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…

• If you don’t re-call the new overtime rules for the playoffs, there is a quick summary HERE.
• Patriots OC Bill O’Brien is going to be the next head coach of Penn State, according to sources.
• Time for another session with Professor Bill Belichick! In this lesson, the professor discusses the values of the TV tape vs. the coaches’ film.
• Tom Brady was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
• Rookie Marcus Cannon was named the Patriots’ 2011 Ed Block Courage Award winner.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Tom Brady, and Wes Welker were not at Patriots’ practice yesterday.
• Check out the stats behind the Patriots’ slow starts.
• Brandon Spikes spoke to reporters yesterday, the first time he’s spoke since spraining his MCL.