New year, same old story.

The Patriots need a pass rusher.

Since the departures of Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin, New England fans have clamored for a replacement at outside linebacker.

We thought Adalius Thomas was it.

Six-foot-two, 270 pounds with 4.6 speed, coverage skills and a knack for getting after the quarterback - how could you go wrong? That deal turned out to be a bust.

In 2010 the Pats took Jermaine Cunningham, a solid college player, one spot ahead of his more heralded Florida teammate Carlos Dunlap. Dunlap has gone on to be one of the better up-and-coming defensive ends while Cunningham has one career sack.

Then there was the 2011 draft. It was pegged as a pass rusher’s delite. Yet with the opportunity to trade up a few spots for Robert Quinn or Ryan Kerrigan, New England stayed at 17 and took offensive tackle Nate Solder.

While Belichick doesn’t put faith in young edge players, he was proven wrong last year. Von Miller took the league by storm with 11.5 sacks. Aldon Smith, who I thought would be a perfect Willie McGinest type, came within a half sack of breaking Jevon Kearse’s rookie record.

As far as the other first-rounders: Quinn notched five sacks while Kerrigan and Adrian Clayborn each had 7.5.

On day two of the draft, the Pats opted to take Ras-I Dowling even with Jabaal Sheard and Brooks Reed on the board. Dowling lasted two games before going on IR, while Sheard and Reed combined for 14.5 sacks.

Armed with two picks in the first rounds, the Pats have a lot of leeway in maneuvering around the board. This year’s crop of pass rushers isn’t nearly as impressive as last year’s, but the top guys on the board have a ton of upside even with holes in their resumes.

Let’s take a look at five Potential Patriot pass rushers.

1. Nick Perry, USC: On day three of the 2010 draft, reports surfaced the Patriots were about to select USC defensive end Everson Griffen before they traded out of the pick. Perry is a carbon copy of the former Trojan with a near-identical size, speed and production. A former top prospect, Perry goes 6-foot-3, 271 pounds with 4.64 speed. After redshirting in 2008, he took the Pac-12 by storm with eight sacks as a rotational player. His numbers dipped to only 25 tackles and four sacks in 2010 before he led the conference with 9.5 sacks as a redshirt junior. He certainly tests off the charts and would seem a likely candidate to play 3-4 OLB, but has questionable instincts and conditioning. He’s been projected to go in the second half of the first round, but after a great combine, I doubt he’ll be there at 27.

2. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois: It’s always scary when a guy is a one-year wonder. But in a draft light on pure pass rushers, it’ll be hard for the nation’s leading sack man to escape the first round. If the selection was purely based on physical skills, Mercilus would be a Patriot. He’s 6-foot-4, 261 pounds and 4.68 speed. He had a ridiculous 2011 season with 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles. The biggest problem with Mercilus is the fact he was a virtual unknown prior to his breakout campaign. During his first two years at Illinois, he registered two sacks. Is it simply a case of him putting it all together or will he be another Vernon Gholston?

3. Andre Branch, Clemson: The former Clemson Tiger is another example of a guy who fits the Patriots prototype in terms of his size/speed combo. He was a standout player on a talented Clemson defensive line, but he wasn’t always consistent. Branch’s frame (6-foot-4, 259 pounds) and speed (4.70) suggest he would be an ideal pass-rush linebacker. However, his game is somewhat limited to a speed rush, and recently drafted Clemson defensive linemen (Ricky Sapp, Phillip Merling, Gaines Adams) have failed to live up to expectations.

Yesterday we talked about the possibility of adding Mario Williams. 

Based on reports from profootballtalk.com, there could be a shot that Dwight Freeney may also be available.

After signing Robert Mathis to a four-year, $36-million deal, the Colts may not be able to afford Freeney's $19.035 million cap hit in 2012.

Combined with the whole Peyton Manning fiasco, it may be time for the Colts to move on from Freeney and his big contract as the team enters rebuilding mode. 

If Indianopolis plans to cut or trade the seven-time Pro Bowler, would the Patriots be interested? 

I think so. 

Belichick certainly has familarity with the 2005 Defensive Player of the Year as the Pats have faced Freeney nine times during his career. The 6-foot-1, 268-pounder has four sacks in that span, which is more impressive considering he usually commands a constant double team. 

Although Freeney posted only 8.5 sacks in 2011, he should still have a few great years left before he moves to a more situational role. 

Despite his size limitations, Freeney is successful because of his elite burst and his patented spin move. Look him up on YouTube and you'll see some of the best offensive tackles in the game get embarassed by his lightning quick spin. 

The biggest concern with Freeney would be his contract. If the Pats are going to spend big bucks on a free agent pass rusher, I rather have the younger and more complete package with Mario Williams. However, if they could negotiate a lower number with Freeney, he could be a dynamic threat off the edge next season. 

Before last season, Brandon Deadrick and Kyle Love weren’t even on the radar.

By the end of the year, they were Super Bowl starters.

The ascendance of the former SEC athletes had as much to do with their ability as the lack of depth on the defensive line.

In fact, Love wasn’t supposed to be more than a rotational run stuffer before the Albert Haynesworth experiment imploded.

Deadrick had the fortune of playing for Belichick disciple Nick Saban at Alabama, starting 31 games for the Crimson Tide. After seeing a few snaps his rookie year, Deadrick emerged as a solid, if not unspectacular starter at left end.

As well as the two young guns played, they don’t appear to have any physical traits that will place them amongst the league’s best at their respective positions. Deadrick in particular doesn’t fit the mold of a 4-3 end, although he did display more pass-rushing skills than I anticipated.

With Vince Wilfork entrenched on the inside, the Pats have a premier run stuffer and underrated interior rusher. However, the depth on the defensive line could take a major hit with Gerard Warren, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter and Mark Anderson all slated to hit free agency.

Luckily for the Pats, this year’s crop of free agents is filled with star talent, and with $20 million in cap space, they could be in position to add a former number one pick in Texans DE/OLB Mario Williams.

The 6-foot-6, 283-pounder is an absolute beast of a man with incredible strength, speed and hand usage. He went down early last season with a torn pectoral muscle, but managed to rack up five sacks as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

After entering the league as the top pick in 2006 over heralded college stars in Reggie Bush and Vince Young, Williams has far outproduced his peers from that class. Although he has missed some time with injuries during his career, he is known as a hard worker and until the past two seasons, he was the only true pass-rushing threat on his team. 

In New England, Williams would present a serious matchup problem for opposing offenses and a movable piece for Bill Belichick. Because of his length and strength, Williams is a great run defender and would seem well suited to set the edge when standing up. His greatest asset is his ability to get after the quarterback, and because of his unique athleticism the Patriots could employ both 3-4 and 4-3 looks. 

There were reports that the Patriots made a contract offer to a similarly skilled Julius Peppers back in ’09, so expect some action with the more consistent Williams.

If the Pats aren’t willing to break the bank for Super Mario, they could look to add a perfect hybrid player in Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril. He certainly won’t come cheaply, but the former third-round pick has quietly become one of the league’s best playmakers at the position.

Standing 6-foot-3, 260 pounds with 4.5 speed, Avril fits the mold of Belichick’s outside linebacker. While he isn’t nearly the player against the run as Williams, Avril has racked up 30.0 sacks in 57 games (.53 per game). By comparison, Williams has 53.0 in 82 (.65 per game). However, Avril has forced 14 fumbles and recovered five while Williams only has 11 and three.

We’re in the middle of the offseason, but right in the thick of draft season.

However, as much as a roster is built through the draft, free agency is a chance to add or retain key veterans, and in the case of the Patriots, they are one of the better teams in getting the best bang for their buck.

While there have been some swings and misses, most notably with Adalius Thomas, Bill Belichick has a solid track record of finding starters from other teams (Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin, Rob Ninkovich, Leigh Bodden, Andre Carter, Brian Waters, etc).

Since 2009, the Patriots have drafted many key contributors like Pat Chung, Sebastian Vollmer, Devin McCourty, The Boston TE Party, Brandon Spikes, Nate Solder and Zoltan Mesko and still have some high-upside prospects like Shane Vereen and Ras-I Dowling waiting in the wings.

This past season highlighted the recent draft success, but also revealed some weaknesses, particularly the team’s failure to draft and develop wide receivers. Chad Ochocinco was brought in to fill the void left by Randy Moss, but the former Pro Bowler was an utter bust.

Luckily for the Pats, the wide receiver market is loaded with vertical threats (Mike Wallace), size (Vincent Jackson), youth (Dwayne Bowe) and reliability (Marques Colston).

Beyond the young studs, there are also several veterans, specifically Reggie Wayne, who could latch on for a Super Bowl run and help develop a draft pick.

Although there are many intriguing options available, the Patriots first priority is to figure out what to do with their best receiver – Wes Welker.

Despite a backbreaking drop in the Super Bowl, Welker is clearly one of the most consistent receivers in the league and Tom Brady’s favorite target.

There’s no doubt that Welker will get franchise-tagged with the hopes of hammering out a multi-year deal, however it’s tough to invest a ton of money and years into a 5-foot-9 receiver who doesn’t have elite speed or vertical separation skills even in his prime.

The best option for the Pats would be to sign Welker to a three-year deal similar to the one Randy Moss signed after the 2007 season (3 years, $27 million), although it would probably take something closer to a 3/30 deal.

No matter what, the Pats need Welker back in 2012 and beyond. Once Rob Gronkowski went down in the AFC title game, it was clear the Patriots lacked reliable receiving threats beyond Welker and Aaron Hernandez.

Welker is the best slot receiver in the game, and with Hernandez/Gronk, the Patriots can attack the middle of the field. But in order to open up the middle of the field, they must find a viable outside receiver who can both stretch the field and attack the ball in the air.

With the combine finished, it's time to draw up the mock drafts and project the first round of the draft. 

This of course will be subject to change over the next two months, but here's my first version with a projected trade between Cleveland and St. Louis. 

I have the Patriots taking Alabama safety Mark Barron at 27 and Connecticut defensive tackle Kendall Reyes at 31. 

Feel free to provide feedback/criticism and check out my Twitter @SSheehan925 for NFL Draft thoughts and football commentary.

Now, with the first pick in the 2012 draft, the Indianapolis Colts select...

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

New regime, new quarterback. While I tend to think Luck is a little overrated, he’s a can’t-miss prospect with no discernable weaknesses.

2. Cleveland Browns (trade with St. Louis): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Browns have the ammo to move up and must do so to get their franchise savior. RG III is incredibly talented and is an incredibly intelligent, mature leader.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings took Christian Ponder, an injury-prone quarterback, in round one last year. Kalil can step in from day one and keep him upright and will be a future All-Pro.

4. St. Louis Rams (via Cleveland): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams still get their man and get valuable draft picks. Blackmon doesn’t have the measurable of Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald, but has the production and work ethic to become a top receiver.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

While he isn’t the athlete that Patrick Peterson was, Claiborne is a better all-around cover man. The Bucs have invested heavily in their front-seven, but need guys in the secondary to provide coverage.

6. Washington Redskins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

The Redskins settle for another athletic quarterback with major upside after striking out on RG III. Tannehill seems tailor-made for Shanahan’s offense.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Blaine Gabbert isn’t very good, but then again did you see who he was throwing to? Floyd ran better than expected, had a productive career and has the size necessary to be a No. 1 receiver at the next level.

8. Miami Dolphins: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

I don’t get why Miami is shifting to a 4-3 when the defense was the team’s strength. But adding a big, athletic defensive end like Coples to play opposite Cameron Wake would be a huge get. He’s a top-five talent with a questionable motor.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Maybe we’ve all fallen victim of the moment, but there just aren’t many 350-pound human beings who can move like Poe. The Panthers have the league’s worst set of defensive tackles, so Poe would be a major upgrade and would free up the Panthers strong set of linebackers.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

With a dominant combine performance, Ingram moves ahead of Courtney Upshaw as the first hybrid player off the board. Buffalo has a great set of defensive tackles, but needs someone to threaten the corner.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Scott Pioli is a New England guy and perhaps no team other than the Eagles likes drafting linemen early. Reiff comes from an established program and can play either tackle position.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Perry, DE, USC

Perry blew up the combine and moves into the top half of the first round. Pete Carroll is obviously familiar with USC and Seattle could use more pass rushers.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Cardinals offensive is abysmal. DeCastro is one of the best guard prospects of the past decade and would be an immediate starter and future Pro Bowler.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Dallas desperately needs to improve its secondary and Kirkpatrick is clearly the second-best corner behind Claiborne. His size and aggression will give Rob Ryan a versatile chess piece.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

The Eagles almost never draft linebackers early, but now is the time. Kuechly proved he has the athleticism to be successful at the next level and his production and character is unquestionable.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Due to a lackluster postseason, Upshaw slides a bit to Gang Green. He’s not a speed rusher, but he is powerful and would benefit from playing for a defensive-minded coach like Rex Ryan.

During the first four drafts of Bill Belichick’s tenure, the Patriots selected Richard Seymour, Jarvis Green, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Marquise Hill within the top four rounds. While Hill never reached his potential (and unfortunately passed away), Green developed into a solid rotational player while Seymour, Warren and Wilfork developed into three of the top 3-4 linemen in the league.

Heading into the 2012 draft, Wilfork is the lone man remaining, albeit the biggest one. The defensive line proved to be one of the team’s biggest strengths due to the excellent production from Mark Anderson and Andre Carter.

However, both players are free agents and Carter is coming off a serious quad injury. Besides Wilfork, the defensive line rotation is shaky. Kyle Love emerged as a quality run stuffer, but can he be a difference maker? Brandon Deadrick was also solid, but doesn’t fit the mold as a 4-3 end. Ron Brace, a former second-round pick, has been largely disappointing and is on the roster bubble along with 2010 second-rounder Jermaine Cunningham who disappeared after a solid rookie campaign.

One of the big issues, besides a lack of talent, is the question of what system the team will play. Due to the lockout, Belichick switched to a 4-3, but history indicates he would prefer a 3-4 look. The roster has some big-bodied run stuffers, but lacks a dynamic athlete with the size to impact both the run and passing games.

Big Vince is a dominant nose tackle who has proven to be versatile and dependable. But the big man is getting up there in age and needs someone else to draw some attention.

Next week we’ll examine the hybrid players, but here are five potential pure defensive linemen who could fit in New England’s system.

1. Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State: Don’t let his 6-foot-4, 298-pound listing fool you. This guy can move. The near 300-pounder ran a 4.79 forty and put up 30 reps on the bench press, proving he’s both strong and athletic. Cox is a disruptive player who has an excellent burst, quickness and motor. His combination of pure athleticism, intangibles and production make him an intriguing pick. Before the combine, the Patriots had an outside shot at him with the 27^th pick. They’ll have to move up if they want him.

2. Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut: The Patriots were burned by the local connection in ’09 when they made Darius Butler the 41^st pick. Reyes has some position versatility, playing both tackle and end in college, but would project to the five-technique position in New England. At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Reyes ran a 4.95 and pushed out an impressive 36 reps. He isn’t a great pass rusher at this point, but did show some raw ability at the Senior Bowl. He could be a target with the 48^th pick.

3. Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson: Prior to the start of the 2011 season, Thompson was pegged as the top senior defensive tackle in the nation. His stock has slipped after some inconsistent play, but the upside is still there. He’s known as a relentless worker in the weight room, evidenced by his 35 reps at the combine and school-record 370-pound power clean. He has a plus get-off and strong hands, but needs to play on his feet more. Thompson was once viewed as a first-rounder, but probably will be selected early in round two.

4. Jaye Howard, DT, Florida: While he isn’t graded as highly as some of the other prospects on this list, it’s hard to ignore the Florida connection when it comes to Belichick. Howard was the senior leader on a young defense and put together a productive year with 65 tackles, 10 for loss and 5.5 sacks. Howard projects as a three-technique at the next level and has a good burst off the line of scrimmage. He displayed solid speed with a 4.84 forty at 6-foot-3, 301 pounds. He’s a mid-round prospect who could carve out a role as an interior rusher.

5. Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati: It’s fitting that with Mike Wright leaving the Pats could bring in another Cincinnati lineman to replace him. Wolfe and Wright have similar builds with good length and athleticism. However, Wolfe is a much higher rated prospect due to his impressive production as a three-year starter. After posting 41 tackles and five sacks as a sophomore, he had 48/4 in 2010 before a monster senior year with 70/9.5. With a 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame, Wolfe could add weight and become a viable five-technique and slide inside in pass-rush situations. He could be someone to target after round four.

Much like 2007, the Patriots 2011 offense was utterly dominate.

However, it had a lot more to do with the tight ends than the trio of Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth.

That year, the trio combined for 3,365 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Last season, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez posted 2,237 yards and 25 total TDs.

New England’s sophomore duo took the league by storm after solid rookie campaigns. Gronk turned into a superstar and Hernandez quietly entered the top-five concussion with his uncanny athleticism and after-the-catch abilities.

Except for the drop in the Super Bowl (and a big one at that), Welker had a monster season, racking up a career-high 1,569 yards and nine scores.

Yet, the utter failure of Chad Ochocinco to become the team’s deep threat, combined with the lack of development from Taylor Price forced the team to become too dependent on the short to intermediate passing game.

When Gronk was hobbled by a bum ankle in the Super Bowl, the lack of a deep threat became alarmingly apparent.

Armed with four of the first 64 picks, the Patriots absolutely need to address the wide receiver position. Although the team has a poor draft history (Bethel Johnson, Chad Jackson, Brandon Tate, Price), it shouldn’t preclude Belichick and Co. from pulling the trigger on a talented wideout.

The Pats might need to assess their scouting perspective on college wideouts before selecting one early, but this has to be the year to add a legitimate weapon that can help in both the short and long term.

Let’s take a look at five potential Patriots.

1. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: While RG III won the Heisman, he wouldn’t have done so without the help of his star receiver. Undersized at 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, Wright dominated in 2011 because of his terrific speed, reliable hands and excellent change of direction skills. Despite his lack of height, he has the capability to be a Steve Smith type receiver at the next level because of his great explosion. If he blows up the combine, he should go in the top 20. His overall makeup seems like a great fit in New England, but they would have to move up to get him.

2. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: Floyd might be the best package of size and production outside of projected top-10 pick Justin Blackmon. The former five-star recruit had some off-field issues in South Bend, but seemed to repair his image as a senior. After a down junior year in which he seemed to play at a heavier weight, Floyd shed some pounds and responded with a 100/1,147/9 stat line. At 6-foot-3, 224 pounds, Floyd has the prototypical size of a No. 1 receiver, but there are some questions about his pure speed. If he runs anything under 4.55 at the combine, he should be drafted in the second half of the first round.

3. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU: In 2008, Randle signed with LSU as the nation’s top receiver. During his three years in Baton Rouge, he didn’t exactly light it up, but scouts feel his best football may be ahead of him. In his first two season, Randle caught 44 passes for 717 yards and five TDs before catching 53 balls for 917 yards and eight scores as a junior. Randle has great size (6’4, 208) and his 17.3 yards per catch average in 2011 suggests he has the speed to win on the outside at the NFL level. With a good combine, Randle could make his way into the final picks in the first round which makes him a solid target with the 31^st pick.

4. Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas: Adams falls in line with the smaller, quicker mold of Patriots receivers of the past. The 5-foot-11, 199-pounder didn’t dominate as a receiver, but is more of an all-purpose threat. Coincidentally, Adams’ two best seasons with the Razorbacks were in 2009 and 2010…the two years Ryan Mallet was the starter. The lightning fast wideout is also a monster punt returner, scoring four times in 2011. He’s projected to be a second-day pick.

5. Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers: We know Belichick loves Rutgers. Heck, he made Devin McCourty a first-round pick when most had him pegged as an early second rounder. Sanu is in a similar spot as a solid, productive collegiate player who was a leader. Former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said Sanu was, “The guy who does everything. He’ll be very hard to replace.” Sanu brings a solid blend of size (6’2, 215) with excellent hands and a wide catching radius. He’s strong and is regarded as a good blocker. His forty time will go a long way to determining whether he goes in the first round, but his work ethic and reliability make him a good fit in New England.

As we emerge from the darkness of the past few weeks, the degenerate gamblers among us are comforted by the fact that we can gamble on football again. It's not much, but it's slightly better than spending every free moment sitting alone in a darkened room while listening to Air Supply. Slightly.

Four teams had 6-1 odds or better (New England, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia). I'm normally not one for futures bets, but this one looks enticing simply because New England is lumped together with a team with no defense or running game, a team with an aging patchwork defense and no running game, and a team with no NFL-quality linebackers and whose quarterback plays an average of around 4 full games per year. In this case, a bet for the Pats is more of a vote against the other top teams than a vote of confidence in New England.

With that said, there are plenty of reasons the Pats rightly should be favored. The next-best QB to Brady in the division is Fitzpatrick, and the schedule is favorable with the NFC West and AFC South on tap. Barring significant injury, the Patriots will have the inside track to the top seed in the AFC for a third straight year. And given a full offseason with Belichick, a defense that improved in the second half of the season could see at least incremental progress.

Given these factors, I like the Pats at 5-1 … compared to the rest of the field. However, there is rarely much value in taking the favorite on a future’s bet. This case is no exception. We still have an entire offseason of things that can go horribly wrong for the Pats or go horribly right for New England’s AFC rivals. And really, who wants to have their money tied up for an entire year? If I know me, I'd lose and rediscover that gambling slip a dozen times between now and next February, and that assumes the best case scenario of my cat not mistaking it for a chew toy. I’d advise keeping your powder dry on this one. But if you absolutely must make a wager now to quell the inner gambling demon within you, the Pats present the best value among the top 4 or 5 teams on the board.

Just weeks after the infamous lashing of wide receivers by Tom Brady’s wife, Gisele, it appears that her f-bomb hatchet has been buried.  Well, at least it has as far as Wes Welker is concerned.  After confessing to being one of those that dropped the ball that sparked the tirade by Brady’s wife, Welker and his family were seen vacationing in Costa Rica for the long weekend with the Brady clan.  It has been reported on multiple sites that X17 has released a video for any naysayers that need to see the sunny weather and disposition of the trash talker and trash talked with their own eyes.  So, as the biggest game of tag continues this week with the likelihood that Welker will be franchise tagged, it appears as if the love story between the quarterback and the receiver continues.  Let’s just hope that the rings exchanged will be those of Super Bowl XLVII.

Over the past week, there have been many Patriots’ fans calling for the return of wide receiver Randy Moss onto the football team for 2012. Five years ago, the Patriots traded a 4^th round pick to the Oakland Raiders for Moss’ services and were not disappointed after his record breaking 23 touchdowns. It seemed like under Josh McDaniels’ offense, Brady and Moss were ready to take off as the best QB-WR tandem in the NFL since the days of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.

So, this question should be easy for Patriots’ fans to answer. Now that Moss has declared that he is coming back and has continually posted his U-Stream videos, the answer should be a resounding yes after fans saw the need for a deep threat in the Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants .Today, I am here to tell you why the Patriots need to avoid Randy Moss and go with a better veteran option that buys more into a concept that is fundamental to success in football.

That concept is TEAM!!! Moss proved over the course of his time in New England that he is not a team player. It showed in 2010 when after Wes Welker had a great game in the opener coming back from a torn ACL, Moss took the podium and whined to the media that he felt the team would not pay him. Then, there was the constant action of quitting on routes or giving up on passes whether it was from Matt Cassel in 2008 or Brady in 2009-10. I remember a throw in Week 2 against the Jets in ’10 where Brady threw up a pass to Moss in the 2^nd half that Randy could have gone for, but was instead intercepted by Antonio Cromartie in the 3^rd quarter.

I know Moss loves New England and he respects Belichick, but does this guy deserve another chance to comeback after being out of the league for a year? Is he truly a changed wide receiver looking for a ring or is he going to turn back into the diva receiver that got him run out of town by Bill Belichick and Bill O’Brien. It’s a tough risk to take.

For me, I have the perfect guy I want the Patriots to get. After they resolve the contract with Wes Welker, they should look into acquiring former Colts’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Wayne knows how to be a team player from his days in Indianapolis with Peyton Manning and would buy into the TEAM concept to win another ring. As for production, Wayne had nearly 1,000 yards receiving last year with no quarterback. That says something of what the guy could put up with Brady at the helm. He can still stretch the field and make some big plays for New England to extend drives and allow the tight ends to get open.

As you debate about whether you want Moss to come back, keep this in mind. I have a Moss #81 jersey at my house, but I still do not want him to come back. Thanks for the memories Randy, but if you do not want to buy into the Patriot way wholeheartedly, then the team will find another veteran piece to plug in and still be successful. As you dissect what New England should get in Free Agency, when you think about how much talent the individual has, think about how he will contribute to this TEAM being better and being less of a distraction than what I am sure will be the Gisele media circus at mini-camp in May.