiora showed his own sense of humor: “Aha! I’d be happy.”

•At the end of the same story, it was revealed New York coach Tom Coughlin would probably play quarterbacks Andre Woodson and Rhett Bomar, along with Eli Manning. In addition, wide receiver David Tyree will not play because of a hamstring injury, while offensive left tackle David Diehl will miss the first game of his career because of a sore knee.

The New York Post has more on the decision to shut Diehl down. Diehl, who apparently might not even make the trip to Gillette Stadium, said he has never missed a game since he started playing high school football as a freshman. He is the only player selected in the 2003 NFL Draft to start every game the previous six seasons. “It’s not something I’m used to. It’s not something I’m ever going to get used to,” Diehl said. “I plan on playing every single snap, just like I did last season.”

•Coughlin also tells the Post that won’t comment on how much Manning will play, but did confirm that Woodson and Bomar, who are competing for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Manning and David Carr, would see time against the Pats.

Here’s the New York Post Giants’ blog.

The New York Daily News has more on Tyree, New York’s hero of Super Bowl XLII who might not play Thursday night against the Patriots because of a hamstring injury. (In fact, his Giants’ career may be in doubt.) Asked if Tyree had a chance to play, Coughlin said, “I don’t think he does, no. The medical people have decided that he’s not ready.”

Here’s the Giants’ blog for the Daily News.

•In advance of Thursday’s game, The Bergen Record looks at Bill Belichick’s coaching tree and derides the “wannabes” like Todd Haley and Josh McDaniels who have made mistakes lately. “All of these coaches seem determined to implement all of Belichick’s minutiae in their respective organizations, but minus the coaching smarts to go with it,” writes JP Pelzman. They also indicate the the Giants’ starters would play “about a quarter” Thursday night.

Here’s Newsday’s blog on the Giants.

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Ellis Hobbs Says Patriots Players were Faking Injuries 09.02.09 at 9:28 am ET
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Ellis Hobbs told the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Bob Brookover Tuesday that while he was in New England some of his fellow players were faking injuries.

“Guys were dogging it and tanking it sometimes,” said the cornerback. “I mean, put it out there, some guys were faking injuries and getting a certain amount of dollars.”

Hobbs went on to say that “problems” would have begun to arise in New England if he remained there this year, and that the April trade to Philadelphia was “beneficial” for him. Hobbs played three seasons with the Patriots from 2005-2008.

Check out Brookover’s full column here.

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Turn Up the Volume- Tuesday Edition 09.01.09 at 6:01 pm ET
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FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots are preparing for the their final preseason game against the Giants and the roster is moving closer and closer to 53 players. On Wednesday, the Patriots will hold a walkthrough, and Thursday the Giants will be in Foxborough to finish off the preseason. On Tuesday, Andrew Walter, Gary Guyton and Terrence Nunn spoke to reporters. Terrence Nunn spoke candidly about the possibility of getting cut. Check out Chris Price’s column for Nunn’s comments.  Second year linebacker Gary Guyton spoke on the progression of fellow second year linebacker Jerod Mayo. Turn up the volume on your computer and click on the audio below to listen to some of the comments made Tuesday morning in Foxborough.

Terrence Nunn talks about the Brady-Moss conection.

Andrew Walter says he still has a lot of work to do.

Gary Guyton talks about the progression of Jerod Mayo.

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Report: Lions claim O’Connell 09.01.09 at 4:50 pm ET
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According to reports, the Detroit Lions have claimed former Patriots quarterback Kevin O’Connell off waivers. O’Connell was released by New England yesterday after spending just over a year on the Patriots’ roster. O’Connell played in two regular-season games with New England last season. In the 2009 preseason, the 24-year-old out of San Diego State was 12-for-26 for 108 yards with two interceptions.

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Bill Belichick Q&A, 9/1 09.01.09 at 3:00 pm ET
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Thanks to the Patriots’ PR staff, here’s the complete transcript of Bill Belichick’s Q&A with the media today at Gillette Stadium:
Read the rest of this entry »

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Tuesday practice report 09.01.09 at 1:35 pm ET
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FOXBOROUGH — Just got back from practice — the following players were not in attendance for the portion of practice the media is allowed to watch: wide receiver Julian Edelman, cornerback Terrence Wheatley, cornerback Shawn Springs, running back Laurence Maroney, offensive lineman Dan Connolly, wide receiver Wes Welker, tight end Dave Thomas, tight end Chris Baker, defensive lineman Myron Pryor, linebacker Shawn Crable.

•No one was wearing a red non-contact jersey, and the practice was held in shorts and shells.

•We saw Tom Brady make a few gentle tosses, but nothing too serious.

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Ingram last long snapper standing 09.01.09 at 12:33 pm ET
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Ingram was taken 198th overall by the Patriots. (Photo courtesy University of Hawaii)

FOXBOROUGH — Jake Ingram knows he didn’t win the job of Patriots’ long snapper by himself.

The rookie out of Hawaii said Tuesday morning he owes a sizable debt of gratitude to Nathan Hodel, the veteran who was also invited to training camp by New England this summer. Hodel was released by the Patriots on Monday, leaving Ingram as the lone long snapper on the roster.

The 23-year-old Ingram said the lessons he learned from his time with Hodel will serve him well down the road.

“He definitely, definitely did help me,” Ingram said Tuesday morning. “He’s never a guy who was trying to treat me like a rookie. It seemed like he was more trying to help me out, trying to help me get better. And also, we were pushing other, hopefully making each other better.

“It was awesome having him around, and I wish the best of luck to him and his family. I’m sure he’ll get a job soon.”

Pattriots coach Bill Belichick called the competition this summer between Hodel and Ingram “very competitive,” and added that during his Tuesday morning press conference that with the preseason dwindling down to the final few days, the decision to cut Hodel loose was more of a “timing thing.”

“I would expect to see Nathan in the league this year,” Belichick said.

“I’m honored,” Ingram said. “That’s why you come here, to work hard and win a job on the team and help contribute to some wins. Obviously, I did what it took to get me to this point and allow them to trust me with the responsibility of being their long snapper.

“Now, the work really starts. Now that it’s my job, I really need to take it in stride and come to work every day and get better, and that’s what I’m here to do.”

Ingram, a sixth-round pick out of Hawaii last April, is a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who was one of the finest collegiate long snappers in the country last season. He was one of two long snappers invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, and he also garnered an invite to the Senior Bowl.

“At his college position, he was the best in the country. Period,” said Hawaii coach Greg McMackin. “I’ve had him here the last two years, and he was 100 percent on all snaps. I don’t want to hex him, but I’ve never seen a bad snap from him.

“I think Bill Belichick has made an outstanding decision.”

Ingram is familiar of the situation he’s walking into — Lonie Paxton was with the Patriots for eight seasons before signing a free-agent deal with the Broncos in the offseason. A legend among long snappers, Paxton was at the center of many of the biggest moments in franchise, history, including the “Snow Bowl” win over the Raiders and Super Bowl XXXVI.

“I know he had a long, successful career here,” Ingram said of Paxton. “I could only hope to be half as successful as he is. I know he’s doing a great job over there in Denver right now.”

Making the team is a double-edged sword for Ingram — he said Monday his ponytail will have to be replaced by braids as part of the rookie haircut tradition.

But if it means landing the 53-man roster, it’s a  trade-off the 23-year-old is willing to make.

“I have to get my hair braided,” he said with a smile. “I think that’ll happen [Wednesday].

“I just realize the task at hand … I have a lot of work to do,” he added. “That’s all I can really think about, just coming in here every day ready to go to work and just have a positive attitude.”

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