The Patriots will have an interesting preseason. It’s a mix of new opponents and a familiar foe. The most interesting game will be the very first game, when the Patriots host the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. Here is the preseason schedule:
Aug. 12: New Orleans Saints
Aug. 19: AT Atlanta Falcons (Game will be nationally televised)
Aug. 26: St. Louis Rams
TBD (Sept. 2-5): AT New York Giants
The Rams game could be interesting if the Rams draft Sam Bradford to be their QB. The Patriots will play the Giants for what will be the 6th year in a row. The game will [...]

As I discussed earlier in a previous post, the Patriots planned on working out Florida QB Tim Tebow, and apparently that was happening under everyone’s noses until now. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that Tebow has spent the past two days in Foxborough visiting with the team, and is set to head to Cleveland and Washington next week. My feelings on Tebow suiting up in a Patriots uniform haven’t changed since my previous post, but I think Patriots fans may need to start thinking that seeing the Florida QB in a Pats uniform isn’t as far-fetched as it may have previously [...]

Patriots President Jonathon Kraft was on WEEI radio recently and discussed the Patriots’ game plan as far as the offseason goes, including where they’re headed moving forward. According to Kraft, re-signing key players was the top priority. They’ve done a great job with that, re-signing Vince Wilfork, Leigh Bodden, Tully Banta-Cain, and Kevin Faulk. The team is also placing a high importance on this year’s draft, and they’ve certainly made that obvious with the stockpile of draft choices. They have 12 total draft picks, including four out of the first 53 selections.
“We always felt that this draft would be a [...]

Early in free agency, the Patriots hosted UFA WR Josh Reed, who had played in Buffalo. Reed would help fill the role of Wes Welker until Welker returned from injury, and then likely would be a solid third option behind Randy Moss and Welker. However, Mike Reiss from ESPNBoston.com is reporting that Reed’s agent Ben Dogra has said that it is highly unlikely that Reed will sign with New England. Dogra adds that it is not a good fit for Josh Reed role-wise. The Reed camp believes that he is a solid slot receiver and when Wes returns, Reed’s role [...]

A few day ago I mentioned that Brady had yet to join his teammates for voluntary workouts and was working out on his own in California. However, Tom Brady joined his teammates, including Randy Moss, in Foxborough yesterday for the team’s voluntary workouts. One of Brady’s offseason workout activities was boxing, and Bill Belichick was asked about Brady’s ventures into the ring. The question asked was what boxer would Brady compare to the most, and Belichick delivered a great one-liner:
“Somebody that got knocked out.”

With owners and coaches down in Orlando, FL for the NFL’s annual meeting, media members have access to finally contact individuals like Bill Belichick who have remained quiet for most of the offseason. Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft had plenty of items to discuss. Here are some highlights from Monday’s events (click on the links for the complete stories and interviews):

Patriots Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins is skipping the team’s voluntary workouts currently underway at Gillette Stadium. Mankins was one of several players who got caught in this year’s no-CBA rules, where players who would normally have been unrestricted free agents after playing the 5 years of their rookie deal were instead restricted free agents. The Patriots tendered Mankins at the highest level, meaning they would receive a first- and third- round pick if Mankins signed elsewhere, and Mankins will earn $3.268 million for one year. Mankins is looking for a long-term deal to remain with the team, but there [...]

Clemson DE Ricky Sapp, who projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker, recently had a private workout with the Patriots at Clemson along with fellow Clemson linebacker Kavell Connor. Sapp is a first round prospect who will likely be around when the Patriots pick at 22. Unlike other popular prospects for the Pats like Michigan’s Brandon Graham, Sapp has the typical size that the Patriots look for in an outside linebacker. He is 6′4″ and weighs 252 pounds. Here’s is what Sapp had to say about his workout with the Pats:

Here are some quick news bytes from Patriot-land, including Tom Brady’s whereabouts during the voluntary training sessions that began this week in Foxboro:

The Boston Globe’s blog “Extra Points” is reporting that the Patriots have reached an agreement with free agent tight end Alge Crumpler. The Pats hosted Crumpler on a free agent visit a week or so ago and are finally reaching an agreement for the tight end to join a depleted group. Crumpler, however, only partially fills a big need on the team. He is a great blocking TE but lacks the ability to be a receiving threat like he used to be. Regardless, this is an improvement to the team as they have added a more physical presence to the [...]