Hallelujah! Football is back everyone! The New England Patriots opened up the 2012 season on Thursday as players reported back to Foxboro for the start of Training Camp.
Because of an NFL rule change, teams are now allowed to carry 90 players on their roster at the beginning of camp. The Patriots currently sit with a spot to spare at 89. Let's take a look at the Training Camp roster, as it stands right now (by position, with number):
Quarterback: Tom Brady (12), Brian Hoyer (8), Ryan Mallett (15)
Running Back: Stevan Ridley (22), Shane Vereen (34), Danny Woodhead (39), Brandon Bolden (38)***
Fullback: Spencer Larsen (46)**, Tony Fiammetta (42)**, Eric Kettani (36)
Wide Receiver: Wes Welker (83), Brandon Lloyd (85)**, Jabar Gaffney (10)**, Deion Branch (84), Donte Stallworth (19)**, Julian Edelman (11), Matthew Slater (18), Britt Davis (17), Jesse Holley (16)**
Tight End: Rob Gronkowski (87), Aaron Hernandez (81), Visanthe Shiancoe (82)**, Tyler Urban (47)***
Offensive Lineman: Nate Solder (77), Dan Connolly (63), Dan Koppen (67), Ryan Wendall (62), Marcus Cannon (61), Robert Gallery (72)**, Matt Kopa (68), Donald Thomas (64), Kyle Hix (69), Jamey Richard (71)**
Defensive Lineman: Vince Wilfork (75), Kyle Love (74), Chandler Jones (95)*, Jonathan Fanene (98)**, Trevor Scott (99)**, Brandon Deaderick (71), Jake Bequette (66)*, Gerard Warren (92), Ron Brace (97), Jermaine Cunningham (96), Alex Silvestro (69), Tim Bulman (93)**, Justin Francis (68)***, Marcus Forston (65)***, Marcus Harrison (94)***
Linebacker: Jerod Mayo (51), Brandon Spikes (55), Dont'a Hightower (45)*, Rob Ninkovich (50), Dane Fletcher (52), Bobby Carpenter (59)**, Tracy White (58), Jeff Tarpinian (53), Niko Koutouvides (90), Mike Rivera (47), Aaron Lavarias (60)
Cornerback: Devin McCourty (32), Kyle Arrington (24), Ras-I Dowling (21), Sterling Moore (29), Alfonzo Dennard (37)*, Marquice Cole (23)**, Malcolm Williams (41)
Safety: Pat Chung (25), Steve Gregory (28)**, Tavon Wilson (27)*, James Ihedigbo (44), Will Allen (26)**, Josh Barrett (40), Sergio Brown (31), Nate Ebner (43)*, Ross Ventrone (35)
Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski (3), Chris Koepplin (2)
Punter: Zoltan Mesko (14)
Long Snapper: Danny Aiken (48)
Reserve/Did Not Report: G Brian Waters (54)
Active/Physically Unable to Perform: G Logan Mankins (70), T Sebastian Vollmer (76), TE Daniel Fells (86)**, TE Jake Ballard (88)**, G/C Nick McDonald (65), WR Jeremy Ebert (80)*, DT Myron Pryor (91)
Active/Non-Football Injury: T Markus Zusevics (66)***, G/C Jeremiah Warren (60)
*-- Indicated Drafted Rookie
**-- Indicates Non-Rookie Acquisition
***-- Indicates Undrafted Rookie