FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Isaac Sopoaga celebrated his 32nd birthday nearly two months ago. The massive defensive tackle feels like he received a belated gift this week when the New England Patriots acquired him from Philadelphia at the trade deadline. "Today is my daughters fourth birthday, but I feel like yesterday and today is my birthday," he said Wednesday, a day after the deal. "The Patriots, you know, its like a dream come true, to be honest. Respect these guys the last 10 years. They won (the Super Bowl) three times. Its just an awesome feeling." The proven run stopper, who started seven of the Eagles first eight games this season, was brought on to bolster the Patriots depleted defence thats struggled recently against the run. Sopoaga spent the first eight years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers and played in the Super Bowl earlier this year before being signed by Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent in March. The 6-foot-2, 330-pounder recorded 10 tackles for the Eagles. He has started in 87 of 133 career games with 465 tackles, 7 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. "Hes basically played defensive tackle and nose tackle throughout his career," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "Strong guy, physical guy." Sopoaga sure has some big shoes to fill — as well as some developing gaps. New England (6-2) has been without starting defensive tackles Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly for the past three weeks. Wilfork, the heart of the defence the last 10 years, was placed on season-ending injured reserve Oct. 3 with a torn right Achilles tendon, and Kelly has been sidelined for the last three games with a knee injury. Middle linebacker and leading tackler Jerod Mayo also was lost for the season, place on injured reserve two weeks ago with a torn pectoral muscle. The Patriots are now preparing for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5) with a vastly different defensive cast than they started with in training camp. "Its great to have all your players and be at full strength. The reality of it is thats usually not the case. Every team in the league goes through the same thing somewhere along the line," Belichick said. "All the players that are on the team have a role and they have to be ready when theyre called on to perform that role. "We have to be able to adjust during the game when those situations occur or during the week or during the year if its a long-term thing." The Patriots have acclimated to life without their stalwart linemen by leaning heavily on rookies Chris Jones and Joe Vellano. They also signed 34-year-old defensive end Andre Carter last week in the hope the 12-year veteran can rekindle some of the success he experienced in his lone season with the team in 2011, when he registered 10 sacks. In addition to their veteran leadership, Carter and Sopoaga both will be counted on to shore up a rushing defence that ranks 31st in the league at 130.8 yards per game, ahead of only winless Jacksonville. Prior to the losses of Wilfork and Kelly, the Patriots were allowing 105 yards rushing per game and had permitted just one touchdown rushing through the first four games. Over their last four, including both losses, they are yielding 156.5 yards rushing — much of it up the middle — and three touchdowns. The second half of the season appears to be getting brighter, though. Kelly returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since getting hurt Oct. 6 against Cincinnati, and Sopoaga is eager to get started with the team he was shocked to be traded to. "When I found out yesterday, I was with the Eagles and then after I had to drive to South Jersey so I could pack my stuff and then get ready," Sopoaga said. "On the highway, even though it was like a 50 (miles per hour) speed limit, us Samoan people, we go double the speed limit. "I was surprised, and something Ive got to live with, Ive got to do, Ive got to face, and you know, got to win." Cheap MLB Jerseys . Confusion set in when the British driver felt a searing pain before he ever reached it. Tristan Vautier, unable to see through the smoke of Wilsons spinning car, had driven directly into the side of Wilsons car. jerseys from china . The game will be nationally televised on MLB Network. It will highlight a series of activities, including the MLB Beacon Awards luncheon, a baseball and civil rights movement roundtable discussion and youth baseball and softball games. http://www.wholesalemlbcheapjerseys.com/ .J. Green, the Bengals first-round draft choice, has agreed to terms on a four-year contract and should be on hand Friday, when Cincinnati opens training camp in Kentucky. Cheap Minnesota Wild Jerseys . Headlining the group is 2013 Columbus Blue Jackets first-round draft pick Marko Dano. He is joined by three others drafted by NHL clubs, including Montreal Canadiens prospect Martin Reway. The three draftees eclipses by one the amount named to the selection camp by the rival Czech Republic. Cheap Manchester City Jerseys . RUDY GAY (Kings): Bottom line, it didnt work out the way Raptors fans had hoped it would.SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. -- Saskatoons Stefanie Lawton won the womens title at the Players Championship on Saturday with a 7-3 victory over Winnipegs Cathy Overton-Clapham in seven ends. Lawton scored three points in the sixth end and two points in the seventh to pull away from Overton-Clapham, who had a 3-2 lead after the fifth. Overrton-Claphams rink had dominated the tournament, finishing first in the round robin of the eight-team event with a record of 6-1.dddddddddddd Lawton had made the final by defeating Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in the semifinal, while Overton-Clapham had dispatched Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., in the other semi. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '