New Patriots By The Numbers (Updated Jersey Numbers)

The New England Patriots announced the following number changes/assignments on Sunday:

WR Greg Salas--No. 17 (Hopefully not the next Taylor Price OR Chad Jackson)

WR Sam Kirkland (Practice Squad)--No. 19 (Donte Stallworth's Old Number)

FB James Develin (Practice Squad)--No. 46 (Spencer Larsen's Old Number)

LB Mike Rivera--No. 59 (Worn by Gary Guyton, Rosevelt Colvin)

OL Matt Tennannt--No. 69 (Kyle Hix's old number. Who?)

OL Thomas Austin (Practice Squad)--No. 72 (Big expectations come with this number)

TE Visanthe Shiancoe--No. 80 (Worn by Troy Brown. Looks like Jeremy Ebert is a goner)

DE Jake Bequette--No. 92 (Worn by Gerard Warren and Albert Haynesworth. Cue the Hey, hey, hey...)

DE Justin Francis--No. 94 (Worn by former Pat Ty Warren. Plays like Ty too.. Hmm...)

DT Marcus Forston--No. 98 (Worn by Jonathan Fanene)

One additional change to look out for is Dont'a Hightower, who currently holds No. 45, who is planning to change his number. Nos. 50 (Ninkovich), 51 (Mayo), 53 (Tarpinian), 54 (Waters), 55(Spikes), 58 (White) and 59 (Rivera) are already taken. Likely numbers for Hightower appear to be 52, 90 or 93.

(Fixed: I had neglected the retired numbers. Hightower is limited to 52, 90 and 93)