Patriots News and Notes

week ending April 19th, 2008

NFL Draft News:

The Patriots hosted TE Jermichael Finley (Texas) on a pre-draft visit April 17. At 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, Finley is coming off a season in which he caught 45 passes for 575 yards and two touchdowns.

The Patriots are making final preparations for the draft. Belichick commented "We’re kind of plugging along here. There are still a lot of loose ends to tie up, but that’s kind of the way it usually is at this time of year. Get the few last visits coming in this week, and then next week it’s kind of the time we talk a little draft strategy and try to finalize some of the grades and make some of the comparisons of situations that might present themselves – kind of re-evaluate the trade charts and stuff like that. I think the process is going along like it normally does.”

Belichick also compared this years draft to 1991 in which there does not appear to be a clear-cut No. 1 choice.

Patriot Player News:

ESPN.com unveiled its Top 50 draft steals. Current New England Patriot Players that made the list were 1) QB Tom Brady (6th round, 2000), 10) S Rodney Harrison (5th round, 1994) and 47) WR Troy Brown (8th round, 1993).

Team News:

The Patriots did not put out an offer sheet for Carolina LB Adam Seward. April 18th was the deadline. The Patriots seemingly liked Seward, who projected to inside linebacker in their 3-4 alignment, but the question was at what price.

Veteran punter Scott Player is set to sign a contract to join the Patriots. Note of interest: Player is the last player in the NFL to wear the single-bar Helmet.

The Patriots hosted free agent DE Darrion Scott (Minnesota Vikings) on April 17.

The Patriots visited with free-agent punter Mitch Berger on April 16. The 35-year-old Berger first punted in the NFL in 1994, with most of his work coming in domes. He punted in five games for the Cardinals last season.

Good news for the Patriots and their 2008 schedule: No opponent on the schedule is coming off a bye week!

Will the Patriots stay on the west coast in between games? The Patriots will play San Francisco (October 5th), followed by a game at San Diego (October 12th). The same goes for Seattle (December 7th) and Oakland (December 14th).

The Patriots will open at home, against the Chiefs, on Sunday, Sept. 7 (1 p.m.).