The best thing that happened to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium was that they won the coin toss.

Then they had their first two drives stall and had to settle for field goals and a 6-0 early lead against the New England Patriots. After that it wasn’t very pretty as the Patriots pasted the Jaguars, 47-12 Thursday night in Foxboro.

Then it was all Patriots.  Rookie running back Stevan Ridley, a third round pick out of LSU, had 3 TD’s scoring on a pair of one yard runs and corralling a 16 yard pass from fellow rookie QB Ryan Mallett.

Second string quarterback Brian Hoyer started in place of NFL MVP Tom Brady and showed that that they are in good hands as he played a solid steady first half.  He took the team on three scoring drives, which included him tossing an 11-yard TD pass to Taylor Price in the 2^nd quarter.

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski added a pair of field goals from 46 and 53 yards as he recovers from a torn quad muscle last season. At the half it was still close as the Patriots lead 19-9.

Mallett, the draft pick from Arkansas, took over in the third quarter and he was on autopilot.  He lead the Patriots on four scoring drives as Ridley added his second and third TD’s of the game and rookie free agent RB Richard Medlin had a pair of 2 yard runs for scores.

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Offensively the Patriots, minus a lot of stars looked impressive, as they scored a team record 47 points in a preseason game eclipsing the old mark of 45 set in 1977 against Washington.

They were 11 for 19 on 3^rd down and 4 for 4 on 4^th down.  Hoyer and Mallett combined were 27 for 40 for 335 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 INT’s.  There were no sacks of either Patriots signal caller.

The only real offensive negative was fumbles; they had three, losing one by Aaron Hernandez on their first offensive play.

Ridley (16) and Medlin (14) had the most carries as they had 64 and 54 yards respectively and each had two rushing TD’s.

Receiving wise the big guns were Hernandez with 6 catches for 68 yards, Price 5 catches for 105 yards and a TD and Ridley had 7 grabs for an additional 47 yards and a TD.

Defensively the team had some nice stops holding Jacksonville to four field goals 3 by Josh Scobee of 41, 31 and 29 yards and a 40 yarder by Sam Swank.

They held the Jags to only 3 of 13 on 3^rd downs and allowed only 193 total yards while getting one INT and 4 sacks.

Buddy Farnham had the INT, while Darius Butler, Dane Fletcher and Brandon Meriweather led the squad with 5 tackles each.  Darryl Richard had two sacks, and Jermaine Cunningham and Landon Cohen each had one.

Overall it was a good effort for a short camp and a game that saw the teams big stars such as Brady, Chad Ochocinco, Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Jerod Mayo, Wes Welker and many others sit out.

NEXT WEEK

The Patriots visit the Tampa Buccaneers on Thursday August 18^th at Raymond James Stadium at 7:30 p.m.  You can catch all the action on the Patriots Preseason Television Network and along the Patriots Radio Network.

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Photo credit: Getty Images

In the last week the New England Patriots have had a flurry of signings.  Among them were Logan Mankins, Matt Light, Albert Haynesworth and Andre Carter.

Over time the numbers that the team doesn’t release end up being made public by either the league or the union.

As we told you yesterday Haynesworth’s deal was restructured.  Scheduled to make $5.4 million this season it is now a $1.5 million base.  Originally we had information that there was no bonus but that isn’t the case.   Haynesworth has play percentage bonuses written in for this season for every snap he is on the field it helps him get more money.  If he plays between 20% and 65% of the defensive snaps for the year he can earn as much as $5.8 million with his base and the bonus.  He will earn roughly $400,000 for each 5% increment of the seasons play percentage.  He is scheduled to make $6.7million in 2012 with an additional $400,000 roster bonus.

Andre Carter’s new deal is one-year for a $4.175 million base with a $500,000 signing bonus and an additional $500,000 in incentives.  Fellow free agent signee Shaun Ellis is also on the books for one year.  His base is $1.5 million with a $750,000 signing bonus and $1.75 million roster bonus.

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Mark Anderson, yet another free agent defensive lineman has a one-year contract for $1 million and a $375,000 signing bonus.  Tackle Matt Light has a one-year deal worth $1 million.  He will also receive a $6 million signing bonus.

All Pro guard Logan Mankins just got a new 6-year contract that will no doubt take to the end of what is a Hall of Fame career in the making.  His contract is for $51 million with $30 of it guaranteed which includes a $20 million signing bonus. 

In addition Mankins will get an additional $250,000 workout bonus for each of the six seasons.   His base salaries including the workout bonuses for the six years are $1.5 million in 2011, $3 million in 2012, $6 million in 2013, $6.5 million in 2014, $7 million is 2015 and $7 million in 2016. 

He is the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL and according to Vince Wilfork’s wife, on her Twitter account worth every penny. She says, “Congrats to Logan whatever $$ he got he sure as hell deserves it great guy, great player!!”

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Patriots owner Robert Kraft met with the media today and spoke on a number of topics including his late wife Myra, Colts center Jeff Saturday and the CBA and new Patriots Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth.

He wore a “MHK” lapel pin as he spoke about his late wife, reflecting on his loss of his partner for 50 years.  Choking back tears he thanked the media for the respect they have shown him and his family in the last few weeks.

“It’s been a different kind of time.  And…our fans have been great.  We have gotten letters and people supporting us from all over the world.  I am committed to read every tweet, email and letter.”

“The reach of my sweetheart is unbelievable.  And I am happy to say as of this moment, the Myra Kraft giving back fund has raised over $3 million, the bulk of which has come from people we don’t know who’ve given $10 and $20 gifts.”

Tomorrow night will be his first Patriots game without his wife.

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On Saturday he was asked what it was like to receive such high praise from a rival.  Kraft revealed he had gotten a personal letter from Colts president Bill Polian thanking him for his work in the labor agreement.  He then waxed poetic on Saturday:

“The NFL and the NFL players and owners are lucky there was a guy like Jeff Saturday in the league.  Players are passing through, but he took the role of a principal and he made every negotiating session.  The reason we don’t have double practices, he put so much time and effort…without Jeff Saturday, there wouldn’t have been a deal.”

Kraft added, “It’s hard to like to center for Peyton Manning, but I really like the guy.”

On Ochocinco: “Well, first of all, gotta love him.  I have people emailing me who would like to host him. I’m not sure I want the responsibility, except someone prominent here in Foxboro has offered to be his host.”

Kraft wouldn’t identify who that might be.

On Haynesworth: “I met with him and I like the guy.  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 improve his reputation.  I found him to be genuine and sincere.  Now I hope he gets on the field and does his thing.”

Sounds like the feeling is mutual.

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The New England Patriots signed All-Pro G Logan Mankins to a new six-year contract today terms were undisclosed.

Mankins, who just a week or so ago signed his franchise tender for $10.1 million for 2011, now has a long-term deal in place that will keep him for his career.  He is now the highest paid interior lineman in the NFL.

Mankins a 2005 first round draft pick is a three-time Pro Bowl player and a three-time NFL All-Pro.  He is a huge key in the protection of NFL MVP Tom Brady.

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The New England Patriots announced that recently acquired WR Chad Ochocinco and DT Albert Haynesworth both restructured their contracts.

Ochocinco was scheduled to make $6 million this season and he will now make $1 million in 2011, and $3 million in both 2012 and 2013.  In addition in all three seasons he is to get a prorated $1.5 million roster bonus.

Haynesworth was scheduled to make $5.4 million this season but he restructured it down to a $1.5 million base with no bonus.  He is scheduled to make $6.7million 2012 with a $400,000 roster bonus.  It appears with his potential hit to the cap Haynesworth may only be a one-year project but that remains to be seen.

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This Week

The New England Patriots host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Patriots are 0-0 in the preseason.  The Jaguars are 0-0 in the preseason.

This is the first preseason game for each team.

Here are the rosters for the Jaguars and Patriots.

The Line/Prediction

As of Sunday the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports: Patriots minus 4.  The over under is 35 1/2.

My Prediction is Patriots 24, Jaguars, 13 give the points (Patriots) and take the over.

Getting to the Game

If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Foxboro make sure you check out the links.

Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Foxboro, MA.

Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking information and map and a Gillette Stadium seating chart.

To continue the Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots Preview, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

The Patriots Preseason Television Network is televising the game through out New England and parts of Canada.

Longtime national play by play announcer Don Criqui and former NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman Randy Cross will call the game with help from WBZ sports anchor Steve Burton on the sidelines.

Stations in the Patriots Preseason TV Network include:

• WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston MA
• WNAC-TV Channel 64 in Providence RI
• WMUR-TV Channel 9 in Manchester NH
• WMTW-TV Channel 8 in Portland ME
• WCTX-TV Channel 9 in Hartford/New Haven CT
• WWLP-TV Channel 22 in Springfield MA
• WVII-TV Channel 7 in Bangor ME
• WVNY-TV Channel 22 in Burlington VT
• Canadian Maritimes on Rogers Sports Net East

In the Jacksonville Market, you can watch the game on:

• WTEV-TV 47 in Jacksonville FL
• WRBW-TV 65 in Orlando FL
• WJHG-TV 7 in Panama City FL
• WSAV-TV 3 in Savannah GA

Check your local listings for your station.

There is NO DirecTV designation.

Radio

The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston, MA.  Gil Santos handles the play by play while former Patriot Gino Cappelletti does the color commentary.

All NFL Games are also available on Sirius Satellite Radio.  The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 94.  The Jaguars Radio network has Brian Sexton calling play by play and Jeff Lageman provides the color via their flagship station WOKV AM & FM.  Their call is available on Sirius Channel 113.  XM Satellite Radio also carries all the NFL games under a special additional package.  They usually only carry the home team feed and that is available on XM Channel 225.

Last Week

Both teams were idle.

Next Week

The Patriots visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.  Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. on the Patriots Preseason Television Network.

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For the 2011 season, New England Patriots fans can listen to every play of every game on the “Safety Insurance, 98.5 The Sports Hub, Patriots Radio Network”. Each game, home and away, from preseason to post season is broadcast from the three-time Super Bowl Champions flagship station WBZ-FM in Boston.  The legendary Gil Santos is calling the Patriots play-by-play for his 35^th season (1966-79; 1991-present).  Santos has also called Boston College and Penn State football, Providence College basketball, Big East Basketball and the NFL for CBS Television and ABC Radio.

Patriots Hall of Fame member Gino Cappelletti provides the color commentary for his 30^th season (1972-78; 1988-present).  “The Duke” is the 2^nd leading scorer in Patriots franchise history, one of only 20 players to play in all 10 seasons of the AFL and the 1964 AFL MVP.

The 2011 season marks the 28th season that Santos and Cappelletti have worked together as the Patriots announcing team.

To get you ready for the game, make sure you tune in along the Patriots Radio Network three hours prior to game time for Patriots Preview and stay for three hours after the game with Patriots Postgame. Veteran TV and radio personality Gary Tanguay hosts both shows and is joined by former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak and sports radio personality Andy Gresh.

Patriots Preview is an information packed prelude to kickoff, and has the only game-day interviews with head coach Bill Belichick and Patriots president Jonathan Kraft.

Patriots Postgame wraps up the game with a breakdown of the game, live press conferences with the players who made a difference and reaction from you, the fans.

A full look at the stations in the 2011 Patriots Radio Network can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Below is a list of the stations in the Patriots Radio Network. If you are outside of the broadcast area of the stations on the Patriots Radio Network you can purchase NFL Field Pass.  Field Pass allows you to listen to any NFL game live on your computer and you can select which broadcast you want to listen to. NFL game feeds are available with a subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio and you can also receive NFL games on XM Satellite Radio with a “XM Premier Package” subscription added to your regular XM account.

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The Patriots Preseason Television Network is televising three of the Patriots four preseason games through out New England and parts of Canada. The lone game not covered by the Patriots Preseason Television Network will be carried nationally by CBS on Saturday August 27^th from Detroit.

Longtime national play by play announcer Don Criqui and former NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman Randy Cross will call the game with help from WBZ sports anchor Steve Burton on the sidelines.

Stations in the Patriots Preseason TV Network include:

• WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston MA
• WNAC-TV Channel 64 in Providence RI
• WMUR-TV Channel 9 in Manchester NH
• WMTW-TV Channel 8 in Portland ME
• WCTX-TV Channel 9 in Hartford/New Haven CT
• WWLP-TV Channel 22 in Springfield MA
• WVII-TV Channel 7 or WFVX-TV Channel 22 in Bangor ME
• WVNY-TV Channel 22 in Burlington VT
• Canadian Maritimes on Rogers Sports Net

Check your local listings for your station.

There is no DirecTV channel designation for preseason games.  DirecTV is not allowed to carry preseason games per the NFL Broadcast Rules.  Preseason television rights belong to the teams and not to the league, hence no DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket until Week 1 of the regular season.

The bombshell from Patriots camp today is that WR Chad Ochocinco wants to spend a few weeks living with a fan in Boston while he looks for a place to live.  The only requirements are that they have an Internet connection and an X-Box.  This could be interesting.

Already Boston Globe sports writer Peter Abraham has put in a request via his Twitter account, saying he has both, he is only 20 minutes from Foxboro and he is hardly ever home.

Ochocinco is also learning the city by driving around it.  For anyone who has spent anytime driving through downtown Boston or even in its neighborhoods you know what a challenge this can be.  From the traffic to the one way streets to multiple streets of the same name it can be frustrating and confusing.  I give him credit though he is doing all this with his GPS unit turned off.

The Patriots announced that they would wear a patch on their game jerseys this season to honor the late Myra Kraft.  It will bear her initials “MHK” in silver on a navy oval.

The team will be bringing 80 fans onto the field Thursday prior to the game against Jacksonville.  It’s all part of a thank you from the organization for staying with them through out the lockout.

Today’s session was run in shorts and shells and there was once again no Albert Haynesworth, Brandon Spikes, Dan Connolly or Rob Gronkowski who all got hurt the day before.  They are all listed as day-to-day.

DL Myron Pryor filled in nicely for Haynesworth, while rookie TE Lee Smith showed his soft hands with some nice catches.  Second string QB Brian Hoyer also has a good day as he was on point the entire session.

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New DL Shaun Ellis is on the PUP list.  He was placed there as part of the whole arrangement in signing with the Patriots.  He has a past hip ailment and they want to work him at a bit slower pace.

After practice, the team claimed OL Mark Wetterer off of waivers from Cincinnati.  He is a 6’5”, 319-pound rookie out of Louisville.  The team waived S Ross Ventrone to make room on the 90-man roster for him.

When they were teammates with the Washington Redskins DL Andre Carter once called out Haynesworth.  When asked about it now he said, “That was then.  We’re Patriots now.”  One of the reports on Carter was that he was a good locker room guy and looks like he is showing it right off the bat.

DE Gerard Warren knew all along that the Patriots would be calling him.  Head coach Bill Belichick told him to sit tight and if he had a spot for him he wanted to bring him back.  Warren said Belichick “is a man of his word.”  So he sat and waited and he even told his agent “don’t tell me about other teams until you hear from New England.”

Warren said, “I’m glad to come back.  Last year was a great experience.”

Today was rookie slip and slide day at practice.  QB Tom Brady hosed the rookies down and the team watched them battle for waterlogged fumbles.

Belichick also broke out the hose at the end of the session wetting down the ball for the field goal drill.

Tomorrow’s training session will be at 10 am and will be open to the public.  The walk through will be conducted inside Gillette Stadium as the team prepares for the Thursday night game against Jacksonville.

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One of the fun things for outside observers, the media and us bloggers is the speculation on who makes the 53-man roster.  This does not include the practice squad that should include some of the draft picks and rookie free agents that do not appear on this list.

Here is my take on the 53-man by position:

Offense – 24

Quarterback – 3

• Tom Brady
• Brian Hoyer
• Ryan Mallett (R)

Running Backs – 5

• BenJarvus Green-Ellis
• Shane Vereen (R)
• Danny Woodhead
• Kevin Faulk
• Stevan Ridley  (R)

Tight Ends – 3

• Rob Gronkowski
• Aaron Hernandez
• Lee Smith (R)

Wide Receivers- 5

• Wes Welker
• Chad Ochocinco
• Deion Branch
• Taylor Price
• Brandon Tate

Offensive Linemen – 8

• Dan Connolly G
• Dan Koppen C
• Mark LeVoir T
• Matt Light T
• Logan Mankins G
• Sebastian Vollmer T
• Chris Morris C/G
• Nate Solder T (R)

For a look at the defensive projections, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Defense – 24

Defensive Linemen – 9

• Andre Carter DE
• Shaun Ellis DE/DT
• Albert Haynesworth DT
• Vince Wilfork DT/DE
• Gerard Warren DE
• Eric Moore DE
• Myron Pryor DT
• Kyle Love DT
• Mike Wright DE

Linebackers – 7

• Jerod Mayo OLB/ILB
• Rob Ninkovich OLB
• Brandon Spikes ILB
• Gary Guyton ILB
• Jermaine Cunningham OLB/DE
• Dane Fletcher ILB
• Tracy White OLB

Defensive Backs – 8

• Devin McCourty CB
• Leigh Bodden CB
• Brandon Meriweather S
• Patrick Chung S
• Ras-I Dowling CB
• Darius Butler CB
• James Sanders S
• Sergio Brown S

Special Teams – 5

Kicker – 1

• Stephen Gostkowski

Punter – 1

• Zoltan Mesko
  

Long Snapper – 1

• Matt Katula
  

Kick Returner – 1

• Matthew Slater (WR)
  

Punt Returner – 1

• Julian Edelman (WR)