Two weeks ago, the NFL announced the weeks and match-ups for the 2012 preseason. Now, we have the exact dates and times as the the Patriots have released the team's final preseason schedule:
Thursday 8/9 7:30 v. Saints
Monday 8/20 8:00 v. Eagles
Friday 8/24 7:30 @ Buccaneers
Wednesday 8/29 7:30 @ NY Giants
You can see that the team is lined up to have three games in a span of 10 days, flying from New England to Tampa Bay, and back to New York. That's a lot of travel that, hopefully, won't have a lasting impact on the team's open to the season. Additionally, the Patriots open up the season with three of four games on the road, so they'll be traveling a lot early on.
However, Ethan Hammerman makes a good point that the three games in 10 days shouldn't be too bad. Bill Belichick is known for amicable relationship with Eagles head coach Andy Reid and was Tampa Bay's head coach Greg Schiano's biggest fan in getting him hired. Those two games should be nothing more than advanced scrimmages for the Patriots.
On the other hand, the Saints team is in complete shambles, so who knows how they'll play to open the pre-season (I'm assuming they'll be well behaved). Additionally, the Giants game should have a little more emotion due to the Super Bowl.
What do you all think about the schedule?