Now Plate Should Read ‘NT2BRIT’

CRANSTON, R.I. — New England Patriots fever has landed a Rhode Island state prison guard in trouble.

State police were called in Thursday to investigate how Gregory Angelone obtained an unregistered Rhode Island license plate with the letters “BLDSOE,” a reference to quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

Angelone, 27, of Cranston, was wearing the plate around his neck when he mugged for NBC cameras during last weekend’s AFC championship game between New England and Jacksonville at Foxboro Stadium.

Department of Corrections officials watching the game on TV saw Angelone and checked to see if the plate was registered, spokesman Al Bucci said. It was not, and neither was a “GO PATS” plate worn by a man next to Angelone who is not a Corrections employee.

Angelone was suspended with pay while officials investigate how he got the plate.