Just two days after many celebrated Christmas, former Patriots defensive tackle Houston Antwine and his wife Evelyn died late Monday and early Tuesday.

The Boston Globe reports that the causes of both death’s are undisclosed.

Antwine played in 142 regular season games with the Patriots, where he recorded 39 sacks. Antwine was an AFL all-star for six seasons, from 1963-68.

Antwine was elected to the Patriots 1960s All-Decade team and was nominated for the Patriots Hall of Fame for the past three years.

“I am saddened to learn of the deaths of both Houston and Evelyn and want to express my deepest sympathies to the Antwine’s daughter, Regina, and all who mourn her losses,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said.

It didn’t look good when the Patriots leading pass rusher went down early Sunday afternoon.

The news remained bleak following the Patriots 41-23 win over the Denver Broncos. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported that Andre Carter’s agent, Carl Poston, said Carter has a quad-related injury “that will require surgery.”

There is no timetable on Carter’s return, but it doesn’t appear to be promising.

The unsung hero to the league’s worst defense, Carter leads the Patriots with 10 sacks. The initial wound of being without Carter wasn’t evident too much Sunday. Fellow free agent acquisition Mark Anderson saw his reps increase, and Anderson made good on the extended playing time.

Continue reading Report: Andre Carter’s Injury Will Require Surgery »

One day before their showdown in Denver, the Patriots inked up its best defensive player to a new contract.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Patriots re-signed Jerod Mayo to a 5-year extension.

Mayo was the No. 10 overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. In four seasons with the Patriots, Mayo quickly etched his name as one of the most productive linebacker’s in team history with 474 total tackles.

Continue reading Patriots Extend LB Jerod Mayo to 5-year Contract »

According to Pro Football Weekly, a source close to the Patriots says that Tom Brady has tennis elbow.

Eric Edholm, of PFW, looked more in-depth to what tennis elbow was:

Also known as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is a painful inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow, according to the official website of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. It most often comes as a result of overuse.

Typically, surgery is not needed for tennis elbow, a common ailment in athletes, unless it is chronically persistent. Brady should be able to play through the injury readily provided he can tolerate the pain.

On the season, Brady has passed for 3,266 yards and 25 touchdowns. His 10 interceptions, are more than double then what No. 12 had last season.

Continue reading Report: Tom Brady Has Tennis Elbow Injury »