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, and kick your weekend off right with an early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…

• Tom Brady needs to step his game up if the Patriots are going to win Super Bowl XLVI.
• Check out Musket Fire’s first crack at a 2012 NFL mock draft!
• There are some truly wacky bets when it comes to gambling on the Super Bowl.
• Rob Gronkowski is questionable for the Super Bowl with a high ankle sprain, according to his father.
• The Patriots have a free send-off event at Gillette Stadium Sunday before the team leaves for Indianapolis.
• Tom Brady promised Robert Kraft that he will play better than he did in the AFC Championship game.
• What does Brandon Spikes bring to the Patriots defense?
• Bill Belichick has been turning up the heat at practice to get the team ready for the conditions inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy.
• Can the Giants contain the Patriots’ tight ends?
• The Giants, and more specifically WR Mario Manningham, are hoping that Julian Edelman is out on the field playing corner in the Super Bowl.
• The Pats have increased their film study in preparation for the Giants.