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Some New England Patriots observers are still scratching their heads regarding defensive back Devin McCourty's sophomore slump. He went from a Pro Bowl corner in his rookie year to a player who couldn't consistently cover receivers in 2011.

McCourty provided some answers this week. He told the Boston Herald he played with a separated right shoulder since Week 10 of the regular season. McCourty returned after two games, but it appears he was more injured than he was letting on.

McCourty struggled mightily down the stretch for New England's 31st-rated defense. He was eventually moved to safety during the Patriots' playoff run. McCourty didn't require offseason surgery but says he's still not 100 percent.

The Patriots hope McCourty just suffered a down year. They need cover corners, and McCourty proved he can make plays when he had seven interceptions and two forced fumbles as a rookie.

Buffalo Bills

The experience of head coach Chain Gailey and quarterbacks coach David Lee helped sell new addition Vince Young on the Bills, he told Chris Brown.

Leo Roth of the Democrat and Chronicle throws Bill Polian's name out there as a possibility as the Bills' next general manager.

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback David Garrard is a fan of the fast-paced offense Miami's new coaching staff is installing, he tells the team's official site. "We’re going to be snap that ball at 33 seconds every time," Garrard said. "It’s going to be non-stop, and defenses will be tired because they won’t even get to put their hand on the ground."

Omar Kelly answers some of the questions he posed earlier about how good the Dolphins could be in 2012.

New England Patriots

Julian Edelman was pleased to hear that fellow receiver Wes Welker had signed his franchise tender. "He’s one of our better players on our team and he’s only going to make us better," Edelman told ESPN Boston. "I think that's great." Defensive back Devin McCourty, meanwhile, expects business as usual from Matt Patricia following his elevation to defensive coordinator.

Back with the Patriots after serving jail time for manslaughter and on the heels of lackluster seasons in Baltimore and Washington, receiver Donte' Stallworth says he's a changed man. "I’m in a better place, mentally, physically," Stallworth told the Boston Herald.

New York Jets

Mark Sanchez definitely has the edge on Tim Tebow in the quarterbacking department, Joe Namath told ESPN New York. The legendary signal-caller also said he gets bad vibes whenever he crosses paths with Jets owner Woody Johnson.

A day after signing running back Terrance Ganaway, the Jets added one of Ganaway's former Baylor teammates, guard Robert Griffin. Griffin, who blocked for Ganaway and the "other" Robert Griffin, Heisman winner and first-round pick Robert Griffin III, was taken one pick after Ganaway in the sixth round of April's draft.

The AFC East blog continues its series this week on ranking team needs in the division.

On Wednesday, we take a look at the reigning AFC East champion New England Patriots, who finished 13-3 last season.

No. 1 need: Cornerback

Analysis: If you watched the Patriots all season, this shouldn't come as a surprise. New England's 31st-ranked pass defense was horrific last year. Even casual observers who only watched the Patriots in the Super Bowl saw New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning carve up New England and earn MVP honors. New England starting cornerback Devin McCourty took a big step back last season. Kyle Arrington had a lot of interceptions but also gave up plenty of big plays. McCourty is young and can still improve, but I don't think his ceiling is high enough to become a Darrelle Revis-type corner, who can shut down one side of the field. If New England feels it can get that caliber of corner free agency or the draft, the team should jump on it.

No. 2 need: Safety

Analysis: Many would argue safety is New England's biggest need, and it's certainly a valid debate. However, the reason I put cornerback over safety is because corner is more valuable in today's NFL. In my opinion, cornerback is the second-hardest position to play behind quarterback. You take the corner over the elite safety every time. But there's no avoiding New England's need at safety. Patrick Chung is a good, young player who needs someone next to him to take the pressure off on the back end. This is a great year for safeties in free agency. Therefore, New England could have this need filled before the draft.

No. 3 need: Pass-rusher

Analysis: This need could be helped if New England retains free-agent defensive end Mark Anderson, Andre Carter, or both. The Patriots' two best pass-rushers are set to hit the open market. Anderson most likely will generate more interest due to Carter’s season-ending quad injury. He had a great year with the Patriots and registered 10 sacks. But even if New England keeps Anderson, the team needs another threat on defense to get to the quarterback.

That is our list for the Patriots. Using our SportsNation poll, let us know if you agree or disagree on team needs for New England.

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday morning in the AFC East:

• New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning says Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez gets too much blame.

Morning take: I think there is a case to be made here. But Manning knows better than anyone that expectations are always high in the Big Apple. Sanchez can learn from Manning’s perseverance and try to bounce back next season.

• After much debate, Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey confirms the team is switching to a 4-3 defense.

Morning take: This is a smart move by Buffalo. The Bills' two best defensive players are Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus -- and both are natural defensive tackles.

• Can the Miami Dolphins afford to keep Paul Soliai in free agency?

Morning take: I think Miami is leaning toward letting Soliai walk. He's a good player. But Miami had more than a year to work out a long-term contract and couldn't. I don't think anything changes in the next month.

• New England Patriots cornerback (and part-time safety ) Devin McCourty says the defense needs to keep believing in the Super Bowl.

Morning take: This much-maligned group is getting little credit for allowing just 15 points per game in the playoffs. But New England's defense can earn its respect by holding down the New York Giants' talented offense.

Here are the most interesting stories Saturday morning in the AFC East:

• Is rookie head coach Joe Philbin the right choice for the Miami Dolphins?

Morning take: It's too early to tell. First-year head coaches can be hit or miss. I thought Philbin and Mike McCoy were pretty much a toss-up. But the difference-maker, in my opinion, is whether Philbin can recruit Matt Flynn to join the Dolphins next season.

• New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan says he will consider toning down the bravado and trash-talking.

Morning take: This is a wise move by Ryan, but it’s in his DNA. I’m not sure how easy it will be to bite his tongue next season.

• New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty says he's ready to face college teammate Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens.

Morning take: The Rutgers alums spent time together in the offseason. McCourty is going through a sophomore slump but could really help New England with a big postseason performance.

• The Buffalo Bills will play six games next season against new head coaches.

Morning take: Continuity is important, and the Bills have been under the same program for a while. Perhaps playing against coaches in their first year with the team will give the Bills a chance to win a few extra game.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 4
Preseason Power Ranking: 2

Biggest surprise: The Patriots found a surprise gem in defensive end Mark Anderson. He is playing on his third team in three years but found a home in New England. He tied Andre Carter for the team lead with 10 sacks. Anderson recorded only 8.5 sacks the past four seasons with the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. New England's offense scores a lot of points, which allows the defense to go after opposing quarterbacks trying to keep up. Anderson and New England's pass rush will be key to the Patriots making a Super Bowl run.

Biggest disappointment: There was a lot of fanfare with the offseason trade of former Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco. He was expected to make an impact and add big-play capability to New England's already high-powered offense. Instead, Ochocinco had trouble adjusting to his new surroundings early and never caught up. Ochocinco's season was a dud. He set new career lows with just 15 receptions for 278 yards and one touchdown. Most weeks the Patriots didn't need Ochocinco and he was largely ignored. He never caught more than two passes in a game.

Biggest need: The Patriots need secondary help in the worst way. It could come at safety and/or cornerback. New England set a team record for the most passing yards allowed in a season. Nearly every week the Patriots were carved up by opposing quarterbacks. Cornerback Devin McCourty had an awful sophomore slump and even shifted to safety last week. The safeties underperformed and were decimated by injuries. The Patriots have two first-round picks and two second-round picks in April's NFL draft. They will have plenty of opportunities to add players who can make an impact.

Team MVP: There's no question about this one. New England quarterback Tom Brady threw for 5,000 yards for the first time in his career. He finished with 5,235 yards, 39 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Brady was the single biggest difference-maker of any player in the NFL, thus leading to my case for making him the league's Most Valuable Player. With Brady, New England is 13-3, won the AFC East and has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Without Brady, this is probably a five-win team with an awful defense and shaky quarterback play.

Free-agent watch: There is no bigger free agent on this team than receiver Wes Welker. He set a career high with 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns. His 122 receptions were the second-highest of his career. Welker is one of the league’s biggest free agents this offseason and a must-sign for the Patriots. Their offense isn't the same without him. New England has other decisions to make on lesser pending free agents like Carter and veteran receiver Deion Branch. Other than that, the Patriots are in good shape this year with free agency.

No player in the AFC East is suffering from a sophomore slump more than New England Patriots second-year cornerback Devin McCourty.

Last year, the 2010 first-round pick recorded seven interceptions and made his first Pro Bowl as a rookie. This year McCourty has zero interceptions and often gets beat in coverage, which includes last week's touchdown catch by Washington Redskins receiver Jabar Gaffney.

What's happened to McCourty this season? We check in with our resident scout -- Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. -- to get his take.

"I thought McCourty was great last year, and I don't know what his issue is this year. I thought he was going to be a star in this league when the season ended last year. If it wasn't for [Detroit Lions defensive tackle] Ndamukong Suh, McCourty was right in line for Defensive Rookie of the Year. But McCourty is just a step behind now. It's not like I can say 'He's doing this wrong or he's doing that wrong.' But he’s clearly not the same player he was a year ago, and the Patriots were counting on him. McCourty was going to be the foundation of their defense."

New England's defense is ranked last in the NFL, allowing 424.4 yards per game. The Patriots are also last against the pass, in large part because McCourty hasn't developed into the shutdown corner New England expected in his second season.

Reason No. 20. Bills, Jets still in playoff hunt: With the way these two teams have played lately, both are fortunate to still have a chance at the postseason. One team's hopes will end when Buffalo plays at New York this Sunday.

Reason No. 19. Tony Sparano: Say what you want about Sparano, but the embattled head coach has the Dolphins playing their best football. Miami made the right choice to stick with him the rest of this season.

Reason No. 18. Andy Levitre: Buffalo's Mr. Versatile has started at guard, offensive tackle and center. Levitre struggled at center, but the Bills put him in a bad spot.

Reason No. 17. Joe McKnight: Every time he touches the ball, something exciting can happen. But the Jets' young running back needs to work on ball security to earn the trust of the coaching staff.

Reason No. 16. C.J. Spiller: Buffalo is fortunate to have its 2010 first-round pick now that starter Fred Jackson is out for the season. Spiller finally gets his chance after nearly two seasons as a backup.

Reason No. 15. Brandon Fields: Miami's punter is quietly having a Pro Bowl season. But the Dolphins' 3-7 record won't get him much attention.

Reason No. 14. Mike Pouncey: Miami hit on this year's first-round pick. The center has been one of the team's steadiest players in an unsteady season.

Reason No. 13. Nick Mangold: The Jets have the best center in the league. They wish they had two or three more Mangolds on their offensive line.

Reason No. 12. Patriots' defense improving: If New England's weakest link plays like it has the past two weeks, the Patriots will be dangerous in the postseason.

Reason No. 11. Miami is healthy: The Dolphins are fortunate to be so healthy late in the season. It's one of the reasons Miami is playing well in the spoiler role.

Reason No. 10. Kyle Arrington: The Patriots cornerback is this year's version of Devin McCourty. Arrington leads the NFL in interceptions and stays around the football.

Reason No. 9. Bill Belichick: New England has the best coach in the division and one of the best ever. Despite a flawed team, Belichick finds a way to keep the Patriots in Super Bowl contention.

Reason No. 8. MetLife Stadium: The Jets are 4-1 at home this season. That's a good thing, because New York must win its three remaining home games to stay in the hunt.

Reason No. 7: Wes Welker: New England's top receiver is having the best year of his career. He leads the NFL with 1,028 receiving yards.

Reason No. 6: Dolphins defense: Miami's defense finally looks like the dominant unit from a year ago. The Dolphins haven't allowed a touchdown in three games.

Reason No. 5: Patriots tight ends: Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are the best tight-end duo in the NFL. I would put Gronkowski in my top five and Hernandez in or around the top 10.

Reason No. 4: Matt Moore: Despite only playing in seven games, Moore has to be in consideration for Miami's MVP. He's one of the biggest reasons for the Dolphins' late turnaround.

Reason No. 3: Patriots’ easy schedule: New England has to be thankful for the NFL's easiest remaining schedule. As a result, beware of New England if the road to the Super Bowl goes through Gillette Stadium.

Reason No. 2: Darrelle Revis: Health permitting, the cornerback will be an all-time great. New York has the rare luxury to shut down a star receiver or one half of the field every game. You just hope the Jets aren't wasting Revis' prime years by underachieving in other areas.

Reason No. 1: Tom Brady: For more than a decade, Brady has been the biggest equalizer in the AFC East. The Patriots can overcome many deficiencies because Brady is an elite quarterback. Until the Bills, Jets or Dolphins find a quarterback good enough to counter Brady, New England will remain the favorite in the division.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Enjoy the holiday.

Here is the latest injury updates for Week 11 in the AFC East:

Buffalo Bills: The Bills finally got some good news this week on the injury front, as top receiver Steve Johnson (shoulder) returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis. Buffalo's struggling offense really needs Johnson in Sunday's game against Miami. Buffalo linebacker Chris Kelsay (calf) again had a limited practice and looks primed to return. Safety George Wilson (neck) and receiver David Nelson (illness, ankle) both missed practice for the second straight day.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins remain healthy late in the season. Starting tight end Anthony Fasano (ankle) was the only player limited in practice. But he's on pace to play Sunday. Cornerback Nolan Carroll has a hamstring injury but had full participation.

New England Patriots: For New England, the big injury is top cornerback Devin McCourty, who didn't practice with a shoulder injury. The Patriots had 14 players who were limited. It was mostly the usual suspects from last week. But Wes Welker was limited with a knee injury that appears to be a new ailment for New England's leading receiver.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New England Patriots lead the New York Jets 13-9 at intermission.

Here are several notes from the first half:

• Receiver Chad Ochocinco already is having his best game as a Patriot. With Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis spending a lot of time on Wes Welker, Ochocinco found early success against New York's secondary. Ochocinco has two receptions for 65 yards, including a big 53-yard catch against the blitz to set up a first-quarter field goal.
• New England's pass rush is playing well. The defensive line is getting off the line quickly and getting to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. New England defensive end Andre Carter has 2.5 sacks. Sanchez has been sacked three times total.
• The play of New England quarterback Tom Brady has been up and down. He's missed a few throws he normally makes — and also held the ball too long and was sacked for a safety. But Brady also has led the Patriots to three scoring drives -- including one just before the half that ended with a touchdown to tight end Rob Gronkowski. Brady has thrown for 194 yards and one touchdown.
• Jets kicker Nick Folk missed a chip shot of 24 yards to start the game. Folk started the year making 10 consecutive attempts. But he's missed one in each of the past two games. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski nailed two field goals in the first quarter.
• On the injury front, Patriots starting cornerback Devin McCourty suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter. His return in questionable.

The bye weeks are complete in the AFC East. All four teams will be in action this weekend.

Here are four X factors to keep an eye on:

Buffalo Bills (5-2)

X factor: WR David Nelson

Analysis: Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis could be matched up a lot this week with Bills No. 1 receiver Steve Johnson. That means other receivers, like Nelson, have to step up for Buffalo to be successful. Neslon could see a lot of Kyle Wilson in the slot. Both are among the most improved players in the AFC East this year. Nelson's battles in the slot will be crucial on third down. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick often looks over the middle to Nelson and tight end Scott Chandler to move the chains.

New York Jets (4-3)

X factor: C Nick Mangold

Analysis: The Jets are back to their ground-and-pound ways and at the center of it is Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold. It's no secret New York will try to control the line of scrimmage against the inconsistent Buffalo defense. But the Bills are coming off their best game of the season -- a 23-0 shutout against the Washington Redskins. Mangold has a tough assignment against Buffalo No. 3 overall pick Marcell Dareus, who recorded 2.5 sacks last week.

New England Patriots (5-2)

X factor: CB Devin McCourty

Analysis: It's time to McCourty to step up. New England's No. 1 corner hasn't made any significant plays this year. He has zero interceptions and only three pass defenses. McCourty is suffering from a major sophomore slump. He recorded eight interceptions as a rookie in 2010. The New York Giants had a solid passing game but No. 1 receiver Hakeem Nicks is ailing with a hamstring injury. McCourty has to win his matchup with Giants receivers for New England's pass defense to be successful.

Miami Dolphins (0-7)

X factor: RB Reggie Bush

Analysis: Bush produced his first 100-yard rushing game of the season against the Giants. He rushed for 103 yards on 15 carries. It helped Miami control the game for three quarters. The Dolphins will need control the clock with their running game again to have a chance to beat the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs have the NFL's 22nd-ranked run defense. Miami, despite its many struggles, actually has an underrated running game. The Dolphins are 12th in the league in rushing.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter: The Dolphins continued their disturbing trend of not being able to finish games. They blew a fourth-quarter lead for the second straight week, this time against the New York Giants in a 20-17 defeat. Miami has been outscored 28-9 in the fourth quarter and overtime the past two weeks by the Giants and Denver Broncos.

2. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots head coach: This is a first for Belichick this season. Overall, he's done another good job leading the Patriots to a 5-2 start. But Belichick's defensive schemes and personnel decisions have not been up to par this year. It's starting to catch up to him as teams like Pittsburgh and Buffalo are taking advantage of New England's defense. Quarterback Tom Brady cannot throw for 400 yards every week. Belichick, who has a reputation as a defensive guru, has to find solutions on that side of the football before it's too late.

3. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback: You can't put everything on Belichick. The players on the field have to produce as well. After a great rookie year, McCourty is having a major sophomore slump as New England's top cornerback. Against Pittsburgh, McCourty recorded seven solo tackles and zero pass defenses. He's struggling to get in position to make plays on the ball. McCourty has zero interceptions and only three pass defenses in seven games.

RISING

1. Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle: Buffalo's first-round pick had his best game as a pro. Dareus was a handful for the Washington Redskins' offensive line and recorded four tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks. Dareus moved to nose tackle from defensive end this week because of a foot injury to Kyle Williams. The rookie looked right at home fighting off numerous double-teams while still getting to the quarterback.

2. Fred Jackson, Bills tailback: Jackson continued his monster season with another great game, this time against the Redskins. Jackson rushed for 120 yards and added 74 yards receiving. Jackson runs through a lot of tackles and is on pace to rush for more than 1,600 yards this season. I think he's earned a new contract. Jackson deserves some mention in the Most Valuable Player race, as well.

3. Reggie Bush, Dolphins tailback: Bush had his second career 100-yard rushing performance and his first with the Dolphins. Bush's quickness gave the Giants fits for three quarters. He rushed for 103 yards on 15 carries. Bush’s longest run was for 35 yards, and he averaged 6.9 yards per carry. Miami needs more games like this from Bush to get more victories.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick hits from the Patriots locker room during today's media-access period:

1. Before speaking with a group of reporters, Albert Haynesworth shared thoughts on playing under Bill Belichick. Haynesworth said the part that stands out to him more than anything is that Belichick is involved in meetings and has a knowledge of every position. That's different than anything he's experienced.

2. The nameplate over veteran defensive lineman Gerard Warren's locker has been taken down, but there are still personal items inside. That could be a sign that Warren's time in New England is not yet over.

3. Players speaking with large groups of reporters included linebacker Jerod Mayo, Haynesworth, receiver Matthew Slater and cornerback Devin McCourty.

4. Haynesworth was wearing a blue hat with the word "Pat's" on it, which is from his friends' towing business. Haynesworth said it's a coincidence that the colors are Pats' red, white and blue and that owner Robert Kraft was curious about it, so Haynesworth gave him one, too.

5. Mayo on the Dolphins' offense: "They have a great stable of running backs, starting with [Reggie] Bush. The quarterback [Chad Henne] looks more comfortable making throws and [Brandon] Marshall is still making plays down the field. It's a big test for us. [Bush] can take a 3-yard checkdown to the house, so you have to stay on him. He adds a whole another dynamic to the offense."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Now in his 37th season, Bill Belichick owns the distinction of having the most NFL experience among current head coaches. That gives him a unique perspective on the evolution of the NFL.

“It’s changed through the years, a lot of things are different from when I started coaching, on a lot of levels -- players, technology, the equipment we use," he said. "That’s the way it is for all of us. Bob Dylan talked about that 50 years ago."

For Belichick and his fellow coaches, Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is a perfect theme song for the 2011 season.

Coaches must adjust to new rules as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, which means there are no more two-a-day practices, fewer full-pad practices and expanded training-camp rosters. And when it comes to Belichick’s New England Patriots club, which he leads for a 12th season, another year has brought unexpected change.

Few saw the acquisitions of controversial defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and high-profile wide receiver Chad Ochocinco coming. Their arrivals made the start of 2011 training camp different from the norm in New England.

Usually the focus would be squarely on quarterback Tom Brady as camp opened, but in this unusual year, the NFL’s 2010 Most Valuable Player was on the back burner as he returned from January surgery on his right foot.

Indeed, things have changed.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How does Haynesworth fit in? All eyes were on Haynesworth when he took the field for the first time July 31, and he didn’t disappoint.

The crowd cheered his arrival, which he acknowledged with a wave (almost like a baseball pitcher tipping his cap). Then he dominated a running drill. On the first play, he exploded through the line to blow up the play, which led to an eruption from the crowd. Haynesworth had a few other disruptive plays.

“It's going to be awesome. It's a refresher, and it kind of revived me, playing football again,” said Haynesworth, who was acquired for a fifth-round draft choice after two tumultuous seasons with the Redskins.

Haynesworth’s arrival could change the way the Patriots, who used a 3-4 alignment about 40 percent of the time last season, play defense. There have been more traditional four-man lines used in training camp, with linemen attacking more rather than controlling two gaps. Haynesworth would line up at tackle next to Pro Bowler Vince Wilfork in that type of plan.

The Patriots have managed Haynesworth’s health closely in camp, keeping him out of practice since Aug. 3. Although the reason Haynesworth is not practicing is not clear -- speculation is it’s simply maintenance of his troublesome knee -- Belichick doesn’t sound concerned.

"I think Albert has been great since he's been here,” he told WEEI sports radio Aug. 15. “He's worked hard. He's done more than really what we've asked him to do. He's put in a lot of extra time and a lot of extra effort to get back on the field, to study, to catch up on things from a playbook standpoint that's he a little behind on."

As for Haynesworth’s off-field issues, owner Robert Kraft explained how the organization developed a comfort level in acquiring him.

“I met with him, and I like the guy,” Kraft said. “He didn't come here for the money. He came here to be part of a team and win [and] I think in some ways to improve his reputation. So it's like a lot of meetings I have with these guys, I found him to be genuine and sincere. Now I hope he gets out on the field and does his thing.”

Haynesworth agreed to restructure his contract to consummate the trade. His new deal calls for him to earn a base salary of $1.5 million this season (he can earn more in incentives) before the salary spikes to $6.7 million in 2012. There was no signing bonus as part of the pact, making it a low-risk acquisition for the Patriots.

2. Will Ochocinco conform to the Patriot Way? On his first day on the practice field, Ochocinco tweeted, “It’s 1 thing to jump and be able to land on 2 feet but I had no idea I was landing in Heaven.”
He has quickly integrated himself into the mix, lining up in two-receiver packages with Wes Welker. Veteran Deion Branch joined the mix in three-wide looks.

Although there has been a higher-than-expected total of dropped passes, things have otherwise been smooth as Ochocinco has made the transition from Cincinnati to New England. The biggest challenges have been adjusting to offensive terminology that isn’t numbers-based (like the Bengals) and on-field communication with Brady through various signals.

“Once we’re on the field, there is no talking. I just look in his eyes and that’s it and that’s how we communicate,” said Ochocinco, who restructured his contract and received a $4.5 million signing bonus and base salaries of $1 million in 2011, $3 million in 2012 and $3 million in 2013. “That’s what I like about it here. [It’s] really, really cool.”

Patriots coaches and players have cited Ochocinco’s work ethic and passion for football on a daily basis, with some players laughing at the fun he has had off the field, which included attending a Red Sox/Yankees game and sitting in the front row along the third-base line, requesting a group hug from reporters and announcing that he would be living with a fan who had an Internet connection and Xbox for the first few weeks of the season.

In a classy move, second-year tight end Aaron Hernandez gave up his No. 85 for Ochocinco when the trade was consummated, the Patriots giving up fifth- and sixth-round draft choices in the move. Hernandez didn’t receive anything in return for the jersey swap, which set a positive tone.

3. Can Patriots get over playoff hump? Few would argue the Patriots aren’t top contenders for the Super Bowl. But those who don’t put them atop the list can make a strong case by pointing to their last three playoff games.

• Feb. 3, 2008: Giants 17, Patriots 14. With the chance to close out their perfect season, the Patriots fall just short.
• Jan. 10, 2010: Ravens 33, Patriots 14. A stunning home blowout in the wild-card round of the playoffs in which the Ravens stomped all over the Pats.
• Jan. 16, 2011: Jets 28, Patriots 21. Having earned the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, the Patriots had a chance to bury the Jets early, but two first-quarter miscues halted the momentum. The Jets built confidence and stunned the Pats in the divisional round.

Simply put, the Patriots won’t be able to answer one of their biggest questions for at least five months.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Saying goodbye to veteran tight end Alge Crumpler. The Patriots were so pleased with the addition of Crumpler last season, and the role he played in mentoring 2010 draft picks Rob Gronkowski and Hernandez, they named him a captain a few weeks into the season.

Crumpler’s steadying presence in the locker room was considered key in righting one of the team’s trouble areas from 2009 -- a fractured locker room.

So it was surprising when the team released him a few days into training camp, turning the position over to Gronkowski (10 TDs in 2010), Hernandez and either rookie Lee Smith (fifth-round pick out of Marshall) or Will Yeatman (rookie free agent out of Maryland).

Crumpler played 53 percent of the offensive snaps last season, contributing mostly in the running game. Only three other offensive skill-position players were on the field more.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

It’s a tie between third-year defensive lineman Ron Brace and fifth-year safety Brandon Meriweather.

Brace is a 2009 second-round draft choice out of Boston College who is close to hitting a fork in the road of his NFL career.

For the second year in a row, he has opened camp on a reserve list, not ready to practice. With the team releasing longtime starter Ty Warren, the opportunity was there for Brace (6-foot-3, 330 pounds) to rise up the depth chart, but he hasn’t been able to seize the opportunity.

Meanwhile, the coaching staff seems to be sending a message to Meriweather, a two-time Pro Bowl safety. Meriweather played the entire first half of the preseason opener, even though the club’s other Pro Bowl players -- cornerback Devin McCourty, linebacker Jerod Mayo and Wilfork -- did not suit up for the game.

The team also offered free-agent safety Dashon Goldson a contract before Goldson re-signed with the 49ers, while Meriweather’s practice reps of late have been split with second-year player Sergio Brown.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Great competition at backup quarterback between third-year man Brian Hoyer and rookie Ryan Mallett (third round, 74th overall). Hoyer has been the No. 2 the last two seasons after making the club as a rookie free agent out of Michigan State, and he has solid command of the complex offense. Meanwhile, Mallett’s arm strength and work ethic are notable. He often stays late after practice, working with offensive assistant George Godsey on the finer points of the position (e.g., footwork).
• It has been a common occurrence to see Mallett carrying the shoulder pads of Tom Brady and Hoyer off the field after practice. Some humble pie for the highly touted signal-caller from Arkansas.
• Belichick gets involved in a drill in which the goal is for quarterbacks to maintain their concentration and perfect their footwork while under duress, and Belichick creates that duress by firing a blocking pad at them. Belichick has cranked Hoyer and Mallett in the head. No 15-yard penalties for that in practice.
• A lot of defensive linemen in camp. Counting hybrids, the Patriots have 20 in camp entering their second preseason game, and Belichick acknowledged to Sirius XM NFL radio that the team will probably keep more defensive linemen than linebackers this year.
• Second-round draft choices Ras-I Dowling (cornerback, 33rd overall) and Shane Vereen (running back, 56th overall) pulled up with hamstrings issues after just one practice, and they haven’t practiced since. Both signed contracts late -- this could be filed under the “lockout effect.” When Vereen was on the field, his speed stood out.
• Second-year receiver Taylor Price, whose chance to break through for a top spot at receiver was made more challenging by the acquisition of Ochocinco, is stating his case. He has had a solid camp and was the star of the preseason opener (5 catches, 105 yards and a TD). He said his next step is developing the trust of Brady that he’ll always be in the right spot. Right now, he looks like a solid No. 4 option.
• The Patriots struggled to generate a pass rush off the edge in 2010. Veteran defensive ends Mark Anderson and Andre Carter have been solid in that area to this point, providing what looks to be an upgrade over Tully Banta-Cain, who was released.
• First-round draft choice Nate Solder, the team’s left tackle of the future, has responded well to his crash course since joining the team a week into camp. He’s big (6-foot-8, 319 pounds) and sometimes struggles with an inside move, but the potential is easy to see.
• Veteran cornerback Leigh Bodden has turned in a solid camp as he returns after missing the entire 2010 season with a torn rotator cuff. A starter at right cornerback opposite McCourty, Bodden has worked in the slot in sub packages, a role he last played in 2007 with the Browns. Bodden’s size (6-foot-1, 193) is a good fit there from a run-support and jamming-receivers perspective.
• Don’t expect All-Pro left guard Logan Mankins to get too comfortable now that he has signed a six-year, $51 million contract extension. He looks like his typical nasty self on the field, and his early-camp battles with Haynesworth were a highlight.
• The Patriots had a minor scare when Gronkowski was helped off the field Aug. 8. But he returned a few days later and looks primed to build off his impressive rookie campaign.
• Sixth-year kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the last half of the 2010 season with a torn right quadriceps muscle, but his recovery is on track. The right-footed kicker is not yet taking kickoffs -- UMass product Chris Koepplin is in camp to handle those duties -- but he looks strong on field goals. Gostkowski has hit from a long of 53 yards in practice and was good from 43 and 46 yards in the preseason opener.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rapid reaction from the Patriots' 47-12 win over the Jaguars in the preseason opener:

A night for backups. Bill Belichick sat several key players, quarterback Tom Brady; receivers Chad Ochocinco, Wes Welker and Deion Branch; defensive lineman Vince Wilfork; cornerback Devin McCourty and linebacker Jerod Mayo among them. This gave Belichick a chance to evaluate some younger players, while at the same time not rushing things with key personnel after just seven full-pad practices. You had to be a hard-core fan to sit through all of this one, but in all, it was a productive night for a first preseason game.

Taylor Price one of the big stories. The second-year receiver was excellent, the highlight play coming with a back-of-the-end-zone, fingertip, toe-tapping touchdown grab. Price later showed his speed on a long catch-and-run play. Price is behind Ochocinco, Branch and Welker on the depth chart, but he ensured that he's not in jeopardy of missing the final roster cut. Impressive night.

Quarterback situation looks sharp. Between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett, the Patriots appear to have one of the best backup quarterback situations in the NFL. Both were impressive.

Rookie RB Stevan Ridley shines. Third-round pick Stevan Ridley showed up for camp on time and took advantage of extended reps as second-rounder Shane Vereen had yet to sign and veterans BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris could not yet practice. That showed tonight. Ridley's confidence and hard-charging style was evident on two touchdown runs and he showed good hands on a touchdown catch. Agents generally don't get a lot of praise, but Ridley's agent -- Andy Simms -- gets a tip of the cap from here. Simms is also the agent for McCourty and for two years in a row he's made sure his clients were there for the first day of practice, putting them in the best position to succeed.

Tough night for CBs Darius Butler and Jonathan Wilhite. Both played into the fourth quarter. That's a hard fall for Butler, the 2009 second-round pick was an opening-day starter last season. Butler and Wilhite look to be on the roster bubble.

Nate Solder passes first test. The first-round pick played the entire first half at left tackle. He was hardly noticed, which meant he did his job well.

Dane Fletcher a top performer on defense. The second-year linebacker started and led the defensive huddle. He finished with five tackles while delivering a bit hit in the process. A strong special teams player as a rookie (he made the club as a free agent), he showed he's ready if called upon as a middle linebacker in the event of injury to Brandon Spikes.