Erik Scalavino explains why the no-huddle offense isn't used more often during games - and it has nothing to do with the Patriots' lack of defense last year.

I wrote a detailed analysis of the team’s no-huddle offense around mid-season last year and, in it, discovered that the team scored two-thirds of the time when they went no-huddle (which was about a third of the time). They huddled two-thirds of the time, but scored just once every three drives from the slowed-down tempo. So, I asked Bill Belichick and Tom Brady why they didn’t use it more often when it appeared to be so successful.

Their responses were revealing. Essentially, they said operating without a huddle is advantageous only when going up against defensive personnel who aren’t equipped to match up with the players the Patriots have on the field. The disadvantage, from New England’s standpoint, is that they can’t substitute when they’re not huddling. This limits the number of plays they can run with the personnel they have out there.

For instance, if the Patriots have their third-down back on the field with three receivers and one tight end, that personnel package isn’t always the desired one for goal-line situations, when a "heavy" package is more likely to succeed. So, no matter what improvements the Patriots make to their 2011 league-worst defense this year, they will have no effect on the offensive play calling.

Now, the lack of Light’s steady presence is surely a loss for New England’s o-line, but I have little doubt about Solder’s ability to step in and perform. For one, he’s far more prepared for the role than Light was when he was handed the job as a rookie in 2001. Secondly, Solder is a more talented player and could potentially be better than Light ever was.

However, I share your concerns about Vollmer’s health, which puts the right tackle position up for grabs. Cannon, it would seem, would be the frontrunner to replace Vollmer, if he can’t go, but you could see competition for that role from any number of young players on the roster, such as Matt Kopa (a 2011 practice squadder), or perhaps veteran Robert Gallery, if he’s not thrust into the right guard role.

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For the second straight year, New England Patriots left guard Logan Mankins has made Top 100 list of NFL players, as voted by the players, coming in at No. 64 overall in the 2012 ranking. He joins Vince Wilfork (No. 81 overall) as the only two Patriots that have made the list thus far.

Mankins' 2012 rank is noticeably lower than where he was a year ago, as he topped all NFL guards as the No. 39 ranked NFL player in 2011. While Mankins repeated his pro-bowl performance last season, his late season ACL injury could have contributed to the lower rank. Former New Orleans Saints guard Carl Nicks (No. 76 overall) is the only other guard to be named in the countdown thus far.

Regardless of the decline in rank, players around the league still consider Mankins to be one of the best guards in the league today.

Said Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Raheem Brock of Mankins:

"He's just a great overall offensive lineman. He's not just a great pass blocker, he's a great run blocker, too. He's pretty good at trying to disguise the run and the pass. In Indy, they know how we played. We spin a lot, and one play or another, he might set me up, knowing I'm going to spin and the other guy is coming to clean me up. They'd kind of laugh at you because it was kind of a set-up."

"People don't pay to see offensive linemen play, but he's one of the best," Brock said.

Added Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Evan Mathis of Mankins:

"Really laid-back guy off the field, doesn't say much, but when it's time to perform, he gets out there and he's mean, playing with aggression, and playing through the whistle," he said.

Tom Brady, Jerod Mayo, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker are all candidates to crack the Top 60 names on the list.

According to sources close to WEEI.com's Christopher Price, the New England Patriots and seventh-round selection Jeremy Ebert have agreed in principle to a four-year deal worth about $2.148 million. The team's final choice in the 2012 NFL Draft will earn $48,200 as a signing bonus.

Ebert, a 6'0, 195 pound wide receiver out of Northwestern, was the only offensive player selected by Patriots in this year's draft. In his senior season at Northwestern, he had 75 receptions for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns. He finished his collegiate career included 156 receptions and 20 total touchdowns.

Ebert will join an already crowded New England wide receiver corps that includes veterans Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Donte Stallworth and Anthony Gonzalez. With all of the competition that he'll have in training camp, he's likely in line for a practice squad spot.

Ebert is the second Patriots draft choice to sign on, as second round choice Tavon Wilson signed on for four years and $4.217 million earlier this month.

When the Patriots offense takes the field on any given play, I used to firmly believe that quarterback Tom Brady was the best player on the field for New England. After watching them last season, I second guessed my prior judgement many times.

After a very solid first year in the league, Rob Gronkowski exploded onto the NFL scene, as he developed into one of the league's most elite tight ends. In 2011, caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns, which was worthy enough for an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection. He and fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez teamed up to form an unprecedented two-headed monster at the position.

On Wednesday, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah compiled a list of the top players in the league that are 25 years of age or younger. While the 22-year old Hernandez was one of those who just missed the cut, the 23-year old Gronkowski did make the cut. More from Jeremiah:

The word "Beast" is grossly overused in today's sports vernacular. However, in Gronk's case, there is no better term to describe him. In just his second season, he established himself as the best tight end in the NFL. He hauled in 90 balls for 1,327 yards and 17 TDs (a record for tight ends). He had multiple TDs in seven different regular season games. He has ideal size, speed and hands. His ability to use his frame to wall-off defenders on third down is a huge luxury for Tom Brady. I'd also rank him as the second best red-zone target in the NFL behind only Detroit's Calvin Johnson.

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Twitter / @WesWelker

I signed my tender today. I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results. #leapoffaith

Mark Daniels notes Donte Stallworth considers himself a changed man. Stallworth felt 'surreal' stepping back in Gillette Stadium.

"I’m a lot more mature now than I was then. I feel like I’m playing better. I’m in a better place, mentally, physically," Stallworth said. "I just felt like at that time I was trying to mature and grow into a professional athlete. I feel like I’m a lot further down the road than I was last time."

He says he returns to the Patriots a different player, now understanding the game and running better routes. And he’ll need every advantage he can get, joining a loaded receiving group that added Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney [stats] and Anthony Gonzalez to the returning Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Chad Ochocinco. Competition is nothing new to Stallworth, who’s played on six different teams in his last six NFL seasons.

"I think you just come to the reality that basically you have one shot to prove yourself," said Stallworth. "And then whatever happens after that is really up to me and my performance."

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According to his official twitter account, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker has signed his franchise tender with the team. The tender is worth $9.5 million over one year.

In the tweet, Welker stated that he "love the game" and his teammates and that "hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results." Clearly, Welker is signing the tender in good faith that the two sides will continue to work out a long term extension.

From a fan perspective, this is awesome news. Not only does it get the team's top receiver and Tom Brady's favorite option under contract for at least one more year, but it shows fans exactly how committed Welker is to the team. For the Patriots organization, having Welker under contract gives the team a lot more leverage in negotiations. Welker will now be required to show up for training camp and mandatory mini-camp (in June), or he will be sacrificing part of his $9.5 million salary. The team no longer has as much urgency to get a deal done. At the same time, should they fail to extend Welker, it would qualify as a bad PR move since Welker has taken this "leap of faith," as he described it.

For Welker, there is not much to gain from this move from a financial perspective. He's played into the Patriots hand in that sense. Nonetheless, this move shows a renewed commitment to the team and will allow him to get into team workouts and OTA's, acclimate with the team's new additions and make the necessary preparations to have a successful 2012 season.

The Patriots have started to move with their younger players and announced the signing of Tavon Wilson and the release of Mike Hartline. Hopefully they can continue to fine-tune the roster as the off-season gets into full swing.

Wilson was selected in the second round, 48th overall, and was considered a shock to most draftniks. While he was a long term starter and a quality player in his conference, he didn't receive recognition in the post-college process and was not invited to the combine or other activities. Still, Bill Belichick and the Patriots thought he deserved to be drafted and jumped at the chance to take him. The contract is 4 years, $4.217 million, with a $1.507 million signing bonus. The first two years of his contract is guaranteed, while the final two are not. As is typical with top round picks, unless Wilson is devastatingly bad, he's assured to be around for at least two seasons.

Hartline was expected to be a camp body and his release gives the Patriots space to sign another team's castoffs.