Patriots have solidified the dates for their first two preseason games

[DefenseRules]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

February 09, 2007
Preseason opener
The Patriots have solidified the dates for their first two preseason games, which includes the China Bowl.

The preseason opener is scheduled for Aug. 2 at Seattle.

The China Bowl, also against Seattle, is scheduled for Aug. 9 in Beijing.

The official start of training camp has not yet been announced, but it's likely to be in mid-July.

The Aug. 2 preseason opener marks the earliest the Patriots will open the preseason since 2000, when the team opened July 31. The early start is likely tied to the team participating in the China Bowl.

Kickoff for the 2007 regular season is Sept. 6-10.

So, we have to see Seattle twice? Interesting.

 

[taltos]

I assume that the reason for this is that Seattle is a west coast team and perhaps both teams will be flying to China directly after the game? Perhaps the NFL is handling chartering the aircraft and making lodging arrangements so it made sense for the teams to fly out together? Just my 2 cents on this one.

 

[pats1]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/



So, we have to see Seattle twice? Interesting.

Yeah, that was what they said when the idea first came out.

 

[PatrioticDynasty]

Yeah, that was what they said when the idea first came out.

So will The Pats and the SeaBags be the first teams ever to play each other twice in a preseason? ( let alone consecutive weeks, that's a first)

PD.

 

[psychoPat]

I like it, thank you.

The travel arrangements sound as good as they could be ...
given that you span the Pacific twice.
But Seattle is the closest American portal to China.

One wonders how the camaraderie between Seattle's renegade WR and his ex-teammates
will play out on the long flights, and with the roundeyes sticking pretty close together in Asia
- as most tend to do.

Mostly, i am glad of TWO chances to scrimmage against another quality team
... without leaking any deep info to a conference opponent.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

QUOTE]

thanks for the info. i think the pats' playing in China is a tribute to how well the franchise has been branded globally. by sending the pats to beijing, the league is more or less saying that they are an essential part of the "face" of the league. pretty darn good for a team whose identity, outside of Boston and New England, seven years ago was primarily associated with a blowout SB loss to the Bears and the noise around Parcells' messy departure. i think there are too many fans who fail to appreciate how significant the accomplishments of the last six years have been. this franchise is now without a doubt among the elite in the NFL, even if it goes a few years without winning an SB.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

And since it's preseason... Deion Branch can make faces from the sidelines (and all the clueless media types can call it the Sea./NE blood feud to the death bowl blah blah blah...)

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I wonder if the Pats will even send some players like Brady to China. I could see them sending him to Seattle but sending alot of the big stars back to NE when the team is on China.

One thing for sure, I see alot of guys you never heard of playing in the China game.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I like it, thank you.

The travel arrangements sound as good as they could be ...
given that you span the Pacific twice.
But Seattle is the closest American portal to China.

One wonders how the camaraderie between Seattle's renegade WR and his ex-teammates
will play out on the long flights, and with the roundeyes sticking pretty close together in Asia
- as most tend to do.

Mostly, i am glad of TWO chances to scrimmage against another quality team
... without leaking any deep info to a conference opponent.

Don't plan on starters getting any substantial time.

 

[fitch]

I wonder if the Pats will even send some players like Brady to China. I could see them sending him to Seattle but sending alot of the big stars back to NE when the team is on China.

One thing for sure, I see alot of guys you never heard of playing in the China game.

I hope you are right but the NFL will flip if the starting lineup does not make that trip. Brady and Alexander will have to be there.