News flash: Belichick knows his stuff

You think the Patriots are going to be prepared to face the 49ers on Sunday?

Patriots Bill Belichick has an incredible football mind. He demonstrated on Wednesday when the Boston-area media asked about . . . whether it's one of those things where they have to see [the 49ers] on the field to accurately be able to judge their speed and quickness.

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"To a certain extent. Also the scheme and how they are going to play us . . . You can certainly prepare for it and that is a good part of the preparation. But until you see it live, it's a little different.

"We have seen a lot of these players -- defensively, the whole secondary. Donald Strickland was in Indianapolis. Michael Lewis was at Philadelphia and Mark Roman was in Cincinnati. Nate Clements, we saw a lot of in Buffalo. Walt Harris was at Indianapolis and Chicago. We have seen Justin Smith. We have certainly seen Takeo Spikes and (Aubrayo) Franklin.

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Belichick mentioned 15 players on the 49ers roster. And, furthermore, he did it all without notes.

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Meanwhile, Mike Nolan mentioned one Patriots player by name today. Well, he said "Wesley Walker," but I'm pretty sure he meant Wes Welker.