Belichick and the Patriots stick with the West Coast

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The New England Patriots (8-5) have been training this week at San Jose State for Sunday’s game against the Raiders (3-10) in Oakland. Last weekend, the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Seattle. Rather than subjecting the team to a pair of long airplane flights, Coach Bill Belichick kept the team on the West Coast.

Belichick did the same thing earlier in the season when the Patriots had back-to-back games against San Francisco (a win) and San Diego (a loss).

The Patriots have been mauled by injuries this season, starting with Tom Brady, who went

down during the first quarter of the first game. Injuries also have slowed running backs Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, safety Rodney Harrison, and linebackers Adalius Thomas and Tedy Bruschi.

By the Boston Globe’s reckoning, the Patriots have used 60 different players this season.

Last week the Patriots were so short-handed at linebacker that the team signed former Patriots Junior Seau, 39, and Roosevelt Colvin. Both played about half the snaps in the win over the Seahawks. Said Colvin: ‘In the middle of the third quarter I said, ‘Junior, what were you doing a week ago?’ He said he was in Fiji, and I was in Missouri City. Now we’re out here playing professional football again. It’s crazy.’

Because of all the Pats injuries, Belichick has received extra praise from Pats fans for his coaching this season, including nurturing along backup QB Matt Cassel, who hadn’t started a game since high school. Cassell has 14 TDs, 10 interceptions, has completed 64% of his passes and produced two 400-yard passing games.

The Patriots’ win over the Seahawks also gave Belichick a career record of 150-90 in 14 seasons (including regular season and playoffs) with the Patriots and Browns. That .625 winning percentage puts Belichick behind only George Halas, Don Shula, Curly Lambeau and Joe Gibbs among NFL coaches with at least 150 wins.

Said Belichick: ‘Never did I think about seeing my name on a list with these legendary coaches,’ he said. ‘Hopefully there will be another one this week.’

-- Barry Stavro