Fencer

Special teams
All the key guys are back, across the board. Kick returner could be upgraded; otherwise, it all seems pretty good.

Quarterback
Maybe Hoyer will find a deal, maybe he won't. If he does, then the possibility of a new backup QB added to Brady/Mallett gets pretty real.

Tight end
We have a great pair of starters. We'd like a #3 guy who isn't also needed to play OT. It's not a great year for that, but efforts will surely be made.

Inside linebacker
Everybody except Guyton is back. The main doubt is how the ILBs get used, including the possibility of playing outside in 4-3 sets.

Offensive tackle
We have two young starters of the future. If Light does retire, they're starters of the present.

Beyond that, Cannon seems like an adequate backup. And even if he winds up as a guard after all, he doesn't seem urgently needed in that role this particular season.

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That's about as far as the (relative) simplicity goes. Every other position group seems to be in considerable flux.

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supafly

One could respectfully argue that there are other positions that are in pretty good shape too.

RB--Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead...with the possibility of BJGE returning. At worst, we need some type of low level FA, team cut, UDFA, or practice squad signing. There was a big debate last yr whether or not they'd keep 4 or 5 RB's, and Faulk is gone. I think this position is in good shape, and there may be a good chance that Belichick only keeps 4 RB's this yr anyway.

CB--McCourty, Dowling (I don't care if he was hurt last yr, he was drafted with the 33rd pick of the draft, and started in game one), Arrington, Moore, and possibly Malcolm Williams. That's 5, so I am assuming that there's a draft pick and/or low level FA signing, team cut etc. Overall, I think the position has been addressed pretty well, and could at least be argued that it's in decent shape. We'll have to see how Belichick reacts to this theory in terms of picking a high draft pick or not. It's certainly a possibility.

And last but not least...everyone's favorite:

WR--Welker, Edelman, Chad Johnson, Slater (ST only), and maybe even Underwood. There's still the possibility of Branch resigning to take a lesser role than last yr, and the possibility of Llyod or another FA coming in. Like most of the other positions, either a FA signing or a draft pick would shore up the corps. The truth of the matter is that only the top 3, maybe 4 will see targets at any point anyway; and those are Welker, Johnson, draft/FA, and Edelman; as Gronk and Hernandez will see a lot of targets too.

I think that all 3 of these are only a player or so away from being in pretty good shape.

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Fencer

I considered adding RB, but we don't know whether the base-package starter will be:

• BJGE
• Ridley
• Somebody new (unlikely but not inconceivable)

At WR there are still many possibilities for the starter opposite Welker.

You make a good point about CB, however. If we assume McCourty is solidly back at CB, then the CB position is pretty staffed up.

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ATippett56

Center

Dan Connolly
Ryan Wendell
Nick McDonald

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betterthanthealternative

Exactly. Each can be viewed as half full or half empty, and the pretty much determines one's outlook on the team at this point.

Fencer

Not until the reporters stop speculating about Waters' retirement.

I tend to view interior OL as one group, and even more so now that Connolly is the putative starting center.

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conway

Is he still under contract? I've looked for the answer and can't find it.

I'd say we still draft an interior OL, whether C or G. I love having Connolly's experience and versatility back.

DarrylS

Brandon Lloyd is a possibility, but the economics of the Patriots need to be played out.. realistically Welker has to be your highest paid WR, and someone needs to be second.

So whatever money they have in mind for Welker sets the structure fo Lloyd. Much the same as the Pats would not pay Williams more than Vince...

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jmt57

The pride of Grand Valley State is under contract through 2012. Dan Koppen is the only offensive lineman from last year's roster that is not under contract.

Here's the contract status of the Pats' offensive line:

• Matt Light (signed through 2012): $3.4 million base salary; $1.6mm bonus; $8mm cap figure; $5mm cap savings if cut; $3mm dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Logan Mankins (2016): $2.75mm base; $250k bonus; $7mm cap figure; $9mm cap cost if cut; $16mm dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Brian Waters (2012): $1.4mm base; $850k bonus; $2.25mm cap figure; $2.25 cap savings if cut; zero dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Nate Solder (2014): $763k base; zero bonus; $1.941mm cap figure; $4.277 cap cost if cut; $6.218 dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Sebastian Vollmer (2012): $650k base; $25k bonus; $980k cap figure; $675k cap savings if cut; $305k dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Ryan Wendell (2013): $750k base; $50k bonus; $950k cap figure; $650k cap savings if cut; $300k dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Donald Thomas (2012): $615k base; $25k bonus; $665k cap figure; $750k cap savings if cut; zero dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Nick McDonald (2012): $540k base; zero bonus; $540k cap figure; $540k cap savings if cut; zero dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Marcus Cannon (2014): $480k base; $50k bonus; $530k cap figure; $380k cap savings if cut; $150k dead cap money if cut
  
  
• Matt Kopa (2012): $465k base, $475k cap figure
  
  
• Kyle Hix (2013): $390k base, $393k cap figure
  
  

edit: forgot to include Dan Connolly, who is obviously now signed as well; unsure of his contract details at this time.

BlueThunder

Hix is a BIG guy that was on PS last year...not sure where/if he fits into the final roster if he does at all.....will be an interesting guy to watch...

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