Fencer

Barrring injury, Mitchell, Baker, Andrews, Spann, and any draftees are going to have trouble scraping out more than two roster spots among them, given that the Pats also have

Samuel
Hobbs
Gay
Scott

Harrison
Wilson
Hawkins
Sanders

So I wouldn't call Mitchell or anybody else in that first group a "near-lock", unless he's an early-round new draft choice we learn about in late April.

biffman

Izzo should make the team simply for STs reasons. You know how important STs are to BB. Don't forget, Izzo is the first FA BB signed when he came here. Also, at least one of Mays and/or Woods will be here, if not both. Two young lbs who have gotten some training and will now be given a season to show what they can do. LBs take a while to develop and there's no reason to get rid of young guys with promise when the rest of the corps is aging.

Hawkins, Scott, Andrews and Gay should be in. Hawkins had a few bad games last year, but has been solid for the most part. He is what he is - a competent back up who shouldn't be starting. Ditto for Scott, who provides position flexibility. Andrews showed real potential and is a good STs guy. We all know what Gay can do when he's healthy. Spann should be gone.

I disagree with almost everything you say here. They just signed Evans to an extension. He's their only real fullback. Gaffney's taken advantage of his opportunities. I don't see why he wouldn't make the team. Yates is definitely going to make the team. They paid him a regular salary to keep him on the PS last year and they just gave him a new contract.

Washington's not guaranteed a spot, but he should make it if he's healthy.

I agree that Mruc is no lock.

Sure, nothing is guaranteed. But I would say there are only going to be 4-5 spots for rookies on the team. Now, obviously injuries are going to be a factor and you never know if some rookie comes along and just blows them away. Right now though, it looks like it's going to be very tough to crack this roster.

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On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson . . they took Richard Seymour, who is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon. - Ron Borges, MSNBC after 2001 Draft