You know what there haven't been enough of this offseason? Articles about the number of wide receivers on the Patriots roster. And you know what else I'd like to see a little more of? Articles predicting who will make it through the last round of cuts and who won't.

The NFL offseason is nothing if not long and repetitive. Once the dust from Free Agency and the Draft settles, all we can really do is sit around waiting for training camp to start while making a series of boneheaded predictions as to how the next few months are going to unfold. How many sacks for Chandler Jones? Who will be stepping in at Left Tackle now that Matt Light has retired? Will Devin McCourty regain the star power he flashed during his rookie year? Is this the year where Tom Brady finally decides to come to my birthday party?

While these are all legitimate questions, no other Patriots-related issue has gotten more attention than the apparent logjam at the wide receiver position. Between Welker's contract status and the plethora of names, new and old, currently on the roster at that position, it seems that there is at least one Patriots receiver receiving media attention almost every day.

Well, time to do my part. There were only two receiver-related links in Marima's post today, and only a dozen or so internet-wide over the weekend. I'm a little worried that unless we are absolutely bombarded nonstop with "who's it gonna be?" style articles, we'll all start to forget that New England has eleventy billion receivers on the roster and not enough places for them all.

Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Matthew Slater, and Jabar Gaffney all seem to be entrenched on the depth chart (unless, of course, Bill Belichick has no intention of keeping Gaffney and only signed him to a 2 year deal just to mess with the rest of the receivers' heads. I wouldn't put it by the man for a second). That only leaves seven receivers competing for what is likely three spots. There is definitely a chance that the Patriots will keep eight receivers, choosing instead to make their cuts elsewhere, but I honestly don't see it. And while we can never be 100% certain who is going to end up making the final roster (see Milloy, Lawyer), I figure that I may as well throw my hat in the ring and try to predict who the lucky fellas are who will be catching passes from Tommy B this season. Each of the receivers competing for a roster spot has unique strengths and weaknesses that will be assessed by the coaching staff over the next few months leading up to what is undoubtedly going to be one of the best training camp battles you'll find anywhere in the league. Here are the strengths and weaknesses of each player, followed by what I think their fate will be come September.

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Ever since moving from Corey Dillon and into the explosive 2007 season, the Patriots have shifted their offensive identity from a complementary offense to a passing offense with a supporting running game. That's not a bad thing; it's just how the game has evolved over time. Rules have developed to prevent as much contact against receivers and rule changes has led to greater performances by passing attacks. The Patriots have adjusted accordingly and have a tremendous wealth of talent at the receiver position.

But what about the backfield? What about the running backs? Before the draft, some of the most noteworthy free agent signings were fullbacks Spencer Larsen and Tony Fiammetta. Remember that? Once the calendar flipped to April, all focus has been on the attention to defense and to the receiving corps. Just don't forget about the fullbacks- Belichick wouldn't have brought them to the team if he didn't think they could help.

Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels is back and he enjoys having a versatile fullback- just think back to 2007 with Heath Evans and Kyle Eckel. Last season, the Patriots signed Lousaka Polite for the end of the year and he played well enough as a fullback and a special teams player. Due to the free agency period, it seems as if the team is willing to look at adding a fullback full time.

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Peter King reports Tom Brady knows how fragile an NFL career is and takes nothing for granted - not even his starting position as QB of the New England Patriots.

"Well,'' Brady said Thursday afternoon, trying to figure out what [the retirement of Matt Light] meant but not sounding at all surprised about it, "Matt called me a while ago and told me what he was planning to do, and I've called him every week since then trying to talk him out of it. He had such a great year for us. But there was no way I was going to be able to talk him out of it. He'll be a tough player to replace. But, you know, every year in this game, there's a lot of change.''

"My wife [Gisele Bundchen] said to me, 'When I met you [in 2006], you said you wanted to play 10 more years. How come that number never goes down?' It's that I love the game. I love the game. I'm going to play until they tell me they don't want me anymore.''

"I just met with coach Belichick this morning,'' Brady said. "I still feel like I'm in my first year trying to prove myself. There's no entitlement around coach Belichick. I've got to be the best guy for him to keep playing me. When I'm not, someone else will play.''

Kevin McNamara reports DE Markell Carter is ready to build on his practice squad experience from last year.

"I’m 22, so the rookies are as old as me, but I guess I’m older," Carter said with a laugh. "I learned a lot (last year). Just how to be professional, the Patriot way, how to handle myself. The time with the practice squad helped me develop as a player and just as a man."

Carter is yet another in what has become a deep pool of young, pass-rushing linebackers on the roster. The former Central Arkansas product knew the Pats had him in their plans last December when the team chose to double his practice squad salary from $149,000 to $300,000 when he resisted the chance to move to another team. He was regarded as one of the leading players on the practice squad all season, but was never promoted to the active squad.

"There was no bitterness that I was unable to play," he said. "Bill’s a great coach, so whenever he says I’m ready, I’m ready. Obviously the pay raise shows that they’re interested in you. Whenever your boss gives you a raise, you’re going to feel good about yourself." "You have a lot of young, fresh legs running around out there, a lot of eagerness out there," he said. "We all want to prove ourselves and build on what some of the older guys did last year."

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When the movie "The Blind Side" came out in theaters in 2009, it gave allowed us to learn a lot more about Michael Oher. We learned about all of the hardships he went through in making it to the NFL. The movie itself very accurately portrayed Oher's rise from nothing to something.

In addition to all of this, I felt the movie gave football fans more of an appreciation for one of the most under appreciated positions in our sport: Left Tackle. Don't worry, punters, your day will come soon enough. I can see it now "The Real Dirk: The Rise And Fall Of NFL Punter Dirk Johnson"....

But really, it's actually one of the most important positions in the game itself. They are the guys who has the QB's back on any given down, and protects their blind side when some of the league's best pass rushers. By far, it's one of the most crucial positions on the football field. As we move through the years of football, you see teams drafting "cornerstone left tackles" when reconstructing an offensive line. Jake Long, Trent Williams, and most recently, Matt Kalil are evidence of this claim.

Last week, the New England Patriots lost one of the most important figures on their team, as starting left tackle Matt Light retired from the NFL after 11 years of service, all with New England. During his tenure, Light earned pro-bowl berths in 2006, 2007 and 2010 and was an All-Pro in 2007. He, along with Tom Brady and Kevin Faulk were the three playes on the 2011 roster who lasted through every Super Bowl run in the 2000's.

Now that Light is sailing off into the Nantucket sunset, the question of where he ranks in terms of where he ranks at his position in team history. In my eyes, the top five most successful Patriot left tackles (in no order) are Light, Bruce Armstrong, Leon Gray, Brian Holloway and Don Oakes. Specifically, Light and Armstrong are in my top two. From a success standpoint, I fully believe that Matt Light has been the most successful of the bunch.

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The last time that the New England Patriots took an undrafted rookie free agent runningback from Ole' Miss, it's pretty safe to say it panned out for them. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who was a nobody coming into the league, quickly established his name as one of the most reliable runners in the league.

During his four years in New England, 'The Law Firm' carried the ball 510 times and racked up 2,064 yards and 29 touchdowns. And in those four seasons, BJGE never put the ball on the ground once. So when Green-Ellis decided to cash in and sign with the Bengals, you can't fault the Patriots for sticking to the print and to trying to recreate him. That's exactly what they will try to do with UDFA Brandon Bolden.

Bolden, who also went to Ole' Miss, has drawn comparisons to Green-Ellis in terms of his physical build and running style. Despite all of the similarities they both have in their path to the NFL, Bolden is interested in making a name for himself in New England.

"Ben was at Ole Miss the [two] years before I was there; he was walking out the door as I was coming in. He's a great guy, a great running back. I watched a lot of film on him," Bolden said of Green Ellis, who had 2.064 rushing yards (including 1,008 in 2010) in 53 career games with the Patriots.

"[But] honestly, I haven't paid much attention to it. Ben did what he did because that's what Ben does. And I'm coming in trying to make it as he did."

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After the sudden passing of longtime mentor and friend Tom Martinez, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has had to try and seek a new personal coach during his offseason training. Instead of looking for someone with a football background to work him, he's turned to the sport of baseball, instead.

According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, Brady was one of many NFL quarterbacks that have confided in Tom House, a former Major League Baseball pitcher in order to improve their throwing mechanics. Brady, along with Alex Smith, Matt Cassel, Carson Palmer worked out with House. Here's an exert from the article, which was primarily on Smith's visit to House:

A former major-league pitcher with a doctorate in sports psychology, House, 65, is best known as a professorial pitching coach who has counseled legends such as Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson. His expertise on the science of throwing led him to start working with NFL quarterbacks about a decade ago, and his pupils have included New England's Tom Brady and New Orleans' Drew Brees.

On the recommendation of Brees, Smith spent a week with House in late March at the Rod Dedeaux Research and Baseball Institute at USC along with Brady, Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer and the Chiefs' Matt Cassel.

After announcing his retirement from the NFL almost exactly a year ago, Randy Moss decided that he had a little bit of football left in him. The former Patriots wide receiver signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal where he will look to add another weapon to Jim Harbaugh's up and coming offense.

This week, Moss reported to the 49ers training facility to begin voluntary team workouts, and has impressed his coaches and teammates. Even though he's been out of football for over a year now, there doesn't appear to be an ounce of rust on him, so says his new Quarterback.

"It's tough to tell that he missed a year of football. I certainly don't see any rust," said 49ers quarterback Alex Smith talking to ESPN.com. "He's running well, catching well. No surprise, he's a pro and already has a good understanding of the playbook."

The Randy Moss that we were all fortunate to see here in New England was a dynamic physical specimen who could use his height to over match anybody that was covering him. During his four year tenure with the Patriots, Moss racked up 259 catches for 3,904 yards and 50 total touchdowns.

Someone who knows Moss all too well is Donte Whitner, the former Buffalo Bills safety that was given the assignment to try and contain him twice a year. Whitner, who now plays for the Niners, believes that Moss hasn't changed one bit since when he faced him in New England.

"He still looks the same," said Whitner. "He's a long strider, and when you actually run against him, he's really running really fast. He's running the same as he's always run. His body looks like a younger Randy Moss, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do on the football field."

So it seems like Randy is doing some good things in the city by the bay. As a Patriots fan, it was fun for me to watch him flat out dominate defensive backs the way he did. He was the last real deep threat we ever had on the team, and was truly a joy to watch. I wish him nothing but the best in his time with San Francisco. And of course, I'm looking forward to his return to New England, when the Niners and Pats square off on Dec. 16.

With the Celtics and Red Sox not playing until later today, it appears that this Saturday morning should be used for some football talk! Thus, I introduce to you the first ever "Saturday Morning Coffee", a weekly discussion question that will be up every Saturday morning about various offseason topics.

This week's topic is all about the rookies, as they began their first minicamp at Dana Farber Field House at Gillette Stadium on Friday afternoon. Those who highlighted the first ever organized rookie gathering were prized first round picks Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower, and the highly questioned-second round choice Tavon Wilson. Those three were joined by five other draftees, along with seven URFA that team signed.

For the fans, this is an early stage in the long process we take to evaluate players. We'll begin to see if these guys can really live up to their reputations that got them here, and progress towards the next level in order to help the Patriots progress as a team.

While the obvious three intriguing players coming into this are Jones, Hightower and Wilson; there are other players that are worth receiving some hype. Here is the full list of rookies in camp this weekend:

Vote on the Patriots rookie that you are most excited about, After the jump!

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When the season ended, it seemed that one of the more unstable positions on the football field for the Patriots was their receiving corps. Wes Welker and Deion Branch were both slated to go to free agency, Chad Ochocinco was coming off an awful campaign, and they guys like Tiquan Underwood that were being used as immediate depth. But we now sit in mid-May, and wideout is one of the solidified positions they have.

Both Welker and Branch were brought back for at least another year, and the team also added guys like Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Donte Stallworth and Anthony Gonzalez. One man who was used to having depth to work with at receiver in 2007 was offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who had Welker, Gaffney, Stallworth as well as Randy Moss to make plays for. As McDaniels tells WEEI's Christopher Price, he's really excited to have all this depth at receiver, once again.

"It's going to be an exciting thing for us to watch and see how it all develops, because we have some guys that can do some different things," McDaniels said Friday afternoon at Gillette Stadium.

"I think that makes for great competition. I know every year, we talk about having great competition at every spot, and the receiver position is certainly going to be filled with that. We have a ton of guys here, working hard and making sure they're ready for [organized team activities] in the spring. We're going to give them all an opportunity. I don't think you want to assume too many things. Let them go back out there and demonstrate what they know, what they can do, what they can provide our team, and let the competition play out."

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On Friday, we all got our first look of the new members of the New England Patriots, on field at Dana Farber Field House at Gillette Stadium for the 2012 Patriots Rookie Minicamp.

During the draft, defense was the primary concern, as the Patriots traded up twice in the first round to select Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones at No. 21 and Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower at No. 25 overall. The team went on to make some great value in selecting Arkansas DE/OLB Jake Bequette in the third round and Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard in the seventh round. Second round pick Tavon Wilson was the most questionable pick of them all, as he was viewed by many as a potential undrafted free agent.

But talk is talk. These players got their chance today to give the Patriots coaching staff a solid first impression about how they can contribute to a team that is looking to get back to the Super Bowl in 2012. Just prior to the start of their workouts, some of the participants spoke with the media about their first impressions about beginning their first official pro practice. For Chandler Jones, it's all about making that first impression.

"A lot of people tell me I only get the opportunity to make one first impression. This week is my opportunity to make a first impression," Jones said. "What I'm trying to do is learn this playbook and impress the coaches."

"[I need to] learn all the do's and don't's. Be a sponge," Jones said. "Know your role and just earn the respect from everyone."

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