David Yudkin
Footballguy
Hobbs info and comments . . .
LINKAlso in that article . . .Three-plus months removed from a second surgery to repair a broken wrist that limited him throughout last season, Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs is looking toward the 2007 campaign with high hopes after an up-and-down sophomore season.
Hobbs battled through the September injury, playing with a cast and missing just a single game after the surgery. He started nine of 15 games and finished the year with 46 tackles and two interceptions. He then started all three postseason contests and may have played his best game of the year in the AFC title loss to the Colts. Hoping to be fully healthy by training camp, Hobbs looks to continue that upward trend this fall.
"My goal, going into the third year, is to be better than I was my first two years," Hobbs said following a recent workout at Gillette Stadium. "The thing I want to do this year is to be more consistent than I was last year. What you saw in the playoffs is how I want to play in every game, where you're going to get plays out of me consistently, every down, every series, every game."
Hobbs and his coaches would probably like to see the 2005 third-round pick make the developmental jump that Asante Samuel made in New England last season, one that saw the fourth-year corner tie for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions. According to Hobbs, Samuel's 2006 campaign should have ended in Hawaii.
"Asante ... the only thing he didn't get was a Pro Bowl, and I think he got hosed on that," Hobbs said.
When Samuel's contract expired this offseason, the Patriots immediately designated him their franchise player. He has yet to sign his one-year offer sheet or a long-term deal with New England. That makes Hobbs the lone veteran returning starter at cornerback. If Samuel doesn't return, is Hobbs ready to assume the role of a No. 1 NFL corner?
"That's how I look at it all the time. Regardless of what the stats say, or whatever, if I'm on the field and I'm starting, I'm looking (to be) the go-to-guy," Hobbs said. "And I think everybody should look at it like that on defense."
Regardless of how the Samuel situation plays out, the Patriots defense will have a new look with the addition of free-agent linebacker Adalius Thomas, the most coveted player on the market this offseason. And on offense, several prized players have joined the team since free agency began in March.
Hobbs, the confident corner, says he's excited about the moves, but cautions against becoming overconfident.
"I think we're putting out money and we're getting great players. Guys want to come in here and they want to win," Hobbs said. "Nobody's thinking a lot about (money). You're getting a lot of these veteran guys in here, and they just want to win. We're on a great path right now, but I don't want to be a paper champ, where we (just) look good on paper ... we need to win (the Super Bowl) this time around. I'm not saying that's going to happen, but that's the motivation."
The Patriots officially announced the signing of seven undrafted free agents prior to the team's May 12-13 rookie minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Boston College defensive back Larry Anam, Alabama-Birmingham linebacker Kyle Bissinger, Idaho State quarterback Matt Gutierrez, Northern Illinois tight end Jake Nordin, Rice running back Quinton Smith, Texas A&M linebacker Justin Warren and Texas-El Paso defensive lineman Zach West will join New England's nine draft picks at the two-day camp. Former Air Force safety Denny Poland will also reportedly be given a tryout at the camp.
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I kept getting text message from good buddies of mine saying Tedy Bruschi is not dead.Can someone explain this to me?
I kept getting text message from good buddies of mine saying Tedy Bruschi is not dead.Can someone explain this to me?