Patriots vs. Dolphins: 5 Things to Watch for During the Week 1 Matchup

Opening weekend for the NFL is just around the corner and it’s primed to be an entertaining one finishing with the New England Patriots taking on the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.

Week 1 is going to be a huge game for both New England and Miami as both are division rivals. The Patriots are projected to be one of the best teams in the league this season and they’re going to have a lot to prove in their first game.

With Monday night just a few days away, here are five things to watch for from the Patriots perspective.

1. If New England Can Protect Tom Brady Against Miami’s Pass Rush

2. How Much Pressure New England is Able to Put on Chad Henne

3. How Well Offensive Guard Brian Waters Plays

4. If Chad Ochocinco Gets Involved in New England’s Offense

5. Devin McCourty vs. Brandon Marshall

Pats WR Welker says he's okay following neck injury

New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker says he's fine after suffering a neck injury in Saturday's preseason loss to Detroit.

Welker suffered the injury while making a tackle following an interception in the 34-10 defeat. Welker, who has had serious neck issues in the past, was tended to immediately by team medical staff.

He told reporters after the game that he felt fine, and didn't expect to miss any time.

The 30-year-old wideout has been one of the top possession receivers in the game for the past few years. He had 86 receptions for 848 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Tom Brady Plays the Sunny Side Quarterback Every Day

Each week this season, New England celebrity Tom Brady will enhance his bank account by fielding questions on local sports radio shows.

After his first 2011 preseason appearance, Tom gave his usual affable and standard answers to the press.

During another pointless interview, the fawning minions that have graduated from unimpressed press corps to media communicators (no one is a writer or reporter any longer) will spend time tossing cream puffs at Tom to show how friendly the objective sports writer can be.

Tom Brady is not fooled, and he is no one’s fool.

To listen to Tom handle with adept aplomb the alleged set-up “tough” questions thrown by his so-called media pals is a lesson in Belichick’s school of disinformation.

When one old-time erudite reporter of yore recently asked Tom about whether it’s different in preseason for a veteran quarterback and a veteran coach, Tom adroitly did not answer.

He noted how all teams have new players and new coaches and all seasons are new.

Tom’s tone is terrific. Brady has a dishy sound that almost convinces you that he knows who you are or may even like you.

It is acting that once made Cary Grant a star. The charm oozes off him with all the effort of tossing a pass to Chad Ochocinco in an exhibition game.

Tom knows something about sound bytes and modulation, but there is blackness in his all-seeing eyes. He may as well be a great white shark stalking a drop of blood in the water.

Tom shows no chemistry with his radio interviewers. They may think he is pleasant, but he smiles insincerely as blank and generic sweet sauce is poured on them. Tom does not laugh and is not spontaneous, and even his ad libs seem to have a calculation.

Tom Brady is a brilliant media manipulator. It’s part of his job.

Brady is a sharp and ironic wit when he wants to be, but the sports media are humorless dullards for whom wit is lost. Only when Wes Welker worked “foot” into a press conference 40 times did the press catch on.

Tom is more of a star than the other Tom—named Cruise—and Brady knows his power. He flashes only a little, knowing how little will satisfy the minions of media.

Those who are lucky enough to chat with Tom over a game of backgammon may see the real competitor whose scoff would wilt a rookie receiver.

Those who have met him while retracting the automatic convertible roof of an SLK 320 Benz into the trunk know how powerful his wattage is and how competitive his heart is. When he smiles at you and confesses he likes your car and wants to get one, you want to give him the keys.

10 Thoughts Following the Patriots Preseason Opener

he 2011 NFL preseason has official started and the New England Patriots kicked it off in a boom with a 47-12 thrashing of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Granted, this was just a meaningless exhibition game and the Jaguars were obviously not prepared to match New England. However, New England did what they had to do and most importantly, they executed.

Here are 10 thoughts following New England’s preseason opener.

1. Brian Hoyer Increased His Trade Value

Back-up quarterback Brian Hoyer played to the best of his ability tonight and, quite frankly, he was pretty darn impressive.

2. Taylor Price Could Pass Brandon Tate on the Depth Chart

Brandon Tate has been non-exsistent throughout the preseason so far and second-year wide receiver Taylor Price has made the most of it with his stellar performance against Jacksonville.

Price stole the show as he reeled in five passes for 105 yards and one touchdown.

3. Stevan Ridley Took Multiple Strides Forward

Who would have thought that Stevan Ridley would kick off his preseason with a three touchdown performance?

4. Ryan Mallett Was Near Perfect

The 74th overall selection of Ryan Mallett in this year’s draft was arguably the most shocking pick of them all. However, tonight, Mallett gave a glimpse as to why Bill Belichick drafted him with a high draft pick.

5. Darius Butler Struggled and Could Be on the Cutting Block

After watching tonight’s game, there was nothing that Darius Butler did that impressed me.

The third-year player out of Connecticut was simply not effective in coverage and was often times at the wrong end of a reception.

6. Nate Solder Fit in Nicely

How would I rate Nate Solder’s debut as a New England Patriot? Pretty solid.

7. New England Played in the 4-3 the Entire Night

As expected, New England played in a 4-3 defense rather than their traditional 3-4 alignment.

8. Dane Fletcher Played Like an Animal

The second-year inside linebacker out of Montana State played like an absolute animal against the Jags.

Dane Fletcher came into the game as the team’s starting inside linebacker and tallied up five total tackles.

9. Why Didn’t Chad Ochocinco Play?

It’s kind of obvious why Tom Brady didn’t play—because rookie Nate Solder would be protecting his blindside. But why didn’t Chad Ochocinco play?

Ochocinco still has a lot of work to do and could have definitely benefited in playing a few series tonight just to get his feet wet in New England’s offense in a real game situation.

10. Jermaine Cunningham Took a Positive Step Forward

Jermaine Cunningham’s stats may not be too impressive, as he only recorded one sack, but he was definitely putting pressure on the quarterback.

I hope they really play like this all the rest of the games, so get your tickets and let take it to the SuperBowl !

Patriots reach accord with DE Carter

The New England Patriots continued their defensive overhaul by signing veteran defensive end Andre Carter.

Carter announced the deal on his Twitter account Sunday night, and it was confirmed by the NFL Network's Michael Lombardi.

The 32-year-old Carter has spent the past five seasons with the Washington Redskins, twice recording double-digit sacks.

He has registered 66.5 sacks in 10 seasons with Washington and San Francisco.

Earlier Sunday, the Patriots signed former New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis. They have also signed former Chicago Bears defensive end Mark Anderson and acquired massive lineman Albert Haynesworth from the Washington Redskins.

New England Patriots resign Left Tackle Matt Light to a 2 year deal

New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light has agreed to a two year deal. The terms of this two year deal are undisclosed.

This is an awesome move for the New England Patriots because they have the offensive talent to get back to the Super Bowl with Matt Light returning plus Nate Soldier can sit out for a year or two and learn the Patriots playbook before becoming the starter at left tackle.

Soldier has the talent to succeed in New England from a long term standpoint. The problem is there is very little time for Nate Soldier to prepare. There will not be enough time for Nate Soldier to prepare so that is why Matt Light had to return to New England this year.

New England has Matt Light and Sebastian Vulmer returning at offensive tackle which will give quarterback Tom Brady tons of time to throw the football. Logan Mankins was on a holdout until week 9 against the Cleveland Browns and the Patriots went 8-1 during Mankins 9 starts leading up to the postseason.

The Patriots resigning Matt Light is a very significant move because there were questions about Nate Solider being an effective left tackle who could contribute as a rookie. There are no questions with left tackle Matt Light and you know what you are getting out of Light.

In my NFL Season preview predictions I had the Atlanta Falcons defeating the Houston Texans in Super Bowl 46. In the wake of New England signing Matt Light and Houston releasing Amobi Okoye I have to believe that New England is now the favorite to win the AFC. Thanks to Matt Light’s signing I may now pick the Patriots as my AFC Champion in 2011-2012. Only time will tell what happens with the New England Patriots this upcoming season.

NFL, NFLPA Reach Final Agreement to End Lockout Early Monday Morning

Early Monday morning, the sides in the NFL labor battle finally reached full agreement to end the lockout, with an press conference scheduled later this afternoon to announce the deal expected to be 10-years in length. The news of the early morning deal was first reported by Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.

Some small contract language details still need to be added, but shortly after the NFLPA Exec Committee will review from 11am to noon ET and vote immediately thereafter. From there, a full vote by the Player Representatives and the entire player body will take place. But, sources close to the deal on both sides of the table believe that approval will come after the Exec. Committee recommends the deal.

Changes to the new agreement have taken place to terms since owner vote last week on terms for their final proposal. As for any changes since then, the NFL’s Labor Committee had been delegated the authority to close the deal.

The new timeline for teams reporting will be 10 teams on Wed, 10 on Thurs, 10 Fri, and 2 (Jets and Texans) on Sunday.

The agreement is a bit of a leap of faith by the owners. The lockout will be lifted before the NFLPA is recertified. To do so requires 50 percent, plus 1 vote by the players to do so. The expectation is that it will happen Tues, with Weds. at the latest.

Two key issues have not yet surfaced. One is whether the players got language in the CBA that will allow them to opt out of the agreement at some point, possibly within 6 years of the 10 year deal. The owners had a similar provision in the last CBA, and exercised that option in 2008.

The other issue that looms is how the global settlement for the two outstanding litigations will be handled. One is the class-action antitrust lawsuit that has Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning as the star lead plaintiffs.

The lockout, the longest in NFL history, began on March 11 and is now 135 days long.