Hours Before Kickoff: Week 17

With all the talk about whether or not the starters should play, how long do they play, which uniforms they should wear when they play, do they perform the ancient Celtic (hard “C” sound like a K, not like the basketball team) New Year’s ritual before they play, etc. Few people talked about who will play after the starters take a seat.

First priority is player safety. New England has 12 players on the injured report this week and don’t need new admissions. We know all too well injuries are unpredictable and with the option of taking extra precautions versus tempting fate, most side with the former.

But before letting paranoia paralyze one’s mind, have faith New England’s turf is in better condition than Houston’s. More than that, look at the season finale with optimism as we’re getting a preview of the 2011 Patriots.

CBA permitting, New England could be dramatically different this year. They will have 17 free agents to make decisions about. Certainly some will be back, but others won’t return, whether it was the team’s decision or the player follows a better opportunity.

LT Matt Light and LG Logan Mankins will be unrestricted free agents. Do you think both will be back? I doubt it. Either Mankins takes the money and runs or the Pats believe Sebastian Vollmer can do Light’s job better, the left side of the O-line will change.

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis will be a restricted free agent, so he won’t go anywhere. But after Danny Woodhead, the backfield could be completely different. Woodhead replaced Kevin Faulk this season. Would Bill Belichick keep a duplicate player for sentimental reasons?

Fred Taylor probably gets the most carries since week three. Appreciate them because these will be his last carries as a Patriot, maybe for his career as well. Sammy Morris could see his run in New England come to an end as well.

Sunday will be an opportunity for Thomas Clayton. The former practice squad player will make his case to the Patriots. College bowl season is in progress and the Pats are very familiar with Daniel Thomas, Mark Ingram, Evan Royster, and others. Clayton ran well in the preseason. With a strong performance in the finale, Clayton makes a statement that backfield depth starts with him.

This feels like a preseason game. It gives me new reason to get excited about a meaningless game. I don’t care to see a bunch of veterans go through the motions, more concerned about their safety than execution. Let the hungry kids with something to prove play.

New England drafted 24 players the past two years and nearly have that many selections in the 2011 NFL Draft. I want to see if there’s a need for a Ryan Kerrigan or Andrew Jackson.

QB Brian Hoyer has been waiting all year for relevant snaps. There are dozens of Patriots that feel the same way.

Have a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year one and all. A few things I’m looking for:

A Good Stretch: Receivers Brandon Tate and Taylor Price are said to have deep speed. Please, Hoyer, go over the top and see if they can go get it.

Wake Up: Double or triple team OLB Cameron Wake. A division rival would love to ruin our post season prospects with a good lick on QB Tom Brady.

Spartans vs. Wolverines: Both teams lost their bowl games, but Hoyer (Michigan State) and Chad Henne (University of Michigan) play for bragging rights.

Yes the game doesn’t matter, but New England wants to win. The Dolphins are falling to pieces. The Patriots sweep them up.