Patriots several key players missed practice

The New England Patriots practiced Wednesday without five key players, including quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Randy Moss and three linebackers Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton and Derrick Burgess.

Moss and the three linebackers were sent home after showing up late for an 8 a.m. team meeting. Brady stayed with other teammates but did not practice because he just put on his Patriots jersey and returned to work the day after his wife supermodel Gisele Bundchen, gave birth to their son. The team’s practice reports listed him with a right shoulder injury and a right finger injury.

After last Sunday’s 22-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots fell to 7-5 and suffered their third loss in four games for the first time in seven seasons. But Coach Bill Belichick declined to explain the absence of the five key players. “Anything that happens with discipline on the team stays between me and the players on the team,” he said.

59-0: Patriots’ historic win, Titans’ historic loss

The snowy Sunday is a New England Patriots day. Their historic 59-0 victory over the Tennessee Titans was the Titans’ worst game since they began playing in 1960 as the Houston Oilers, even worse than the 61-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had five TD passes in the second quarter, a record for one period and the six touchdown throws tied Brady’s own Patriots record. And the 59-point margin matched the largest since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970- the Los Angeles Rams’ 59-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons in 1976.

Winning their first 10 games last season, the Titans have yet to win their first game this season, and the 59-0 loss to the Patriots just recorded a new low in their winless season. The only bright spot for them was running back Chris Johnson wearing Titans jersey, who has been the NFL’s third leading rusher and run for 128 of the Titans’ total of 186 overall.