By Rich Levine
CSNNE.com
FOXBOROWes Welker wasn't quite as adamant as Tom Brady in expressing his disappointed with fans leaving early during Sunday's win over Cincinnati. Perhaps some of that has to do with the fact that Welker wasn't here to experience the true glory years at Gillette, and doesn't really have anything to compare it to. But either way, Welker did hint that he's like to see a little more from the New England faithful when the team returns home Sept. 26.
"I think I would like to see our crowd get into it a little more, and really become almost like that 12th man," he said. "But at the same time we're gonna go out there and give them something to cheer for."
Julian Edelman might only be in his second season with the Pats, but he's wasted no time becoming well-versed in the Patriot Way. Speaking with reporters in the middle of the locker room, Edelman was asked to expand his recovery from an injured ankle. The response?
"I don't even think I'm allowed to talk about injuries. I don't want to get in trouble."
There are only so many words to describe the ridiculous trash-talking nature of the New York Jets. Fred Taylor, for one, has run out of, or just isn't bothered enough to think of any, ways to explain their loud-mouthed mentality.
"Anytime you have an opportunity to compete, you want to do your best, he said. "It's a little bit added incentive when there's a team, that . . . you know what the Jets are. I just don't know how to describe it. You pay attention to it and you remain humble and just play on the field."
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I caught one funny interaction between Randy Moss and Tom Brady as the two sat side-by-side at their lockers. Moss was explaining that, being from West Virginia, he didn't grow up really rooting for an NFL team of his own. He said that they used to get Redskins and Steelers games on TV, but that he never really developed an allegiance. "How weird would it be if I was in this league and was a fan of like . . . the Cleveland Browns?" he asked. Before looking over at Brady and jokingly saying: "Unlike this endearing expletive and his Niners . . . "
"That's right," Brady said. "San Fran!"
Rich Levine's column runs each Monday, Wednesday and Friday on CSNNE.com. Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrlevine33
