Ironically, Favre and baby Zack Brett Mangini now share the same birthday as Zack was born Friday at 7:43 a.m. When Eric Mangini A sat before Brett Favre and delivered the biggest recruiting pitch of his life …

Laurence Maroney says there’s a very good reason he’s not running the ball particularly well for the New England Patriots .

Laurence Maroney says there’s a very good reason he’s not running the ball particularly well for the New England Patriots. And that’s just about all he’ll say on a subject that has been irritating Patriots fans all season long. “Hey, I have my issues,” Maroney said Friday before New England finished up its final practice at San Jose State, the Pats’ home between last weekend’s win over the 49ers…

The New England Patriots have everything they need right in front of them as they prepare for an opponent they played twice last season.

Were it not for the West Coast relocation, this would feel a lot more like a regular week with a division opponent looming on the horizon.

The Patriots are nearly 3,000 miles from their home in Foxborough, Mass., but they’ve got a pretty solid setup at San Jose State University as they attempt to prepare for Sunday’s game in San Diego—a team they’ve grown all too familiar with over the past few years.

“I think it’s good for the team to be together for a while,” coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday outside of Spartan Stadium.

We’re only five weeks into the new National Football League season and it is already apparent that no team is emerging as a threat to duplicate the perfect regular season that the New England Patriots put …

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches football practice in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Oct.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady underwent surgery on his left knee this week, a month after he was sidelined with the season-ending injury, The Boston Globe said.

The paper reported Wednesday that the operation was performed Monday in Los Angeles. Brady’s replacement, Matt Cassel, said he tried calling him.

‘I haven’t gotten a return phone call yet,’ he said. ‘I’m sure he’s just resting.’

Patriots spokesman Stacey James declined comment. Coach Bill Belichick refused comment during his regular news conference Wednesday at San Jose State, where the team is practicing for Sunday’s game at the San Diego Chargers.

Unlike last season, when the New England Patriots stormed to the top of the conference with a dominating…

San Francisco 49ers quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan, #14, walks off the field after losing to the New England Patriots on Sunday, October 5, 2008 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media during his postgame press conference at Candlestick Park on Sunday, October 5, 2008.