Hello Patriots fans!  If you're like me, you're about ready to crawl out of your skin.  Like a bear waking up from hibernation, the amount of football news and stories has increased dramatically.  It's like drinking out of a fire hose if you ask me.  But, that's ok.  Better that than the "dead zone" that is the space between OTAs and Training Camp.

Mike Reiss, one of the best sportswriters covering the Patriots, is back from a well deserved vacation and you can tell.  Reiss's Pieces is absolutely loaded with a plethora of information.  Of paticular note is Mike's snapshots.  In his classic, non-editorializing style, Mike breaks down each position with an easy-to-read table full of strengths, weaknesses and questions, to name a few.  This is like a primer for those of us attending TC; print these snapshots out, study, and watch the field.  Thanks Mike.

Another awesome piece by Mike, entitled Reiss's 10 story lines to watch at training camp, is yet another great primer on what to watch for from the boys this summer.  This is classic football junkie stuff and I'm in heaven.  I just wish I had the time to read and digest every word of it, but things like work and family keep getting in the way.

Lest I forget to send some love to our Patriots Cheerleaders, tryouts have started.  These fine athletes get zero credit, but work incredibly hard at what they do.  Having a daughter in varsity cheerleading and a friend who was a former Patriots cheerleader, I can attest to how ridiculously hard they work.  And get very little credit.

ESPN.com's power rankings, the 2008 Training Camp edition, has the New England Patriots on top.  Let me get this out quickly: I place little value in power rankings.  It's a mind exercise a) attempt to make the subjective seem objective and b) fill up web pages or print articles.  At any rate, it's cool to see my team at the top.

Need some wallpaper to help get you in the mood for the 2008 season?  You'll find tons of stuff right here.

Tom Brady wins an Espy as Best NFL Player.  It's hard not to with the season he had.  I would, however, argue that a player who turns lemons into lemonade with less than stellar talent should win this award, much like Tom has done for the past 6 or 7 years, but stats are king in this gang.  In reading these awards, be prepared to cringe when you see the Best Play (Manning to Tyree) and Best Upset (Super Bowl, Giants vs. Patriots).  OUCH!!