The Patriots’ First Shot

Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get your day started. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, put off your work (just keep an eye out for the boss), and get your early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…

• Here are my 5 players to watch in tonight’s Patriots-Dolphins game.
• Yesterday, the Patriots’ divisional rival Buffalo Bills trounced the Kansas City Chiefs, 41-7.
• RT Sebastian Vollmer headlines a list of players who have been ruled out for tonight’s season opener.
• WATCH this SportsCenter interview of Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
• Jackie MacMullen of ESPN Boston writes an interesting piece on whether the clock is ticking for the Patriots and Tom Brady to win another Super Bowl.
• Bill Belichick takes us all to school on the categorization of the safeties on the Patriots.
• Jerod Mayo says that the Patriot defense has a chip on its shoulder.
• WEEI’s Christopher Price looks at 10 matchups to watch in tonight’s game.