Tucker agrees with Walsh: Patriots practiced with IR players ESPN.com news services Ross Tucker, a former offensive lineman who played for five teams in a seven-year NFL career, reiterated Thursday that he believes that New England used players on the injured reserve list in practices, which violates league rules. Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, in a meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week, said that a Patriots player on injured reserve practiced when he wasn't allowed to in 2001. The NFL said it would investigate the claim. Tucker continued to contend the Patriots used injured players illegally during an interview on ESPN's "NFL Live." He first wrote about it last week on SI.com. Tucker told "NFL Live" that Patriots coach Bill Belichick will do anything he can "to get an advantage." He also added that using a player on injured reserve in practice was of "minimal" benefit. Last Friday, in an article published on SI.com, Tucker wrote that: "I had heard the Patriots did this before I signed with them in 2005 and I saw it firsthand during my time there. I asked veteran receiver Troy Brown about it one time and he responded, 'Every team in the league does that.' I quickly let him know none of the three teams I played for previously had done so. "Basically, the Patriots would put a player on IR, knowing it meant he couldn't play in a game or practice with the team for the remainder of the season. By skirting the rules and practicing him anyway, it allowed them to develop his skills during the year. A side benefit is that they were also able to give some of the older players less repetitions and, therefore, additional rest." Goodell said the NFL would investigate the IR allegations, The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, Mass., reported. Tucker played with Washington, Dallas, Buffalo, New England and Cleveland during his career. He currently writes for SI.com and hosts a show on Sirius satellite radio.
Not at all surprised. Belichick's been playing games with the injury reports since he got onto the Patsies.
Tucker agrees with Walsh: Patriots practiced with IR players link http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3408450
Indeed. How much of a joke is it that Tom Brady is on the weekly injury report with a freakin' shoulder injury - Probable and sometimes Questionable. He's been on there every week since 2002 and his shoulder is fine. No reason to have him wasting space up on the Injury Report.
