TS’T HIGHS AND LOWS

you appear unable to respond. The Pats have some physical players on both sides of the all, but not enough. When push comes to shove in games against those teams, they don’t stand up to the test.

With the exception of tight end Rob Gronkowski, they really don’t have a physical wide receiver like a Boldin, who can hold his own against the heat. That’s the tradeoff when you have talented offensive players who tend to play soft, such as Brandon Lloyd.

A shot in the Armstead

The Patriots ultimately won the Armond Armstead sweepstakes. The Eagles and Colts were just two of the teams in the running for the services of the former Southern Cal defensive lineman, who played in the Canadian Football League last year, earning All-Star honors.

Just a guess, but it might have helped that Brady’s agent, Don Yee, represents Armstead, and Yee has a very good relationship with the Pats.

Or, quite simply, the Pats really liked the kid, and were the most aggressive bidders, signing the defensive lineman to a threeyear contract worth $1.485 million, $655,000 of it guaranteed.

After speaking with Toronto Argonauts general manager Jim Barker on Thursday, we have to agree. It seems like a terrific signing by the Pats.

“He’s a great player. But I’d say he’s a far better kid than he is a player,” Barker said. “He comes from a fantastic family. He was just a pleasure to be around every day.”

On the field, Patriots fans will want to know if the 6-foot-6, 298-pound hulk can add something to the front seven. Barker thinks Armstead will be able to contribute.

“He played 3-technique,” Barker said. “In (the Patriots) scheme, he’s not going to be Vince Wilfork. He’s more of an edge guy. . . . He moves very well. He’s got great hands. He’s a solid player.”

But can he get to the quarterback and at least push the pocket as his six CFL sacks would suggest?

“Oh, yeah,” Barker said. “He didn’t have as many sacks because of the way we play defense, but it just seemed like when we needed to have one, he made it. He definitely has the ability to rush the passer. He’s very mobile. It’s going to be different for him being on the line of scrimmage, because we’re off the line. So that’ll be a little change. But he’ll be fine.”

There were some health issues and hurdles Armstead had to clear. While at USC, Armstead claimed he was improperly given Toradol, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, that led to him suffering a heart attack in March 2011. He was not medically cleared to play that year, eventually opted to turn pro, but wasn’t drafted. He then hooked on with the CFL and played a year to try and revive his stock.

“So we had an agreement (with Yee) to see how it went after a year,” Barker said. “If he was ready to go (to the NFL), we’d let him go. If he wasn’t ready to go, he’d come back and play another year with us. But he’s ready to play in the NFL.”

Barker believes the year in Canada helped Armstead tremendously. It’s like already having a rookie year under his belt.

“There’s a big difference playing 12 or 13 games in college football, then playing 23 games in pro football with varying schedules,” Barker said. “It’s the same with the NFL. So I think this prepared him well. We wish him all the best.”

Armstead’s brother Eric, , by the way, is a 6-8 sophomore who plays defensive end at Oregon.

Parental heartaches

During a conference call with the media, Jack Harbaugh, father of Jim and John Harbaugh, who

Lost on Revis Island

The Jets just can’t seem to stop the nonsense. Maybe trading a shutdown corner like Darrelle Revis makes sense to them given he has a year left on his contract and will be costly to re-sign. Or at least it might make some sense to test the waters. But why have that information leak out in the public?

Naturally, Rex Ryan was put on the spot last week, asked point blank about trading Revis.

“I’m not going to get into any of those specifics right now. I think let’s let the process run its course and I’m confident that any decision made, that this organization (makes) will be without question in the best interest of this football team with the goals that John ( Idzik, the new GM) had mentioned.”

Revis vented in a tweet — “I’m speechless by far but more importantly I feel more upset for the jet nation for having to go through this!!!” . . .

Historian Robert Hyldburg, the author of “Total Patriots,” reminds us it was exactly 13 years ago today that Bill Belichick was named the 14th head coach of the New England Patriots. He also notes that 11 years ago today, the Pats beat the Steelers, 24-17, in the AFC Championship Game to gain their third Super Bowl berth. And, yes, three was the charm. will be coaching their respective 49ers and Ravens teams in the Super Bowl, recalled what it was like when his two sons squared off on Thanksgiving in 2011, and how hard it was being a parent and rooting.

“The thing I remember most about the game is (wife) Jackie and I were in a little office (at Detroit’s Ford Field) with a TV and we watched the game, and the game lasted like three hours and 50 minutes . . . and I’ve never seen Jackie experience that in a ballgame. I mean she was nearly comatose,” Jack Harbaugh said. “She just stared at the screen, there was no facial emotion whatsoever, just a blank stare into the screen, not a word was spoken and at the end of the game, it was just over. And we took the elevator downstairs and . . . I had this recollection of the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory. . . . To experience that same emotion, walking across the hall, is something that I remember — and not looking forward to next Sunday.”