N E W   E N G L A N D   P A T R I O T S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Bill Belichick 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 22 at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 9  PIT.  9 p.m.  Sept. 15  at NYJ  1 p.m.  Sept. 22  K.C.  1 p.m.  Sept. 29  at S.D.  4:15 p.m.  Oct. 6  at Mia.  1 p.m.  Oct. 13  G.B.  1 p.m.  Oct. 20  Open     Oct. 27  DEN.  4:15 p.m.  Nov. 3  at Buf.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  at Chi.  4:15 p.m.  Nov. 17  at Oak.  8:30 p.m.  Nov. 24  MIN.  1 p.m.  Nov. 28  at Det.  12:30 p.m.  Dec. 8  BUF.  1 p.m.  Dec. 16  at Ten.  9 p.m.  Dec. 22  NYJ  8:30 p.m.  Dec. 29  MIA.  1 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

A new day has dawned in New England -- the post-Drew Bledsoe, pre-defending champions era. And with that comes a new sense of purpose not lost on head coach Bill Belichick.

"I think we have turned the page. I think there are going to be some days ... that are still obviously a celebration of last year," he said, "but I think once the offseason program started that was really the turning of the page and the start of this year.

"There are still going to be some isolated days along the way that will be part of the reflection back, but we will just try to enjoy those and isolate them as they come up or will come up, but our main focus and attention is on preparation for this season."

While the trade of Bledsoe to AFC East rival Buffalo may have been the biggest offseason move for the Super Bowl champs, it certainly wasn't the only one. Also gone is troubled wide receiver Terry Glenn, who was traded to Green Bay. Free-agent WR Donald Hayes was signed to shore up the corps that already included Troy Brown and David Patten.

Bledsoe's departure made it clear that this is Tom Brady's team, for better or worse, after only the majority of one season as the starter. And after a title-winning season, Brady will be under even more scrutiny.

"I think for a starting quarterback or an MVP Super Bowl quarterback, that comes with the territory," Belichick said. "When you are a fourth-string quarterback, you can go somewhere and be less conspicuous than when you are in the spotlight.

"I think Tom has worked hard this year," he said, "and that is the main thing that we were looking for and I think he's worked as hard as anyone on our team this offseason."

"I think that Tom has had good leadership for both of the years that he has been here and it increased last year during the season, but I think that he stepped it up even a little bit more this year in the offseason."

Fact The Patriots Super Bowl ring features 143 diamonds, with 42 diamonds circling the top of the ring, signifying the number of years the team went before winning the title. The Super Bowl XXXVI logo adorns one side of the ring, which is 14-karat white gold and weighs three ounces. The ring also contains the Patriots' logo on top, which is designed with blue sapphires and red garnets. There are also rows of diamonds resembling a football field.

Troy Brown, WR -- During its run to New Orleans, New England won its last nine games with basically two receivers. Brown caught 101 balls and Patten 51 for the season, but it was a major dropoff after that.

Brown posted career highs in catches, yards (1,199) and had five TDs -- but only one in the final eight games.

"There is no better receiver in the middle than Troy Brown," Brady said. "This is where he is best. So we went to him there. No matter what happens, they [opposing defenses] can't cover all three areas of the field -- short, intermediate, long. They can't do that. So we will take whatever they give us.

"I feel like I will play better [than last year]. Troy feels like he will play better. No one feels like they're going the other way. So you can say we should win the Super Bowl again, but there are a lot of other teams that improved too. It's our job to defend our championship and prove that we are still the team to beat. You don't have to worry about winning eight games in one day. You only have to worry about the first one."

While the Patriots now have a full complement of offensive weapons -- TEs Daniel Graham, Cam Cleeland and Christian Fauria; WRs Hayes and Anthony Branch, who appears to be a faster version of Brown -- it's now offensive coordinator Charlie Weis' job to keep everyone happy.

On the heels of his breakout season, Brown is looking to cash in. He signed a five-year, $12.5 million pact two years ago, including a $2.5 million signing bonus. Now, Brown's looking for a top-dollar salary to mirror his No. 1 receiver standing.

Fact Tedy Bruschi's stepfather, Ron Sandys, was a professional tennis player.

Linebackers -- While most of the attention has been paid to the offensive side of the ball, defense remains a hallmark of Belichick-coached teams. He scrapped together a formidable linebacker unit in 2001, and now is looking to upgrade.

"I don't know if 'priority' is the right word," Belichick said. "If we could we would, let's put it that way. We can't manufacture them. If they are there [in free agency] and it worked, sure, I think we'd do it. If it isn't, then I think we can play with what we have if we need to."

Behind Mike Vrable and Ted Johnson, the Patriots re-signed Tedy Bruschi and Marty Moore, but have not yet brought back Roman Phifer. Veteran Bryan Cox also will not return. Still, Phifer is an option if another LB isn't signed -- or if he doesn't sign with another team.

"I am always optimistic," Belichick said. "If we could add a player at that position that we think could strengthen us and I don't know whether or not we would be able to, but if we could you bet, we would do it."

Phifer played in 95 percent of the defensive snaps last year, and if he's not coming back the Patriots need to figure out how to distribute that load. To that end, defensive end Willie McGinest also will get a look at the outside and strong-side LB spots.

Will Tom Brady build on his second-year success?

Even with Bledsoe in Buffalo, Brady still will endure the comparisons on a weekly basis.

The New York Times reported this offseason that Bledsoe wasn't quite the mentor to Brady last season that he was portrayed to be, saying Bledsoe referred to Brady as the "West Coast cheesehead."

Nonetheless, this is Tom Brady's team.

Cornerback Ty Law said the team is counting on its young quarterback to return to the top. "He's the poster boy right now and he's supposed to be," Law said. "Hopefully, he'll go out and do for us what he did last year -- take us to the Promised Land again, because we're going to ride Tom Brady. We're the supporting cast, but he's the captain of the ship."

And looking for a captain's salary. Brady is scheduled for a $398,000 salary in 2002, and already there are talks of a new deal more in line with his standing as an NFL starting QB.

After taking over for the injured Bledsoe, Brady went 14-3 as a starter and won Super Bowl MVP honors. That led to a hectic offseason that included judging the Miss America pageant, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated, making the MVP trip to Disney World and being named one of People's 50 most beautiful people.

"The one thing I keep hearing is, 'You have to be yourself. You worked hard for these opportunities and you have fun with them,' Brady said. "I do one thing and I get criticized for not doing the others. It's a fight you can't win. But understand that this is not going to take away from who I am or what I expect of myself."