New England Patriots Links 7/26/11 - Back In Action, Patriots Waste No Time

CSNNE reports players will return to Gillette Stadium today, but mandatory physicals and the conditioning run will take place Wed.

Starting Tuesday, Patriots players will return to Gillette Stadium to touch base with coaches and personnel. There won't be any physical work being done Tuesday, but more of a gathering of sorts.

Wednesday is when the players actually start to get down to business. Physicals will be done on Wednesday, and the annual conditioning run will take place. This will be the first test to see which players kept in shape during the lockout.

It's also closed to the media and the public.

[UPDATE: 11:12 am]

The first two days of the Patriots Training Camp schedule have been released:

Thursday
Practices - 9:30-11:30am and 3:30-5:30pm
Patriots Experience 11:00am - 4:00pm

Friday
Practices - 9:30-11:30am and 3:30-5:30pm
Patriots Experience 11:00am - 4:00pm

Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots back-to-work FYI.

Readiness factor: The Patriots' organization might have the NFL's most established infrastructure. Players dutifully follow Bill Belichick's scripted, proven routines. Leadership from players such as Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Logan Mankins, Matt Light (if he returns) and Vince Wilfork will help the Patriots galvanize more speedily than most clubs.

Biggest challenge: The Patriots need to manufacture a pass rush. It will be interesting to see whether Belichick pursues assistance through free agency or sticks with the youngsters on his roster. The Patriots tied for 14th in sacks last season with 36. Starting outside linebackers Tully Banta-Cain, Rob Ninkovich and Jermaine Cunningham combined for just 10 sacks and 26 quarterback hits.

Backfield in motion: The Patriots had an entertaining tandem with BenJarvus Green-Ellis pounding out the carries (1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns) and Danny Woodhead electrifying fans as a combo runner-receiver (926 yards from scrimmage and six TDs) last season. But the rest of the backfield depth chart could be erased (see below), and the DanJarvus Green-Woodhead attack probably won't handle as much responsibility. The Patriots drafted running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley back-to-back in the second round.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Mankins' contract has expired, but the Patriots placed the franchise tag on him. Light, running backs Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor and safety Brandon McGowan are up in the air.

TEAM TALK

• New England Patriots Training Camp Information.
• Patriots to open Training Camp to the public Thursday.
• Kraft's influence on CBA (2.01 min. video)
• NFL owners & players announce football is back. (7.49 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Shalise Manza Young sees the need for the Patriots to act quickly to negotiate with their own free agents and sign their rookies.
• Mike Reiss tells us how key upcoming dates on the new NFL calendar will impact the Patriots.
• Jim Donaldson implores the Patriots to re-sign Logan Mankins as job No. 1.
• Christopher Price profiles the six undrafted free agents signed by the Patriots last night, along with video highlights.
• Greg A. Bedard notes the NFL is back in action, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft is deservedly getting much of the credit.
• Ian Rapoport reports Robert Kraft helped usher in the new CBA while still in mourning and the Patriots players are ready for camp.
• Mike Reiss notes few owners in the history of professional sports have a moment like the one Robert Kraft experienced D.C.
• Karen Guregian adds up the winners and the losers of the NFL lockout.
• Mark Farinella says this won't be your grandfather's NFL.
• Paul Kenyon reports that from an agent's perspective, the new CBA is a whole new ballgame.
• Bob Ryan reports no harm, no foul from the lockout and says we all survived very nicely missing only a little free agency talk and the Hall of Fame scrimmage.
• Christopher Price takes time to size up the AFC now that the lockout has been lifted.
• Jeff Howe gives the Patriots a slight edge over the Jets as the class of the AFC East.
• Christopher Price offers a quick look at how each NFC team is positioned in the post-lockout era.
• Jeff Howe says Taylor Price might have to move up the depth chart to make the roster.
• WEEI highlights Michael Lombardi's guest appearance on the Mut & Merloni show Monday morning.
• Tom E. Curran lists the Patriots restricted and unrestricted free agents on the roster.
• Karen Guregian looks at who's out there for the Patriots in the free agent free-for-all.
• Greg A. Bedard lists the top five unrestricted free agents at each position, followed by the best fit for the Patriots.
• Chris Gasper takes a look at the top five free-agent needs in Fort Foxboro.
• Jeff Howe thinks Brandon Tate must prove to be indispensable as a kick returner to secure a roster spot.
• Jeff Howe notes Tully Banta-Cain's absence will thin out an already thin position, but it's not a code-red situation by any means.
• Tom E. Curran tells us not to blame the lockout for Tully Banta-Cain's late-offseason surgery.
• Mike Reiss reports the Patriots had a 97 percent season-ticket renewal rate, for which the Krafts were very appreciative.
• Mike Reiss offers some thoughts on the top free agents rushers available.
• AP Report: Team-by-team list of NFL unrestricted free agents.
• AP Report: NFL's free-agent frenzy: about 1,000 deals to be done.
• Kathleen Pierce notes that the town of Foxboro is back in business right along with the NFL.
• Natalie Sherman hears from local fans sending mixed signals on the return of football.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Matt Williamson (ESPN) AFC East free-agency breakdown.
• Don Banks (SI) Next days of free agent mayhem should be unlike any in NFL history.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Free agents can't practice with teams until August 4th.
• Jason La Canfora (NFL.com) Back to football: Let the madness begin.
• Pat Kirwan (NFL.com) These 40 undrafted free agents will be highly coveted.
• Eli Kaberon (Pro Football Weekly) Not every team faces the same lockout challenges.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Keeping the UDFA land rush in perspective.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) A guide for undrafted rookie free agents.
• Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Ten burning questions as we emerge from NFL's lockout.
• Photo Essay (NFL.com) Ten intriguing storylines now that football is back.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) An inside look at NFL cut day. 
• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) NFL lockout provided plenty of entertainment.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Irsay on Manning: "There's only so much you can pay one player."

LABOR WRAP-UP

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Highlights of final deal.
• Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) At last, a deal to end the NFL lockout.
• Steve Wyche (NFL.com) NFL timeline: Pinpointing how next few days will play out.
• Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) NFL players, owners embrace each other to forge new CBA.
• Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Top 10 issues in post-lockout landscape.
• Clifton Brown (Sporting News) How will the new CBA change the NFL?
• Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) How will new agreement change NFL?
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Goodell says NFL has work to do to win back fans.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Minimum salaries shoot up under new deal.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Undrafted players get screwed in the new deal.
• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) New CBA limits early renegotiated contracts.
• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Saturday: "Big shift" came when lawyers left the room.
• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Winners, losers from the NFL lockout.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Advantage: Players.
• Mike Freeman (CBS Sports) Players, owners finally get done what politicians cannot.