6:26 p.m. EDT: Having never traveled to a game at Gillette Stadium, I didn’t know what to expect.
We drove down narrow streets through neighborhoods for a while, looking at countless colonial style homes. Then we made a right-hand turn, and suddenly the stadium was right in front of us.
It’s quite a unique location. People living in the nearby neighborhoods have the shortest of walks to the game.
Now the stadium lights are on as the sun has set, and players have slowly begun to make their way out on the field for their early warmups.
I’m about to head down with Jake Grilley to take some pregame photos, but first a quick bit of news — the Patriots have placed running back Laurence Maroney on injured reserve.
7:35 p.m. EDT: And now for some pictures from the pregame warmups…
7:37 p.m. EDT: I just got Denver’s inactives for tonights game.
Brandon Stokley, Selvin Young, Ryan Torain, John Engelberger, Erik Pears, Tony Scheffler and Nic Clemons will not suit up tonight.
Josh Shaw has been placed on the reserve/suspended list.
7:37 p.m. EDT: And for tonight’s game, Michael Pittman is expected to start for Young. Ebenezer Ekuban is expected to start for Engelberger.
7:48 p.m. EDT: Kickoff is still 40 minutes away, but one thing is already for sure — this place plays the best pregame music of any stadium that we’ve been to yet in 2008.
Everything from Pearl Jam to the Black Crowes to The Who. Throw in a little Johnny Cash and the Foo Fighters, and they’ve got it all — pretty much making up the entirety of Kyle Sonneman’s iPod playlist.
7:50 p.m. EDT: Brad Gee, one of our stellar PR interns who in lieu of an adult beverage ordered chocolate milk at the sports bar we visited last night, just handed me New England’s inactives.
WR Kelley Washington, CB Terrence Wheatley, RB LaMont Jordan, LB Eric Alexander, T Nick Kaczur, DL Jarvis Green and LB Shawn Crable will not take the field tonight.
Matt Gutierrez is the third quarterback.
And as we said earlier, Laurence Maroney has been placed on IR.
7:56 p.m. EDT: The players have suited up and are making their way out onto the fields for their final warmups.
The Patriots will wear their blue home jerseys with silver pants. The Broncos will wear all white tonight.
8:04 p.m. EDT: Anybody have an answer to this question?
Foxboro or Foxborough?
Online sources list both, and even searching for the city itself online can be problematic.
8:05 p.m. EDT: And in other NFL news, ESPN has just reported that Mike Nolan has been fired as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
8:18 p.m. EDT: Fans are beginning to pack the stadium as both teams head back into the locker room for the last time before kickoff.
More news from the Patriots’ bench..
The team signed CB Mike Richardson from the practice squad, activated G Stephen Neal from the PUP list and waived C Dan Connolly.
8:30 p.m. EDT: The national anthem has been sung, and both teams should take the field any minute. See y’all in the First Quarter Notes…
Tags: Adam Zinser, Live Blog, New England Patriots, Pregame, Week 7
Could you let us know if they plan on playing Scheffler or Stokley?
They wont play Stockley tonight based on the head injury thing is my guess. They have a bye week and they will re-evaluate after. Scheffler is a gametime decision. That is what I heard….
The Team has a chance to put some room between us and the chargerettes.
GO BRONCOS…….
When do they announce the in-actives?
Greatly appreciated….probably means Tony doesn’t go either since they don’t wanta risk further hurting the guy with bye on the horizon.
any live feed of the game?
Anyone know for sure if Royal’s good to go?
lets take care of business. Go Broncos!!!
Royal should be good to go!!! Lets see Cutlers Cannon rip up the pats! GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
i think royal will play
yeah, Royal is back.
Is Royal at 100%???
And what’s the word on Torain?
Haven’t heard much on Torain would love to see him get a few carries tonight!!! Eventhough Pittman is a beast! Main concern tonight will be turnovers!!!!
Look at how happy marshall is when he’s talking to emmitt smith. makes me lol
Coach had said that it would take a while for Torain to get in game shape so I doubt he plays tonight. He might get to play a little next week, hopefully.
Defensive end John Engelberger, who has been a starter for the Broncos’ first six games, was one of the team’s gameday inactives Monday night.
Wide reciver Brandon Stokley (concussion), tight end Tony Scheffler (groin) and running back Selvin Young (groin) were also inactives because of injuries. Running back Ryan Torain, tackle Erick Pears, defensive tackle Nic Clemons and defensive tackle Josh Shaw were the team’s other inactives.
from the rockymountainews.com
after the by week is what i meant
chargerettes… that was good, Bones1965 HA HA HA!!!
As for us Broncos, I hope everyone’s right that Royal will be back. I’d say we probably won’t see Torain back on the field till after the bye against Miami.
We have to play hard tonight and we have to be ROCK SOLID!!!!!!! I can’t stress that enough, we can’t show any weaknesses (but there will always be some) but we can’t let the Pats see that or know that other wise they’ll know where to attack us and they’ll get the win. I hope our Orange & Blue want this win enough to not only TRY but to DO what it takes to W-I-N!!! And Cutler, show ‘em what you got baby… you do have a good arm, a rocket laser arm, I’d love to see alot of that. But more than anything I want to see our receivers catch the passes and Marshall of all people knows that… DO IT!!! Make us fans proud… go get ‘em!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!! BEAT THE PATSIES!!!!!!
Hi Adam, I think “Foxborough” is the real name and “Foxboro” is an alternative spelling
Thanks SaloRB. Isn’t interesting though how both are accepted? A number of websites list both. The Weather Channel’s website doesn’t even recognize Foxborough — only Foxboro.
any live feeds yet?
Let’s do what we do! Jay take care of business. Eddie your my boy big stage for you tonight! Champ! Yeah you a champ, shut him down!
Engleberger is out,,,,,,,,,, FINALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will win tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
live feeds?
Somebody go slap whats-his-name, Mr. Fumble, that Shanahan DOES NOT LIKE FUMBLERS!!! and while your at it, tell cutler this is not practice, that the other team will take it out of the air if he just lofts it up for everybody.
If I wanted to see a team play as bad at the chiefs, I’d go buy a ticket for $5 and go watch them.
Come on guys, get your head out of your stats and start playing the game.