Patriots coach Bill Belichick is blaming recently instituted NFL rules shortening offseason practice time for what he claims to be an increasing number of player injuries. ''I'm in favor of total preparation for the players for the season,'' Belichick said during a conference call with Buffalo reporters this week in leading up to New England's home game against the Bills on Sunday. ''And I think that's been changed significantly and, I would say, not necessarily for the better when you look at the injury numbers.'' Belichick said players are more vulnerable to being hurt because they're less prepared, and described the limits placed on offseason workouts - including training camp - as being counterproductive. We get a lot of situations that players just aren't as prepared as they were in previous years, in my experience anyway.'' Belichick was specifically challenging several new rules negotiated into the NFL labor deal that ended an offseason-long lockout in 2011. More...