Mike Reiss

  (10:00 AM)

Good morning and welcome to our weekly Patriots chat.

Mike Reiss

  (10:01 AM)

Thanks to all for making the in-game adjustment to switch the time of the chat from noon to 10 a.m. This is like being on the West Coast for a 10 a.m. kickoff on Sunday.

Mike Reiss

  (10:01 AM)

We'll be back at our regular time next week. As we start, the question was posed: Which positional battle are you most interested in watching in 2011 training camp. I'll go through the responses, post them, and then we'll get started.

Guardian100785 (CA)

Well I won't be here for the chat that early so I put mine in early Mike. I'm looking forward to the position battle at RDE. I'm interested who it is that BB has so much confidence in to not draft another DE. I'm guessing it's Deadrick and Brace but any chance Weston makes a jump coming off an injury in his rookie season?

Peter (Tampa Bay)

Mike: If there is a training cam, I think defensive line is the most obvious to watch. There seems to be more depth at DL than any other position but also more question marks than any other position.Any comments about roster expansion??

Jeff (Needham, MA)

Hey Mike, I think wide receiver and defensive line are going to be the most interesting position battles. Offensive line also, but that's not as much a position battle thing as it is a question of Mankins returning and Cannon being healthy.

Eric (Burlington, MA)

Hey Mike, I think the most interesting position battle will be alone the defensive line where there are no rookies (yet) and many younger guys who have different strengths and weaknesses. There isn't room for them all and with the exception of Wilfork I don't think there is a guranteed roster spot for anyone, including Ty Warren due to him coming off injury.

Laurie (Moncton, Canada)

Great question, Mike! The position battle I will be watching the closest is for the backup QB spot. Mallett and Hoyer should provide some entertaining competition, and possibly a glimpse into the future.

Darnell Aie (Mount Pocono)

I am really looking forward for who wins that 3rd WR spot, between Brandon Tate and Taylor Price for the Patriots. That was one of the things that hurt us in the playoffs.

David (Grafton, Mass)

I think the top choices would be RB, WR, and DL. I'm gonna have to go with WR because with both Price and Tate in their second years (last year being tate's first because he sat out 2010) their development could be critical to the team with both welker and branch in the final year of their contracts

Dienasty (Brockton, Ma)

The position battle that most intrigues me is the D-Line. Most of the questions that fans had about pressure focused on the OLB, but I think the real void last year was on the D-Line. There are a ton of bodies and a ton of questions here. Is Ty back to being a top 5-tech guy? Is Wright healthy? (when he is, he is very effective at bringing inside pressure) Who out of the Deaderick, Brace, Stroud, Weston(?) mix will emerge opposite Ty? (hopefully a younger guy) Can Kyle Love and Myron Pryor continue to develop to provide depth in pressure situations? I think if these guys perform well, Cunnigham, Ninkovich, Moore, and Tully will be able to better get to the QB and set the edge. Even though I think the Seymour trade was a good deal for the Pats, I still think they are recovering from it and with the number of names in the mix this year hopefully the D-Line can regain stability and develop some pressure (or help others develop pressure as Big Sey used to do). Thanks for keeping the chats going! Nice to talk FB instead of Lockout.

Dennis (WPB. FL)

This week's question to ponder in the chat: Which position battle are you most interested in watching during 2011 training camp?Mike, bad question/topic to open up with, clearly you meant the 2012 training camp because the owners are not ending this lockout until the players start missing game checks.

Matt (ct)

Mike - inside linebacker...I have a feeling fletcher is going to push spikes...spikes is more physical but seems like fletcher is quicker and more athletic...should be great battle to see who can make the biggest year 2 leap

Tore (New Zealand)

The RB position should be very interesting to watch in camp with the two rookies and maybe adding Ricky Williams to the mix. I still see BB carrying a total of 5 backs. This should be an area of big time improvement since we finally have a 3 down back in SV.

Andrew (Madison, WI)

Position battle is a great question, especially when you think about it, Belichick's set up quite a bit of competition. TEs going to be interesting, as well as CB, but for my money, it's the RBs. Will the rookies take over? Is Woody's job safe? Will Faulk make the roster? Can the Law Firm keep his starting job?

Brian B (Pierre, SD (Northbridge, MA transplant))

Good Morning Mike. In the wake of the draft, I am very interested in seeing the training camp battle for running back. Vareen may be an explosive back, or a third down option at minimum. Ridley is a short yardage hammer. However, how do you see this affecting "The Law Firm" BJGE and Woodhead? The O Line pick ups add to this interesting situation. Your take?

dave (nyc)

i'm interested in strong side linebacker and right defensive end. i'm hoping that neither player is on the roster right now (my guess is whenever the lockout ends free agency will be more wide open than 2010 rules). if they dont add a DE, my guess is stroud early with deaderick taking over the position after a few weeks. nink is penciled in at OLB but i really think he's best suited as a back-up/special teamer. upgrades are seriously needed at both positions.

Augmandingo (Blogosphere)

Good morning, Mike. I'm most interested in how the back up DL/CB/OL/QB competitions will turn out. What most interests you?

Mike Reiss

  (10:07 AM)

Tremendous opening to the chat. I appreciate the time and effort you all put in to these responses, and particularly enjoy reading them myself. For me, the position battle I'm most interested in seeing is offensive line because of all the questions that are tied in with that. Is Nate Solder ready from Day 1? Is Matt Light back? Logan Mankins? Marcus Cannon healthy? So many moving parts that it was the spot that stood out to me most.

Mike Reiss

  (10:07 AM)

Let's plan on chatting until 11 a.m. or so...

Kyle (Cranston, RI)

Mike, I think Logan Mankins attending Joe Andruzzi's charity golf tournament is a good sign for potentially striking a deal. Even if he would have attended regardless of his future plans, I bet being around his fellow lineman and teammates put him in the frame of mind that if financial terms are close he'd rather play here than have to build camaraderie with new teammates from scratch. Any substance to that line of thinking?

Mike Reiss

  (10:09 AM)

Kyle, I didn't read into Mankins' presence from a long-term contract perspective. I think Mankins is around the area, he is close with his teammates, and he likes to golf. So with all those factors tied together, he attended. I asked him if I was naive to think a long-term deal could be struck, and he pushed off the question. So when I left there, I didn't think there was any real shift one way or the other on the contract front.

Matthew H. (Rochester, N.Y.)

Not much has been said about Brandon Meriweather. Although he was named to the Pro Bowl for the 2nd year in a row, you could hardly say he deserved it during an inconsistent 2010. BB gave Sanders the nod at the beginning. His stats fell off and was invisible at times then he gets fined for his hit on Heap. Not to mention he was accused of shooting 2 people this past March. He has the potential to be a game changer and provide the big play but has not been as consistent as we would like. What do you see for his production and the safety rotation this upcoming season and what is the general opinion of him currently with the team?

Mike Reiss

  (10:11 AM)

Let's start with the shooting incident, Matthew. It sure looks like Meriweather will be cleared of that allegation. The story/info has dried up considerably since the time it happened. As for his on-field play, no safety played more than Meriweather in 2010, which I took as a vote of confidence from Bill Belichick and the coaching staff. While Meriweather doesn't always show the best judgment -- on and off the field -- I still feel like he's viewed as a starting-caliber safety by the coaching staff.

Dave (Ottawa)

I am a big fan of Taylor Price - based on the last game versus Miami I could see that he and Brian Hoyer had some chemistry - do you know if Price has been in the NE area working out with Hoyer - I am concerned that Price's development like last year when he missed the OTA's could be impacted by the lock out

Mike Reiss

  (10:12 AM)

Dave, Price has been around a bit, but not full-time. Like most of the other receivers, he's maintained contact with QB Tom Brady.

Sami (Boston)

Hi Mike, do you think that the draft was specifically to improve their playoff performance because a great o-line and a powerful running attack is what theyve been lacking the last few years in the playoffs.

Mike Reiss

  (10:12 AM)

Sami, I didn't view the draft through that type of perspective, although it may result in playoff improvement. I just think those were areas the Patriots had gotten a bit long in the tooth and Bill Belichick saw the opportunity to infuse some talented youth.

Mukundh (North Attleborough, MA)

Please tell me the Pats are gonna do something in free agency to add some pass rush to the front 7. I know retaining Mankins is their top priority, but can we really trust Cunningham to make such huge strides, especially with no structured offseason?

Mike Reiss

  (10:13 AM)

Mukundh, I think we could see a move or two, but I think the expectation should be low in terms of big-time impact. There aren't a lot of front-line caliber options out there.

Greg (Charlottesville VA)

Mike, Since the NFL has locked out the players, why are players still cooperating with the broadcasting arm of the very league that they are at loggerheads with?Wouldn't it seem add some pressure if as a group they declined interviews with the NFL network?

Mike Reiss

  (10:15 AM)

Very interesting topic to me, Greg, and it highlights some of the "blurry" lines in this labor negotiation and sports media in general. My view is that as players they are balancing the union* they are part of against building their personal brand. The exposure helps their personal brand, but the residual effect is that it helps the side on the other side of the labor dispute.

pdxpaul (stumptown)

Thanks for keeping it interesting, Mike. I'm curious to know, since the NFL owns NFL Network, how can players, like Julian Edelman, appear during the lockout? I mean, c'mon man, it's the guys who locked him out. What gives?

Mike Reiss

  (10:16 AM)

Right on topic, pdxpaul. It's a loophole in the current landscape.

G-Slice (Needham)

Hey Mike. I think BB is the best coach in the NFL, and think his strength has always been thinking three steps ahead of his opponent (though, he's not immune from second guessing, i.e. 4th and 2). What do you think BB's biggest strength as a coach is, and conversely, what is his biggest weakness, or what could he be better at?

Mike Reiss

  (10:18 AM)

I'd start with Belichick's knowledge of the game in all facets. His understanding of Xs and Os, and ability to communicate them and teach them, makes him a top coach in my view. In terms of a biggest weakness, the first thought that came to mind was perhaps being more open to some outside ideas/schemes. When I say that, I was thinking of 2008 and having a coach like Dom Capers on staff. I thought that would be a unique opportunity to have some fusion between the Belichick 3-4 defense and the Pittsburgh style 3-4. But it never really seemed to manifest itself.

wells (costa mesa, CA)

Mike, can you please post a link pointing to the week's latest mailbag here on ESPN somewhere? I usually have to hunt and hunt and sometimes cannot find the thread at all.

Mike Reiss

  (10:19 AM)

Happily Wells. You can always find the mailbag in the "columnists" section in the archive under my name. I appreciate your interest and here is the link now.http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/columns/story?columnist=reiss_mike&id=6583509

john thomas (foxboro)

do you think that will Ryan Mallet ever start as a patriot?

Mike Reiss

  (10:20 AM)

Hi John. If Tom Brady remains fully healthy, I'm going with "no" on this one. I think Brady has another strong 5 years in him, and I just see 5 years as too long to keep Mallett in a backup role if he flashes in the preseason.

danny woodhead (boston)

Any chance the new draft picks have an impact on my role? if so is it likely i get a long term extension after this year?

Mike Reiss

  (10:20 AM)

I don't think so, Danny. If you keep playing like you did in 2010, you shouldn't be affected. Quality always emerges.

patsfan83 (los angeles)

Hey mike,love the show. Obviously, I love Wes Welker and even though I also admire Edelman, I'm scared that No. 11's emergence might put Welker in a tough place to get an extension. It would be nice for Welker to retire a Patriot especially since him and Brady get along great.

Mike Reiss

  (10:23 AM)

Thanks for enjoying the show, patsfan83 :) On Welker, I don't see the issue if he's still performing at a high level. He said last weekend that he's made more money than he ever imagined and from here on out, everything is icing on the cake. That sounds to me like a player who isn't necessarily looking to break the bank, appreciates his current lot in NFL life, and might be more willing to find a middle ground in a negotiation.

David (North Attleboro,Ma)

In Tuesday's mail bag I am glad you took some questions on the lockout. It is the number one thing on the minds of NFL fans. Fans ( myself included) find it difficult and frustrating to continue to proceed like they isn't a great doubt that the season won't be damaged or eliminated by the lockout. On a scale of 1 to 10 what do you feel is the level of anger by the fans?

Mike Reiss

  (10:24 AM)

David, that's a tough one for me to answer. I'll go the boomerang route and toss the question back out to you and other chatters. What is your anger level? Even Roger Goodell noted Wednesday that he sees the effect this is having on fans. Web traffic is down on NFL.com and viewership of the draft slipped.

Patrick (Keene, NH)

Hey Mike, With ota's and minicamps being potentially missed I think one extremely important aspect will be the handling of the practice squad. Rookies will be hard pressed to stay afloat and who you protect will be huge. Your thoughts. GO B'S

Mike Reiss

  (10:25 AM)

Great thought, Patrick. There is some talk on expanding rosters -- Roger Goodell acknowledged it's a consideration depending how long the lockout goes. I think this is going to be a big part of the strategy aspect of team-building this offseason.

Pierre (DC)

Owners seem committed to this lockout. Chances of a normal season have to be <50%. Do you agree?

Mike Reiss

  (10:26 AM)

I don't agree, Pierre. My general sense now is that the owners would like to negotiate, while players are content to litigate. I think we'll have some more clarity as to where this heads in a few weeks after a court ruling.

Chris (Bryant)

Hey Mike,What have you heard from Brandon Spikes? I haven't heard about what he's doing this offeason (may be a good thing wit the kind of off-field issues he had his rookie year). But I think it would be nice if he was participating in the team workouts. He had a good rookie year and if he can get hhis act together I can see him being a great 2 down player

Mike Reiss

  (10:26 AM)

Haven't heard much, Chris. Will try to look into it.

Mike Reiss

  (10:27 AM)

I have a triple post coming here from my man, Nate C, in Burlington.

Nate C. (Burlington)

Hey Mike, Assuming there actually is a trianing camp, I think the best battle has to be the defensive line and that RDE spot. Wide open right now. A close second would be just about anywhere on the OL. It'll be interesting to see who is working out with the "1's" on both lines. Personally I go to training camp to try and evaluate the rookies, so hopefully Solder and Cannon will be in the mix to battle for those O-line spots.

Nate C. (Burlington)

Hi Mike, loved the blog post about which rookie would make the year 2 jump. Clearly Cunningham was the hot pick here, but I'm not sure about that. No question Cunningham is the player we all want to make the jump due to team need, but if you look around the league, that can be a position that takes a little more time to develop at, especially in the 3-4. I also don't think Gronk should be an option on the list because I put him in the McCourty category...it is going to be hard to match those 10 TDs. Arguably Price is a slam-dunk choice here because all he would need to do to make a jump is actually get on the field during a meaningful game. All that said, I voted for Spikes because I think he has a lot of natural talent as a run-stuffer, and I thought he definitely was improving last year until his suspension.

Nate C. (Burlington)

Hey Mike, Where was Hernandez on your list of rookies who could make a jump next year? I think he could be a great choice. I felt like he made some great plays early in the season last year, but then he sort of stagnated and they didn't use him as much. I think if his route-running and chemistry with Brady could get a little bit better he could be primed for a lot more catches this season.

Mike Reiss

  (10:28 AM)

Thanks Nate. I was limited to 5 choices on that poll. Probably should have had Hernandez in over Deaderick, but think Deaderick might be a more important player on the D-line than some might think right now. Now that you've thrown the challenge flag and I have gone under the hood and reviewed that play ... I probably should have had Hernandez there.

Kevin Signorelli (Cranston, RI)

Will Nate Solder be starting this year? If the season started today, assuming Matt Light is not here, what's the starting 5 up front?

Mike Reiss

  (10:29 AM)

Kevin, I don't see how Solder starts right now, given the lack of minicamps and the possibility of a shortened training camp. If Light isn't here, I think you're looking at something like this: LT Vollmer; LG Mankins; C Koppen; RG Connolly; RT Kaczur/LeVoir.

Chris Todd (Haverhill, MA)

I know Jermaine Cunningham has been one of the more talked about players this offseason. With that being said, what type of player do you see him becoming? Is there a current/former NFL player that he can be compared with?

Mike Reiss

  (10:31 AM)

Let me put some more time into a possible comparison, Chris. I like the thought and don't just want to blurt out a name for the sake of doing so. When I see Cunningham, I'm impressed with how he played as much as did while making the transition from 4-3 DE to 3-4 OLB. That's really tough. So I think he has a strong foundation on which to build.

Chris Stuckart (Braintree, MA)

Hey Mike, how long does BB's contract run for and with that, how much longer do you expect him to be in New England? Maybe as long as Brady is here? And are there any potential in-house candidates that could take over the helm once he is gone? Thanks alot

Mike Reiss

  (10:32 AM)

Chris, I don't have any sure-fire answers on Belichick's contract. I've linked him to Brady, saying I could envision he stays around until Brady hangs 'em up. As for candidates to replace him, I could envision Josh McDaniels being a consideration. In that sense, it would sort of be similar to when the Patriots hired Belichick -- second time around, etc.

Matt (Duxbury)

With all the labor uncertainty, lack of OTA's, minicamps etc. Do we really expect solder to jump right in to the LT position to protect the blindside of the franchise?? While i like the pick of solder, wasnt the knock on solder that he needs to get considerably stronger b4 he is to compete as a starter against upper echelon talent?

Mike Reiss

  (10:33 AM)

Fair points, Matt. Yes, strength was one knock on him because of a low total on the bench, which was due in part to long arms (thanks to my dog's veterinarian for pointing that out to me recently; you're the man Dr. Salter!).

Corky Decker (Destin Fl.)

Hi Mike: Seems like we are caught in this huge loop with the lock out, as each week rolls by it is all the same news stories...So let's just change the subject, I was 9 when we last won the cup, can the bruins win game 7, and give me a chance to see another champ in Boston?

Mike Reiss

  (10:35 AM)

Corky, I heard Bill Belichick was offering Claude Julien some Xs and Os advice to get that power play going [joking]. Anything would help. I'm with you on the Bruins. I'm really pulling for them. Think they are an underdog if they make it to the Cup finals, but anything can happen.

Brian (Cincinnati, OH)

Mike -- James Harrison tweeted yesterday that the folks at the NFL in charge of rules changes are "idiots." Considering how heavily his wallet's been hit lately, I'd have thought he'd be wary of walking right into another fine. Then suddenly I wondered : Are the players immune from being fined for criticizing the league right now, given that (a) there's no CBA, and (b) they're locked out ? Are they free to editorialize with as many politically incorrect (from the league's viewpoint) opinions as they want? I would hate to see Harrison disciplined or fined for this particular comment, given that he's, well, absolutely correct! (I may hate the Steelers, but some of the fines he was hit with last season were patently unfair, imo. One in particular was an absolute travesty.)

Mike Reiss

  (10:36 AM)

Brian, my understanding is that Harrison is in the clear for his comments because of the present situation.

FCR (Mexico)

Who do you think the team is expecting to be that pass rusher that we need? Is eric moore maybe that secret weapon we don?t know

Mike Reiss

  (10:38 AM)

I don't think Bill Belichick views it that way, FCR, in the sense of having that one pass rusher the team needs. He looks at it from the standpoint of having 11 defenders working together to play good team defense. Part of that requires some players to put heat on the quarterback and Moore showed flashes of that late last season. But I think it's risky to rely on him in that role over a 16-game regular-season. Improvement from Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich is probably the best place to start in highlighting this area.

matt (tampa, fl)

Based on the reports the Patriots front office gave Nate Solder a few players phone numbers including Logan Mankins. That leads me to think the Pats and Mankins have worked out a deal. Why else would the patriots give their #1 pick a way to contact a disgruntled player?

Mike Reiss

  (10:41 AM)

I don't think so, Matt. I think Mankins' contact with Solder speaks to his commitment to his teammates. Mankins' issue isn't with them; it's with management. The tricky part is that Bill Belichick also plays a role on the management side -- e.g. setting financial values on players -- so there are some blurry lines there. But I think Mankins gets that part of it and looks at it solely from a football perspective when it comes to Solder.

JD (NY)

Mike - Do you think the Patriots may try Ras-I Dowling at Safety at times? Seems like he has the size and has played some safety at UVA. Plus with Merriweather and Sanders going into their contract years, if he turns out to be solid at that position, that pick might not look as bad, when talking about taking a pass rusher instead. Your thoughts?

Mike Reiss

  (10:41 AM)

JD, that is possible, although Bill Belichick said (if I recall correctly) that Dowling will get his initial work at cornerback.

BKitt (Washington, DC)

Mike,I was wondering if you could see the possibility of Tate and Price surpassing Branch on the depth chart this year? It seems like Branch has lost a step, and with his histroy of injuries I'm having my doubts that he will be a top option this year. It seems to me that it could be Tate/Price's time to shine. Thoughts?

Mike Reiss

  (10:43 AM)

This is possible, BKitt, and ties into the lead-in question to this chat about competition. If Tate and Price out-perform Branch in camp, I don't think Bill Belichick would hesitate to shake up the WR depth chart. At the same time, I like to give Branch his due. When I think about the Lions Thanksgiving Day game, that was a terrific effort from him, which shows he still has something left in the tank.

Charlie Bennett (Georgia)

Hi Mike' Just add me to the legion of disgusted fans who are the real losers in this dispute .With regards to Logan Mankins the pats will only offer what they consider his value to the team,not what other teams are over paying lineman.I consider him equal to Vince Wilfork and his salary or value should be the same,however Login may not agree.Your thoughts.

Mike Reiss

  (10:43 AM)

I agree with your take, Charlie.

GR365patriot (Goffstown NH)

Any feeling on D.Smith's leadership? Seems like he is driving the players off a cliff, lemming style

Mike Reiss

  (10:44 AM)

I'm not close enough to it, GR365patriot, so I boil it down to the simplest thought possible: You either want to make a deal or you don't. I don't get the sense that he wants to make a deal right now and is more content to litigate. That doesn't make it a bad thing, although I don't see either side winning when it comes to the end game.

Mike Reiss

  (10:45 AM)

It just delays the process further.

Mike (Tampa FL)

Mike thanks for keeping football alive for the fans. Do you think there's any way Chad Occocinco could be a Patriot in the fall ?

Mike Reiss

  (10:45 AM)

Mike, I haven't bought in to that thought as others have. We know Bill Belichick respects him, so it can't be dismissed, I just don't see them going there if everyone is healthy and improving as the Patriots hope they will be.

Chaz (Boston)

Did you hear about former Patriot Willie Andrews getting arrested in yet another big drug ring? It's tough go from making it to the Super Bowl as the kick return man for the Pats just a couple years ago to facing multiple decades in federal prison

Mike Reiss

  (10:46 AM)

I did see that Chaz. I hope Andrews can get things turned around for his future.

marc nunes (middletown)

I can't understand why people are getting down on the Patriots' recent playoff struggles, no doubt that they've had a tough time in their past three appearances, but (with the exception with 2007) they were facing teams that were prepared to win now. The Patriots have been rebuilding since 2008 and have posted double digit wins in each year. I believe that they are the only team in the league that can be in the process of rebuilding and lead the league in wins. I think that their playoff woes are due more to their youth and still being a work in process than being overwhelmed by the moment. Am I being too optimistic and unrealistic?

Mike Reiss

  (10:48 AM)

I think rebuilding is a strong word, Marc, but I get what you are saying. Maybe "transitioning" is the word I'd use for 2009 and 2010. Fair points. I don't think you are too optimistic -- it's hard to transition and keep winning. Credit to the Patriots for being able to do so.

Augmandingo (Vermont)

Mike, How effective will Gostkowski be now that the NFL has moved the ball to the 35 yard line? Also, how will this affect kick return coverages/returns?

Mike Reiss

  (10:49 AM)

You'd think it would be a huge advantage for the Patriots to have Gostkowski's strong leg with the new kickoff rules. As for the return teams, I think we'll see it negate some big returns early in the year. It could also lead to a few more onside kicks because the risk/reward element of the play is altered based on the ball being spotted 5 yards further up the field.

David (Cambridge)

Mike, I still think the reason why BB didn't draft a pass rusher with a high pick is a combination of knowing that the lockout would affect the learning of the Pats defense, and also because he likes what he sees with his young defense. What do you think?

Mike Reiss

  (10:50 AM)

David, I'd add one other thought: Belichick also didn't think the options available were worth it. That might be the most important of all. If you don't believe in the prospect, it makes no sense picking them.

Jeff (Needham, MA)

Hey Mike, what role do you see Julian Edelman playing this season? Aside from being the punt returner on special teams, do you think he may get more snaps on offense? We saw them attempt to use him in some kind of goal line/direct snap play for a 2 point conversion but the offense got flagged and they kicked the extra point instead. In the playoff loss to the Jets he got the start and it seemed like he played well and that the offense moved the ball effectively until Brady's lazy INT. Think he might get some additional playing time?

Mike Reiss

  (10:51 AM)

I looked at that yesterday, Jeff, and Edelman's time on offense was really limited. But I think he showed at the end of the year that he's primed to get more involved. I do think those numbers will increase (he was on for 174 of 1,012 snaps last year).

BKitt (Washington, DC)

Mike,Did you see the picture of Tom Brady on the slide? This combined with the long hair and dance moves down in Brazil has me wondering. I think he needs a PR rep to improve his image in the toughness department. I'm sick of catching flack from Pats haters about this. Maybe he just needs to hang around Brandon Merriweather for a while? Can we send him hunting with Logan Mankins or something for positive PR?

Mike Reiss

  (10:52 AM)

I'm going to give the guy a break, BKitt, and let him live his life. My feeling is that if he plays like he did in 2010, and stays out of trouble off the field, that's what really matters.

Carl (Boston)

Why don't you tweet about what tv shows you're watching like your Pats beat writer brethren do?

Mike Reiss

  (10:53 AM)

Carl, do you really want to hear about Sesame Street? That's a regular before my daughter's bedtime.

Mike Reiss

  (10:54 AM)

On a serious note, I DVR the NFL shows like NFL Live on ESPN and Total Access on NFL Network and try to watch those each day because it helps keep me up to speed on what's happening around the league.

Adam (Corning, NY)

Mike, any word on who the 10-15 Pats that are/were practicing around the Foxboro area were?

Mike Reiss

  (10:55 AM)

Adam, I'll toss a few names your way: Jerod Mayo, Brian Hoyer, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Tate, Darnell Jenkins, Dane Fletcher, Rob Ninkovich. A lot of the offensive linemen are also working out around the area.

Dienasty (Brockton, MA)

The only thing the Patriots need to be favorites to win the championship is to improve the D. They have re-tooled on the fly. They have created a dynamic offense with weapons that are hard to defend because of their versatility. This means the coaching staff can be really creative (is Woodhead a receiver of RB, Hernandez a TE or WR, Gronk an OL or TE) putting tremendous pressure on defenses because defense is about predicting what the offense wants to do in any given circumstance and making sure to devout resources to it. My concern is that on the defensive end the opposite is true. There are more specialists on that side of the ball. If Spike is in the O throws, if Wright is in the O runs, if Chung is on the slot receiver throw it there. When the defense was at its height, there were specialists (Jarvis Green, Ted Johnson) but it seemed most of the guys could do most things. The whole front seven except for maybe Ted Johnson was good to very good at everything. I think Cunningham can be that player. I think Mayo and Wilfork are that player. My question for you and a key question for this season is which of Ninkovich, Moore, Warren and the DE opposite Warren can excel at most things a player in their position needs to do and will it be enough to see a significant improvement?

Mike Reiss

  (10:56 AM)

Appreciate the effort to spell this all out, Dienasty. The name that stands out to me is Ninkovich. Still growing as a player and has played all roles over the last 2 years -- early downs, third down, fourth down. Is this the year it all comes together for him?

Arjuna (Derry, NH)

Mike, looking back on the draft (I know, beating a horse to death), it seems like nine is still a fairly large draft class. With 33 players drafted in the last three years, do you think next year is the year where we say less picks, like 5 or 6?

Mike Reiss

  (10:57 AM)

Great point, Arjuna. I thought nine was a little high for them this year. I could see the number reduced a bit next year.

Brian (Boston)

Has anyone asked Mike Vrable or one of the leading players in this why they don't just get rid of the lawyers and have Bob Kraft and Tom Brady sit in a room and work this out?

Mike Reiss

  (10:58 AM)

Brian, it's more of a legal manuever at this point. If the union negotiates, it threatens their stance that the union no longer exists. That's why we have to wait for another court ruling here.

Mike Reiss

  (10:58 AM)

Before finishing up, I'm going to go back through the rest of the responses and see if I missed anything on the "competitions to watch in training camp" question...

Andrew (Russell MA)

Coach loves his special teams, don't forget about the spot or two that will be wrestled over for that as well

Pierre (France)

Hi Mike, just to answer your topic question and to give you my opinion. Other than the obvious pass rush issue, I am very interested in watching how the running back position will evolve, and how much the rookie RBs are going to participate in the offense. I am especially interested in Vereen's progress, as I see him becoming a key part of the offense in the future.

Augmandingo (Vermont)

In response to the anger-level question, I'm not too frustrated over the lockout as:1. My view of sports has been tempered by previous MLB/NFL strikes.2. I'm older and realize that sports is a business.3. I'm holding firm on my belief that the NFL will come to their senses soon as there's too much money and face to be lost if this extends beyond June.All that being said, if the lockout eventually results in lost regular-season games, I'll be one of the fans with pitchfork in-hand.

David (North Attleboro)

My anger level at both sides is about a 9. I think this could already affect the quality of the season.

Branden (Nashua)

In response to the opening question...I would have say BB has done a great job creating competition. The only positions I see not having competition for their starting jobs are QB, ILB, S. (The ILB and S position should still have some competition for sub packages)

Mike Reiss

  (11:01 AM)

Thanks ... let's go for another 5-10 here.

Clark (Muncie,IN)

On Solders bench press (21 reps) was exactly the same as Logan Mankins (21 reps) Solders lower body strength was among the best of all linemen (offense/defense) in 2011 combine/pro day workouts.

Mike Reiss

  (11:01 AM)

Thanks Clark. Wasn't aware of that connection.

Bob (Arlington)

I think that any training camp "battles" will be won by the player with the most experience as younger players/rookies are missing out on passing camp, otas, etc. Your thoughts?

Mike Reiss

  (11:02 AM)

Makes sense to me, Bob. These rookies face an uphill climb.

dave (nyc)

cornerback could be interesting. we know mcourty and bodden are plugged in as starters, but who plays behind them? is butler really done after only two seasons? clearly BB isnt expecting anything from him or he wouldnt have taken dowling so high. but he has talent. i have a feeling butler is going to be a factor this year. i also thought wilhite had a quietly good season as a slot corner last year, but it would be hard to see him beating out arrington.

Mike Reiss

  (11:02 AM)

I'm interested to see where Butler fits. Good one.

Arjuna (Derry, NH)

Mike, can I get a triple comment? lol.

Mike Reiss

  (11:03 AM)

Triple time...

Arjuna (Derry, NH)

Mike, I love all of your work and how you take the time to count which defensive set the D is in during every play. Having said that, the term "sub" defense is a bit loose of a definition as it can mean any defense that is generally not the base. It can be a 4-2-5, a 3-3-5, a 2-3-6, and so on. Of the top of your head, what was the alignment the Patriots were most in during the sub-defensive package?

Arjuna (Derry, NH)

Mike, I don't know if you got to catch Roger Goodell's press conference yesterday but one very interesting question that was asked was about expanding the roster. The question went something along the lines of expanding the roster for rookies who would not have enough time to prove their worth in whatever training camp we do end up having because so much time has already been missed. What are your thoughts on this, and if you agree how many spots do you think should be added for this season?

Arjuna (Derry, NH)

Hey Mike. About a month ago I remember listening to you at Pats Place and you shared your thoughts about the lockout, ultimately saying that you were an optimist and would think a deal would be hammered out. However, with all the litigation going on and these delays are you starting to doubt that the season will start on time?

Mike Reiss

  (11:05 AM)

Three answers. Arjuna: 1) The 4-2-5 sub package would be my estimation; 2) I like the idea of three extra roster spots and two extra practice squad spots; 3) Still optimistic and am thinking movement in June after court ruling.

John (Austin)

Shout out to my brother in law Rusty who just had cancer surgery and is a life-long Patriots fan. My question is how does Ryan Mallet play out as a Pat? He seems to not be the type of guy Coach B would want on his roster.

Mike Reiss

  (11:06 AM)

Get well soon, Rusty. As for Mallett, I think you develop him (e.g. Brian Hoyer) and let it all play out. No need to worry about the end game right now -- one step at a time.

dave (nyc)

hi mike, i remember right before the draft you said something about feeling that the patriots would be putting themselves in a bad position if they dont take a player that can get to the QB. do you expect the problems of the past few years to continue for this defense, especially on 3rd down, considering that there were no additions to the front 7?

Mike Reiss

  (11:06 AM)

I did say that, Dave. My feeling remains the same. I think it's a huge question mark.

Ben (Istanbul, Turkey)

We always hear about how you can't really understand an NFL game without looking at the game film (endzone camera). Why is this film never made available to fans (other than on NFL Matchup)? Where can we access this film?

Mike Reiss

  (11:06 AM)

That film is not accessible to media members and fans. The league is protective of it, Ben.

Stebes (Bedford Indiana)

Will tha Pats have ANY real sign of a significant offense this season or is everyone just hoping for the best?

Mike Reiss

  (11:07 AM)

I think so Stebes. I view this offense as potentially lethal.

Clark (Muncie,IN)

Camp batle to watch. 5th DB.SandersDowlingArringtonButler

Noah (South Boston)

Mike, I'm sure you have answered this many times before but what is the likelihood of the Pats landing Lamar Woodley? I saw that Ike Taylor's contract is up so would they likely franchise him and see what happens to Woodley with free agency? Also, I know since there hasn't been a decided salary cap it hard to answer this but in comparison to other NFL teams' salaries do the Pats have money to spend?

Mike Reiss

  (11:08 AM)

Noah, I don't see Woodley coming here, mainly because of cost in salary/draft-pick compensation. Woodley has been assigned the franchise tag and already signed it.

Justin (Chicago)

Have the Patriots become regular season warriors like the Colts used to be, or do you think they can still get it done in the playoffs?

Mike Reiss

  (11:08 AM)

I still think they can get it done, Justin.

Gary Dell'Abate (Bowie, MD)

Did Aaron Hernandez hit the rookie wall last year of did his injuries hamper him?

Mike Reiss

  (11:09 AM)

I think more injuries, Gary. He looked impressive to me as late as Dec. 19 against the Packers.

Mike (Montreal)

Hey Mike, do you think a possible shortening of the 2011 season would put the patriots at an advantage or disadvantage with respect to other teams?

Mike Reiss

  (11:10 AM)

Let's end on this one. I think it's an advantage, Mike, because the Patriots have a quarterback who has the system mastered. Think of the other teams who are breaking in new QBs, they are way, way, way behind. This system is well established and the Patriots are filling in specific spots around the QB and on defense, but have most of the parts in place.

Mike Reiss

  (11:11 AM)

Thanks to everyone for chatting today. Enjoyed it as always. We'll be back to our regular time next Thursday (noon). Have a safe, enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.