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HOT TOPIC
Patriots second-year safety James Sanders' rookie season didn't go quite as smoothly as he'd hoped. The fourth-round pick out of Fresno State battled an ankle injury for most of the year and ended up seeing action in only ten games. Not exactly a storybook start to life in the pros.
But that's the past and Sanders is now healthy and looking ahead to a sophomore season in which he could fight for plenty of playing time in a New England secondary that's anything but set in stone.
"I feel great right now," he said. "I've been working really hard this offseason and I feel like I'm ready to contribute on both special teams and at safety this year."
That's not to say his first season was a total wash. Sanders learned a lot in his rookie year and because of that feels like he's light years ahead of where he was a year ago.
"I think I'm more mature as far as being in the NFL," Sanders said. "The rookie experience is a grind. You go from a bowl game, straight to working out, to the draft and all the training camps, right to the NFL season. There's no time to stop and think about anything, you're on the go all the time. You don't know what to expect and it's like you're thrown right into the fire and you have to react. This year is different because I know what to expect. I'm just working hard and hopefully things will work out for the best this coming year."
Despite grinding his way through the injury shortened first year, Sanders did enough catch the eye of one very important teammate -- fellow safety and Patriots defensive leader Rodney Harrison. After the veteran was injured early last season, he singled out Sanders when talking to the media about the remaining players in the secondary.
"I've talked to James Sanders a lot," Harrison said a month after he was lost for the season with a knee injury. "I know James is going to go out there and hit. James is a talented player. He's smart and one of those rookies that has a lot more wisdom beyond his years."
Sanders has drawn comparisons to his praiseful mentor because of his physical style of play, and he considers it an honor to learn from one the best safeties in the league. Working out with Harrison this offseason is a big reason why Sanders feels more prepared heading into his second training camp. The two have become close friends.
"It's like a dream come true playing with Rodney," Sanders said. "To be able to come into the system and learn from a future Hall of Fame-type player, one of the best safeties in the NFL -- if not the best -- is a great honor. He has taken me under his wing and shown me the ropes. It's great to have a guy like that helping me out. Rodney and I are really good friends and working with him shows me what it takes to be successful at this level."
But that doesn't mean the student is ready to fill the shoes of his rehabbing teacher in the New England lineup.
"No one can replace a Rodney Harrison," he said. "Whenever he decides to hang it up, he's going to leave his legacy. For me, I just have to worry about myself, work hard and be the best player I can be. I feel that our style of play is similar because we both like to make our presence known out on the field but I can't say I'm the next Rodney Harrison or anything like that. I can only worry about being the best player James Sanders can be."
With Harrison's immediate health still uncertain, Sanders and others may have a chance to earn early season playing time at strong safety. But despite being a physical specimen who hits like a ton of bricks, Sanders will have to endure some tough competition in training camp. With the offseason signings of Mel Mitchell and Tebucky Jones, return of veteran Artrell Hawkins and others, the Patriots currently have eight safeties on their roster, but Sanders may have the most upside of the group. If he can stay healthy and continues to progress under Harrison's tutelage, Sanders could end up a pleasant surprise in the Patriots defensive backfield this upcoming season.
"My goal this year is to just come in every day, work hard and compete to the best of my abilities," Sanders said. "I can't worry about the guy next to me or the guy in front of me or behind me. I just have to worry about myself and play my game. If I can take care of that then everything else should fall into place."
If things fall into place for Sanders, fans could see Harrison's understudy taking his place in the starting lineup come September.
PLAYER NOTES
--The Patriots signed versatile offensive lineman Russ Hochstein to a two-year contract extension worth $1.8 million that includes a $400,000 bonus. In his three-plus seasons in New England the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder has played in 48 games with 10 starts. He started the final seven games of last season at center filling in for injured starter Dan Koppen.
Hochstein has been New England's top interior line backup over the past few seasons, showing impressive versatility that has also included time as an extra tight end and goal line fullback. With the uncertainty surrounding Koppen's health status heading toward training camp, Hochstein could be the team's fill-in starter at center once again when the regular season kicks off in September. Hochstein originally joined the Patriots when he signed with the team's practice squad in 2002 and has been with the organization on either the practice squad or active roster ever since. He had been set to enter the final season of his existing contract in 2006.
--Tom Brady continued what has become a regular offseason tradition of rubbing elbows with some of most notable and powerful people in the world with a recent golf outing in Maine that included former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton as well as CBS sports announcer Jim Nantz. Members of the ultra-famous foursome were in town for the annual George Bush Cape Arundel Classic, but actually teed off on their own for a little warmup work before the start of the charity event. Making the round even more interesting was the fact that Brady's girlfriend, movie star Bridget Moynahan, and former first lady Barbara Bush followed the group in their own golf cart to watch the action.
In past offseasons, Brady, who has crossed over into mainstream celebrity stardom and has admitted to potential future political aspirations, has met with the Pope, attended major political events in Washington and put together a who's who list of contacts from various political, business and celebrity sectors all over the world.
--The never-ending rumors surrounding the free agent status of former Patriots and Jets cornerback Ty Law continue to fly this offseason. Law has been linked to a variety of teams including the Chiefs, Titans and Patriots for most of the spring. He even took a physical in New England in May. Recent reports have added the Cardinals and the Chargers to the mix, although the Boston Herald later reported that Law's agents, Carl and Kevin Poston, had actually contacted Arizona prior to any interest being shown by the team.
Coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he registered a career-high 10 interceptions, Law is reportedly looking for a contract that includes $10 million in bonus money and averages $7 million per season. That price has clearly been too rich for the teams that are interested, although New England Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli has reportedly begun direct negotiations with the Postons. Law had remained in contact with the Patriots early this offseason with direct calls between himself and Patriots Bill Belichick. It's possible that Law will wait until right before or early on in training camp before signing anywhere, as he did when he signed with the Jets last August. But it is clear that the Patriots are still very much interested in re-signing one of the only elite free agents still on the market.
--According to published reports in the Boston Herald, Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was a noticeable absence at New England's veteran passing camp held recently at Gillette Stadium that was closed to the media. Branch is in the final year of a rookie contract that's paid him mostly minimum-level salaries but thanks to escalators will earn him just more than $1 million in 2006. The former Super Bowl MVP is reportedly looking for a contract extension with bonus and guaranteed money in the range of $12 million.
While it's unclear whether the passing camp absence is meant to send a message, one that could be magnified if Branch chooses to skip the team's mandatory veteran mini-camp June 13-15, the Herald reports the Patriots' No. 1 target has told friends that "he's looking for a fair-market contract and will consider taking steps necessary to get it."
Does that include a mini-camp or training camp holdout? Stay tuned.
--New England signed first-year free agent tackle Jon Doty on June 8. The 6-7, 300-pound lineman spent the spring playing in NFL Europe as a member of the Centurions. In Cologne he started 9-of-10 games played on the offensive line. Doty, 24, was originally signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2005 draft. Carolina released him at the end of training camp a year ago. He spent time on the Giants' practice squad last December.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--WR Michael McGrew, a rookie free agent, spent the whole season on injured reserve. At least he's got size (6-2, 201).
--OL Gene Mruczkowski has been a part-timer for two seasons and could be in the hunt for a starting job if Neal leaves as a free agent.
--DL Santonio Thomas comes from the right program (Miami) but spent almost all of his rookie season as a practice squad curiosity.
--OL Billy Yates, a three-year veteran, appeared in four games after being called up from the practice squad.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--WR Troy Brown: UFA; $1.1M/1 yr, $265,000 SB.
--WR Bam Childress: ERFA; $275,000/1 yr.
--LB Don Davis: Potential UFA; $795,000/1 yr, $25,000 SB; 2006 cap: $485,000.
--FB Heath Evans: UFA; $626,160/1 yr, $25,000 SB/$6,160 WO; 2006 cap: $456,160.
--CB Randall Gay: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DB Artrell Hawkins (had been released; 2 yrs, terms unknown).
--OG Stephen Neal: UFA; $10M/4 yrs, $3.2M SB.
--CB Hank Poteat: Potential UFA; $545,000/1 yr, $6,100 WO; 2006 cap: $466,100.
--CB Chad Scott: UFA; $1.66M/2 yrs, $200,000 SB.
--S Guss Scott: ERFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $425,000.
--OL Ross Tucker: Potential UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--WR Reche Caldwell: UFA Chargers; terms unknown.
--LB Barry Gardner: FA Jets; terms unknown.
--PK Martin Gramatica: FA; terms unknown.
--S Tebucky Jones: FA Dolphins; terms unknown.
--S Mel Mitchell: UFA Saints; $1.5M/2 yrs, $250,000 SB.
--DT Johnathan Sullivan: Trade Saints.
--CB Eric Warfield: FA Chiefs; $1.51M/2 yrs, no SB; $31,000 WO.
PLAYERS LOST
--OT Tom Ashworth; UFA Seahawks; $13M/5 yrs, SB unknown.
--LB Chad Brown (released).
--LB Matt Chatham: UFA Jets; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Andre' Davis: UFA Bills; $1.3M/1 yr, $500,000 SB.
--WR Tim Dwight: UFA Jets; $4.2M/4 yrs, $750,000 SB.
--TE Christian Fauria: UFA Redskins; $2M/2 yrs, $190,000 SB.
--QB Doug Flutie: UFA; retired.
--WR David Givens: UFA Titans; $24M/5 yrs, $6M SB/$2M RB '07.
--WR Cedric James (released).
--WR Bethel Johnson: Traded Saints.
--LB Willie McGinest (released).
--CB Tyrone Poole (released).
--CB Duane Starks (released).
--S Michael Stone: UFA Texans; terms unknown.
--PK Adam Vinatieri: UFA Colts; $12.5M/5 yrs, $3.5M SB.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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