Patriots

Patriots-Ravens chat

Nothing has changed regarding the Ravens' defensive coordinator vacancy and the feeling remains that the team's linebackers coach, Dean Pees, is the clear front-runner to replace Chuck Pagano who is now the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Back in 1983, Pees was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Miami of Ohio in 1983, mentoring a young defensive back by the name of John Harbaugh. As a coach, Pees has worked for Nick Saban, Lou Holtz and Bill Belichick. He was the Patriots' linebackers coach under Belichick in 2004 and 2005, and then took over as defensive coordinator in 2006 after Eric Mangini left to coach the New York Jets.

Matthew Slater bulked up in a big way the moment he entered the NFL. The Patriots handed the former UCLA standout not just one Yellow Pages-sized binder but two — one for offense, the other for defense. "The first day in this building, they gave me two playbooks," Slater said Thursday in a phone interview. "There was no, 'We'll give you one, then we'll give you the other.' It was, 'Here's both.' I felt like I was in a graduate-studies program, making flash cards and everything.

Sam Jankovich, who oversaw the success of the University of Miami athletic program, has taken on the task of resurrecting the New England Patriots from a season of failure."

Head coach: Karen Bonsack (sixth season).Assistant coaches: Tess Gauthier, Anne Mundth.1991 record: 6-9-1, AIS B Division finalist.Returnees: Seniors Mandy Gilbert (F), Janet Breen (D), Theresa Buppert (M), Sally Klopcic (F), Jen Lutz (M), Kate Nicodemus (M), Beth Thomey (D). Juniors Mollie Brumfield (F), Megan McGraw (M). Sophomore Megan Kwasniak (F).Newcomers: Juniors Stacie Lort (M), Donna Brown (F), Mary Muller-Thym (F), Mary Nicodemus (D), Teri Tobash (M), Megan Early (F), Karen Trompeter (D)

The defending-champion Old Mill girls basketball team advanced to the Class 4A state championship game by defeating fourth-seeded Gaithersburg, 40-27, yesterday at Catonsville Community College.Cindy Davenport scored a season-high 17 points, and Stacy Himes added 12, as the top-seeded Patriots (24-1) won their 19th straight game. The onlyother Patriot to score was Christine Baer, who had seven points.The Trojans (20-6) were led by Jenny Higgins' seven points.The Patriots can retain their state title with a win over second-seededBowie in Saturday's 3 p.m. final at Catonsville.

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporters Aaron Wilson and Matt Vensel will look back at the Ravens' previous game and that of their next opponent. Here's a look at the Patriots' 20-18 loss to the Eagles. (For a look at the Ravens' game against Philadelphia, click here .) Cardinals 20, Patriots 18 Strategy: Offensively, the Patriots were pretty balanced until they fell behind by two scores early in the fourth quarter. They ran the ball fairly well with second-year running back Stevan Ridley and relied on a quick, short passing game to move the ball.

Pats can protect turf Ethan Skolnick, Sun-Sentinel The Patriots better take this into their own hands Monday night, as I expect they will, with an improving secondary doing just enough to frustrate Drew Brees. Otherwise, it's hard to envision anyone else beating 'dem Saints. Not Washington. Not Tampa Bay. Not Carolina. Not the way the Falcons are defending the pass, or the Cowboys are struggling to score. The Colts should have lost already, winning their last four games by a total of 10 points.

The gift came from a son cementing a bond with his dad. I tore the paper off the present, revealing a figurine of a kneeling football player, chin cleft and stylized minuteman helmet leaving no doubt about the identity. Hello, Tom Brady! It was something I would never buy for myself. Still, I was glad to own it. Its usual home is a glass-door cabinet in my bedroom. But when the leaves fall and the daylight hours dwindle and Sundays are spent on the sofa, I like to bring it to work and position it on my desk.

BOSTON -- The New England Patriots yesterday waived tight end Zeke Mowatt, nearly 10 months after he was implicated in the sexual harassment of former Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson.Mowatt, 30, was dropped two days before the start of rookie training camp. He was paid $400,000 last season, when he was '' acquired from the New York Giants as a Plan B free agent. He collected on much of this year's contract through conditioning incentive bonuses.Another team can now sign Mowatt without compensating the Patriots.