FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The mantra of the New England Patriots when a player gets injured is "next man up." This week that man will be backup linebacker Dane Fletcher. With Brandon Spikes joining three key defenders on injured reserve with a knee injury, Fletcher is likely to see a lot more action when the Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC divisional-playoff game Saturday night. "Everybody has to step up," Fletcher said Tuesday. "Everybodys role kind of increases on defence, especially in the linebacker unit." Spikes, an outstanding run stopper in his fourth season, was placed on injured reserve Monday. That left the Patriots with six linebackers on their 53-man roster, including rookie free agent JaGared Davis, who was signed off the practice squad Tuesday. Two others have played very little on defence. Rookie Steve Beauharnais has one tackle in two games and Chris White has one defensive tackle while being used mostly on special teams. The remaining starters are Donta Hightower and rookie Jamie Collins, a first-round draft choice. Fletcher, a better pass defender than Spikes, has averaged just 14 defensive snaps in the 15 games hes played, starting just one. He played more than half the snaps only once, against Denver and Peyton Manning. "Spikes has done a great job this year," safety Devin McCourty said, "being a guy thats been a leader on the defence, a guy thats stepped up and made key plays, I think, like hes always done, but really stepping into a leadership role. But now its next man up and being ready to go." That figures to be Fletcher. "Every play matters. Every second youre in there matters," he said. "It could be one problem play that costs your whole team so you dont want to be that guy. So its just kind of that time of the year where everything amps up in every aspect of the game." New England has played most of the season with three of its best defensive players on injured reserve. Tackle Vince Wilfork played the first four games, tackle Tommy Kelly played the first five and linebacker Jerod Mayo played the first six. The Patriots did well enough without them to earn a first-round bye. But will the latest injury be one too many? "I hope not," McCourty said with a laugh. . He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5th. The 34-year-old Laval, Que. native has played six seasons with the Penguins. . -- Adrian Peterson takes a look around the league and sees big money flying everywhere.
http://www.cheapuclajerseys.com/?tag=uc ... ege-jersey. JOHNS, N. . After Mariota was pushed around by Stanford on Thursday, finishing 20/34 with 250 yards and two touchdowns in Oregons Title hope-crushing defeat, hes going to need a poor performance or two from the remaining frontrunners to have a shot at the most coveted individual trophy in college sports. . Hughes, 30, is a former Major Leaguer with the Baltimore Orioles, having played in 14 games with the Os in 2010. He played with Class AA Binghamton of the Eastern League in the New York Mets system last season.LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Lance Briggs figures his time with the Chicago Bears is coming to an end. Hes not sure if his career is, too. A week shy of 34 and with his contract set to expire, Briggs acknowledged his 12-year run with the Bears will likely end this season. Its the last year of my deal, he said. Its not like Im going to magically show up after this year and theyre going to open the gates up for you. Ive talked to my buddy (former Bear) Alex Brown — those gates are closing — youre a free agent. I know the reality of it and Im proud of all the years Ive had here. Its been great. I couldnt have asked for a better situation. If hes not back with the Bears, will he play for another team? I dont know, he said — four times. Briggs realizes it might not be his choice. Somebodys got to want you first and then you go from there, he said. The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker expects to return against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers this week after missing the past three games with a rib injury. The Bears are 3-5 and trying to remain in playoff contention after dropping four of five before their bye. No matter what happens the rest of the way, changes could be in store. An offence that ranked among the best in club history in its first season under coach Marc Trestman last year is underachieving, even though all its starters returned. A rebuilt defence isnt performing, and a season that began with high hopes appears to be slipping away. The past two games have been particularly ugly, with receiver Brandon Marshall overheard yelling in the locker room after a loss at home to Miami, and Tom Brady then shredding Chicago in a rout at New England. But its not like the defence was performing the way the Bears envisioned before the Patriots game. Whether its poor execution or poor strategy, its been a struggle all season for Chicago. Poor health hasnt helped, either. The Bears lost defensive end Lamarr Houuston to a season-ending knee injury sustained while celebrating a late sack against a backup quarterback in the closing minutes against New England.dddddddddddd That was just the latest blow for a team that lost cornerback Charles Tillman to a torn right triceps in September and has been forced to get by at times without other key players. Rib and shoulder injuries have kept Briggs out of 10 games the past two seasons after he missed only four in his first 10 years. The time off hasnt been easy for him. Shoot, I dont know what to do with myself sometimes, he said. Sometimes, I sit in meetings while coaches are talking and sometimes the words kind of just faze out and Im staring at the screen. The only thing I can tell is the time, and Ill look up at the screen and be like, Dang, still got 55 minutes left. Its just been different man, just different. More coaching. But he intends to be in the lineup this week, trying to contain Rodgers. Thats something the Bears were unable to do in late September at Soldier Field. Green Bay scored on its first six possessions and intercepted Jay Cutler twice in the third quarter to pull away for a 38-17 victory. This time, Briggs could be making his final trip to Lambeau Field. I understand this is probably my last year as a Chicago Bear, and this could be the last time I play the Packers, Briggs said. But for me ... I really do enjoy my teammates, and its been unfortunate to watch from the sidelines because I want to see them find success, you know, and any Bear making a play is always a good thing. NOTE: WR Marquess Wilson practiced Wednesday for the first time since he broke his collarbone on Aug. 24, starting the clock on a 21-day window to add him to the active roster. Trestman would not say if Wilson will play this week. Were just going to go one day at a time on this and make sure that hes in the physical kind of condition he needs to be in, Trestman said. ' ' '
