Michael Lombardi may be line to take over Browns – Sports – The Boston Globe

One of the amazing things about the Patriots the past few seasons — since Welker’s knee injury in the 2009 regular-season finale — is how most of the injuries to key players happen with enough time to get them right for the postseason. Aaron Hernandez, Jerod Mayo, and Brandon Spikes all were humming in December after MCL injuries last year. Now Hernandez, Chandler Jones, Logan Mankins, Patrick Chung, and Rob Gronkowski (who was beat up before his broken forearm) figure to be good for the playoffs, especially if the Patriots get a bye. It would seem to be dumb luck, but the Patriots do a nice job bringing their guys back later in the season.