Hours Before Kickoff: Preseason Three posted by Randolph Charlotin

It’s the most important preseason game – the dress rehearsal. The starters will play three quarters as the players and coaches prepared for the game as if it is a regular season game.

Enjoy it while you still can if the owners have their way. The greedy millionaires want to cash in two preseason games for two regular season games. They say it’s for the fans to give us better value. They say we don’t care for the preseason.

The truth is we don’t care for paying full price for practice games. Owners don’t like seeing their stadiums partially full, knowing they aren’t making every cent possible or even losing money on the night.

I’m one of the millions of fans that practically can’t get enough football. I tune daily in to the NFL Network just to see what’s on. NFL Replay is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’ve DVRed the Patriots preseason games to watch a second time. And I’ve watched a bit of almost every preseason replay aired by the network.

But like anything, there is such thing as too much. More regular season games means more chances for injuries, more meaningless games at the end of the year, and it cheapens future records.

1,000 yards rushing already isn’t a big deal because a player has to average just 62.5 yards per game. With 18 games, the average drops to 55.5. Tom Brady’s 50 touchdown and Dan Marino’s 5,084 passing yards seasons would be eclipsed, but how remarkable would it be?

Eric Dickerson owns the single season rushing record with 2,105 yards. It wouldn’t take long for a running back to come along and surpass the record. But how great of an accomplishment would that be when O.J. Simpson, the first player to break 2K, did it in just 14 games?

A Memory of Kevin Turner posted by Randolph Charlotin

Fullbacks rarely have moments to shine. If one is lucky, they have a signature play to be remembered by.

Think back to 1994. It’s week 11, a home game against the Minnesota Vikings. QB Drew Bledsoe’s coming out party. After falling behind 20-0, Bledsoe rallied the Pats in the second half to tie the game at 20 before leading an overtime drive that ended with a 14-yard game-winning touchdown.

Remember who was on the receiving end of that pass?

The player was Kevin Turner. He released from the backfield on a play action fake and caught the touch pass in the back corner of the endzone, just landing inbounds.

Known better for his hands than his blocking, Turner had a good eight year career. The former 1992 third round pick out of Alabama played three years for the Patriots before parlaying his 52-catch 741-yard 1994 season into a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Turner played more years with Philly, but he will be remembered for that one play over his five years with the Eagles. Hopefully Patriot fans remember Turner for that touchdown catch because it was recently revealed that he has ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Lou Gehrig’s disease is a terminal neurodegenerative condition. Slowly Turner loses the ability to control his body. The life expectancy of someone diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease is 3-5 years.

Turner doesn’t have much time left until he’s likely paralyzed, bedridden, and breathing through a ventilator. He will leave behind two boys and a daughter. Turner is just 41 years old.

Pick Six: Preseason Game Two posted by Randolph Charlotin

Thankfully the NFL Network aired a replay of Thursday’s preseason game on Friday afternoon. I might not get to the game on my DVR now:

1. It brings me no comfort knowing the two best running backs are also injury-prone. On just 17 carries, Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris combined for 106 of the Patriots’ 120 rushing yards. They also missed 14 games combined last year. Owner Robert Kraft’s decision to build Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center as part of Patriot Place looks smarter by the day. Hopefully there’s an express lane just in case for Taylor and Morris.

2. On the other side of the ball, I don’t like the run defense, particularly the first unit. Two weeks in a row they gave up at least 50 yards on the ground by halftime. This could be the first sign of how much the defense will miss DE Ty Warren.

3. I’m also not high on the defense’s inability to apply pressure. After two games the Pats have two sacks. The only way they’re making quarterbacks nervous is by blitzing. Most defenses can’t survive by living by the blitz. Thankfully the secondary has been solid so far.

4. I’m sold on TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. They have different abilities that will compliment each other very well. Hernandez appears to have great run after the catch ability. Gronk doesn’t go down after first contact and will power his way for extra yards. Both showed soft hands on their touchdown receptions. Hernandez gets extra points for great body control and dragging his toes inbounds on his score.

Pick Six: Preseason Game 1 posted by Randolph Charlotin

Before the first preseason game, the Patriots held a ceremony to induct RB Sam “Bam” Cunningham into the Patriots Hall of Fame. He was joined on stage by owner Bob Kraft and fellow HoFers LB Andre Tippett, QB Steve Grogan, CB Michael Haynes, K-WR Gino Cappelletti, LB Steve Nelson, and G John Hannah. Not only was I there, but I was fortunate enough to shake Cunningham’s hand and say congratulations to the newest member while wearing his throwback jersey (thanks to Bob Hyldburg for making that opportunity happen).

While I don't like a runningback with 5,453 career rushing yards being a HoFer, I will pay my respects to the honoree. And when his peers heap praise upon him, I won’t argue with that. Grogan said if Cunningham was the primary ball carrier instead of part of a backfield committee, he would had run for double. That would mean 10,906 yards. That’s a number that impresses me.

It took me this long to finally get a second viewing of the first preseason game. Hopefully it doesn’t take me as long for game two:

1. The secondary won the game for the Patriots. CB Terrance Wheatley deflected a pass in the endzone and made a great tackle on a boot-legging QB Chase Daniel inside the five to force a game-tying field goal. And S Sergio Brown made the hit that led to Eric Alexander’s sealing interception. Wheatley is fighting for a roster spot and probably has to beat out Jonathan Wilhite for a nickel of dime back role. And rookie free agent Brown needs to make a good enough impression to make the practice squad or possibly the active roster.

First Look posted by Randolph Charlotin

It was seven months ago that New England was blasted on their home field in a Wild Card loss to Baltimore. Now, with a few free agent additions and the arrival of a very intriguing draft class, we get our first glimpse of the 2010 Patriots.

The starters won’t play much against the reigning Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, which is what I want. I’m more interested in the players fighting for their roster spots. Here’s what I’ll be looking for Thursday night:

Who starts: LG is up in the air with Logan Mankins holding out and Nick Kaczur injured. With one OLB spot an open competition, who plays with the first unit could indicate who’s in the lead. Will ILB Gary Guyton play alongside Jerod Mayo or has Brandon Spikes already nudged the Georgia Tech product aside? We’ll see if S Pat Chung can take the first step toward warding off challengers James Sanders and Brandon McGowan. And if WR Wes Welker sits this one out, who is the back-up plan?

Tight Ends on the Loose: QB Tom Brady never had this much receiving talent at this position in his 10 years with New England. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez get to prove if they are worthy of the high praise they received from draft evaluators.

The Cunning Mr. Cunningham: I have no idea what OLB Jermaine Cunningham brings to the team. Is he more run stopper or can he really get after the quarterback? He is one of my biggest curiosities because he was an unexpected selection.

A Pair of Good Catches: I like the idea of taking a chance on WR Taylor Price, an under-utilized receiver from a run-first offense. We’ll see if he’s better with more opportunities. And WR Brandon Tate pretty much had a redshirt year with the Pats last year. Tate could send a message to the rest of the league for not drafting him in 2009.

A Hall Pass for Morris posted by Randolph Charlotin

The Patriots Hall of Fame needs a senior selection committee. Just like the Pro Football Hall of Fame has a separate group to induct players whose window of eligibility expired, the Patriots Hall could use a similar group.

It should consist of former accomplished players and veteran journalists that know the history of the franchise inside and out. The players don’t have to be members of the hall. If the player had a good career with the team (Steve Grogan, for example), he could be a part of this SSC.

The idea is to have a group of people to elect deserving players when the normal process passes them over. It works for the NFL Hall. RB Floyd Little didn’t get in until 30 years after his eligibility, and DB Dick LeBeau benefited from the SSC after being snubbed for 33 years.

The reason I’m saying this is on Wednesday, RB Sam “Bam” Cunningham will enter the Patriots Hall. With all due respect, he shouldn’t be a Patriots Hall of Famer with a career rushing total 5,453 yards, less than the career rushing leader for all but two NFL teams (Houston’s Dominick Davis and Carolina’s DeShawn Foster).

The problem lies in letting fans vote for the Hall of Famers. A panel pares down the list of nominees down to three finalists that the fans pick from. While knowledgeable, many fans will put their vote for a player with statistics. Since fans had the final word, the selections have been WR Stanley Morgan, TE Ben Coates, RB Jim Nance, and Cunningham, players that have yards and touchdowns to make their case for selection.

Quick Cuts posted by Randolph Charlotin

The purpose of training camp is to sift through the roster and find players while discarding the ones that won’t cut it with the team. New England isn’t wasting time with that process this year, as two players are out, with a third pending, and camp hasn’t even been in session for a week!

Before the first snap of camp, the Patriots placed OLB Shawn Crable on the active-PUP list before cutting him. As camp started, DE Derrick Burgess was MIA as rumors swirl that he’s contemplating retirement. And three days into practices, WR David Patten hung up his cleats, declaring he had enough after a dozen years in the NFL.

It’s far from the end for Crable, a 2008 third round pick that never played a down and spent two years on injured reserve. He could resurface with another team or play in another league, like the CFL or the AFL. It’s not even out of the question that the Pats bring Crable back if Burgess actually hangs it up. Without them, the roster is thin at outside pass rushers with OLBs Tully Banta-Cain, Pierre Woods, DE Rob Ninkovich, and rookie Jermaine Cunningham.

While Burgess Favres (v: to be indecisive between retirement or playing another year), Patten was sure that he was done. Physically David had it in him, but the desire was gone. He walks away with much of his health intact with plenty of opportunities before him. A lot of players aren’t as fortunate as Patten to leave on his own terms and without an injury that will affect his quality of life.

Patten wasn’t nudged out, but in all honesty, his chance of earning a roster spot with New England was going to be tough. Veterans Randy Moss and Wes Welker are locks with Torry Holt very likely to secure a role. And youngsters Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman and Taylor Price have the potential to be great. Matt Slater and Sam Aiken, as effective special teamers, have extra value to the team.

Starting 11 posted by Randolph Charlotin

The freshmen are on campus (at least the ones who have all their admission papers completed and signed) and the upperclassmen are due to arrive on Thursday. Training camp is under way.

There is no shortage of storylines we’ll discover during camp. Everyday there will be a new perspective on a competition or a personal story of achievement to learn about.

I have a handful of things I’m anxious to see or hear about. Instead of a shallow top five you’ll see in a lot of places of the biggest question marks, I’m going in a slightly different direction by listing my top eleven, in no specific order. Sorry Zoltan Mesko. You didn’t make my Starting 11:

Torry Holt: I have high expectations for the 11-year veteran. I said back in February I wanted the Pats to sign Holt when he was a free agent. Because New England did, I want him to succeed because a bit of my reputation as a couch scout is on the line.

I doubt Holt will be the complete failure that Joey Galloway was last year. With 10 years with the St. Louis Rams and their Greatest Show on Turf offense, I have complete confidence that Holt will know how to run the routes the right way, make the correct adjustments, get open, and make the catch. But watching Holt do it will be so much more enjoyable to watch.

Backfield Breakdown: This could be the last chance for Laurence Maroney. The Pats didn’t draft a running back to challenge the disappointing Maroney, but this is the final year of his rookie contract. For a player given quick hooks when his back-ups out-play him during the game, the Patriots continue to show confidence in Maroney by not finding a challenger to his starting spot.

Training Camp Preview posted by Randolph Charlotin

Most of the rookies might already be in attendance, but training camp doesn't officially begin until the veterans show up on Thursday. In anticipation, I spoke with FootballOutsiders.com creator Aaron Schatz and got his take on what to look for during camp:

In the Running for Unga? posted by Randolph Charlotin

After the dust settled and all the trades were counted, the Patriots came away from the draft with a dozen selections. But not one of them was a running back. They could have a chance to select one July 15th.

Harvey Unga might be the prize of next week’s supplemental draft. The 6-foot 237-pound power back is leaving BYU because Mormon living is cramping his and his wife’s style.

His numbers are very good. In three years as a starter, Unga averaged 1,151 yards, five yards per carry, and 12 touchdowns. He’s projected to go as high as the second round.

New England is reportedly interested in Unga, which is understandable. Laurence Maroney is in the final year of his contract and is yet to play to his potential. But more of a concern is the durability of Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor.

In three years with the Patriots, Morris missed 17 of 48 games. Taylor was out for 10 games in his first season with the Pats last year. The lack of durability for a pair of between the tackle runners age 34 (Taylor) and 33 (Morris) doesn’t bode well for the upcoming season.

If the coaching staff showed any faith in BenJarvus Green-Ellis, speculation for Unga would be greatly reduced, if not tamped down completely. But the combined factors create the need for reliable depth behind Maroney, Morris, and Taylor.

If the interest in Unga is true, then the Patriots will have to win the game of chicken against the rest of the league during the supplemental draft. Teams have a chance to make a selection or pass until the next round. Knowing head coach Bill Belichick, he will want Unga’s talents at a good value for the selection. But a selection in the supplemental draft costs a team a selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

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