Attention shoppers

The free agency megastore has been open for about two weeks now. The Buffalo Bills have had themselves a heck of a shopping spree, adding D linemen Mario Williams and former Patriot Mark Anderson. The Bills are going to be tough. They have to rank among the smartest shoppers so far. But what about Bill Belichick and the Patriots? They have added eleven new players. Eleven! But have they spent their money well?

ADD TO CART
The Patriots had several empty carts as shopping hours began. One cart is now overflowing. Wide receiver. The Pats added Anthony Gonzalez, Brandon Lloyd, and Donte Stallworth and they kept Deion Branch and Matthew Slater. And word is that Chad Johnsoncinco is busy studying the playbook and plans on sticking around ... at least long enough for his reality-TV wedding to take place. Tom Brady is going to have lots of guys to throw to. But the last time I checked, the game is played with only one ball. Lloyd and Gonzalez are excellent additions. Not sure what the heck Stallworth is doing back. I thought he was still in jail.

The Pats also added offensive lineman Robert Gallery, formerly of the Raiders. He was the second player taken in the 2004 draft but hasn't really lived up to that lofty position. But he is only 31 and working with magician Dante Scarnecchia may put him in the Pro Bowl. That's what Dante can do with talent. Gallery's signing is an indication that Matt Light might be calling it a career. A great career. The Pats also kept center Dan Connolly. A sign that Dan Koppen is probably not coming back.

Spencer Larsen, a fullback with Denver, was the most recent guy added to the roster. Since Belichick never uses his fullback I'm not too excited about that one. But he should be a good special teams guy. And of course the coach/GM got himself yet another tight end to play with, because apparently you can't have enough of 'em. He picked up Daniel Fells from the Broncos. I don't know what to say about that one.

The other empty shopping carts were all on the defensive side of the ball. They are still pretty empty. The Pats didn't get LaRon Landry as I had been hoping. He went to the Jets. He would have been of some help to Patrick Chung. Instead the Pats added safety Steve Gregory, formerly of the Chargers. He's not a bad player. But is he an improvement over James Ihedigbo? We'll see. The Pats also signed cornerback Will Allen. I thought he had retired. I guess that's Eric Allen. This Allen is 33 and has played with the Giants and Dolphins. Like Gallery, he was a first-round pick ... back in 2001. Hopefully he won't be another Duane Starks.

Other defensive signings were linemen Jonathan Fanene from Cincy and Trevor Scott from Oakland along with cornerback Marquice Cole from the Jets. Not exactly household names and not guys that I would have put in my shopping cart. But then again I didn't know much about Andre Carter and Mark Anderson last year and they turned out to be good purchases indeed. Belichick has a history of finding deals in other team's bargain bins.

NO SALE
Free agency is not just about buying things, it's also about putting some things back on the shelves. The Patriots chose not to bring a few of my favorite players up to the cash register. Mark Anderson joined the Bills formidable defensive front. He was a key player for the Patriots down the stretch and into the playoffs last year. But I guess not big enough for a raise. Hopefully the Pats will use that money to bring back Andre Carter.

The team also said goodbye to a fan favorite... BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Or Bennie as I liked to call him when I was yelling from my seats "Get Bennie into the bleeping game! Let's run the ball!" Bennie carried the ball 547 times in his career with the Patriots. He never fumbled. Not once. Every young player should study the way Bennie takes care of the ball. I'll buy that guy a beer if we ever meet in a bar. Bennie goes down as one of the great Patriot unsung heroes. The Bengals got themselves a good one. Thanks Bennie.

BENNIE: The good-hands man.

A new season

The 2012 NFL season has become must-see TV.

Forget "Game of Thrones." Forget "Fringe." Forget "Mad Men." (OK, don't forget "Game of Thrones.") The 2012 NFL season is providing more drama, romance, and comedy than anything cable TV can come up with ... and they haven't even played a game yet.

You want drama? How about Bounty-gate. The not-so-saintly New Orleans Saints' coaching staff being exposed as men who put a price (literally) on winning. A price that they are now paying for with their head coach's head. Sean Payton was suspended for the entire season. That's harsh. I thought four games. I guess he knew more about Bounty-gate than previously thought. Former D coach Greg Williams, the masterslime behind the whole mess, has been suspended indefinitely. There should be a job for him coaching Arena Football. The Saints -- just a few years removed from their Super Bowl title -- are in shambles. No coach. Franchise QB Drew Brees is unhappy with his non-contract. They are getting hit much harder than the Pats did for Spygate.

You want romance? How about Peyton Manning and John Elway walking hand-in-hand in the Rockies as they listen to John Denver on their matching orange iPods. They are the new Tom and Gisele. Will their romance result in a pair of sparkly new rings? That all depends on how the rings in Manning's spine hold up.

You want comedy? How about Tim "Jesus" Tebow going to Gotham City to play for Eatipus Rex. How is the son of God going to feel when Ryan tells him to "go get me an effin' snack"? Maybe Rex and the rest of the Jets can teach young Tebow all about teamwork, sportsmanship, and class. Oh that's right, they reportedly brought in Tebow to help fix the team's toxic chemistry. I guess cornerback Antonio Cromartie didn't get the memo when he Tweeted "We don't need Tebow."

The Jets trading for Tebow is just too good to be true ... if you are a Patriots fan. The team just gave their fragile franchise QB Mark Sanchez a nice contract extension to let him know that he is their man. Then less than a week later they trade for his replacement, uh, I mean his backup. I look forward to flipping on the NFL RedZone (I miss you Scott Hanson) and watching a Jets home game against ... let's say the much-improved Bills. The new Bills D line is knocking the heck out of Sanchez. The shaken QB tosses a few costly picks. The Jets fall behind early. A sound rises from the crowd as Fireman Ed sits with his hands on his helmet. What's that the crowd is chanting? It's kind of catchy... "Teee-bow... Tee-bow ... Tee-bow." Louder and louder. Mt. Ryan is faced with a decision bigger than his green gut. Stick with his guy Sanchez ... the real NFL quarterback ... or cave to the wishes of the crowd and put in Tebow?

Can you say quarterback controversy? If you don't think the chances of this happening aren't 100 percent then you don't watch much football. This will be the mother of all quarterback controversies.

Oh, and one more thing about Tebow. The Pats played him twice last year. Once in the playoffs. Combined score 88-33. Pats. Yes, Rex. Please get him on the field as often as possible.

Mile High Manning

The Peyton Manning watch is finally over. I thought it was going to take as long as it's taking the Republican party to pick a nominee.

The future hall of famer will take over the reins of the Denver Broncos. The 2012 season just got that much better.

Why?

Because the Broncos are going to visit Gillette. Make that Peyton Manning and the Broncos are going to visit Gillette. The schedule hasn't been announced yet (that comes next month), but my guess is it will be on a Monday night. Hopefully an October Monday night with that perfect crisp football feel in the air.

Peyton Manning against Tom Brady. And against Bill Belichick. In the Bronco orange. Yes, the 2012 football season just got that much better.

Welcome back, Peyton.

Catching on

Coming into the offseason, wide receiver was clearly an area of need. Not anymore.

Bill Belichick and the Pats' front office just built one of the deepest receiver corps in the league. How you liking that, Rex?

The Pats started the day by signing former Indy receiver Anthony Gonzalez. I've been a fan of the Ohio State grad since the Colts made him their first-round pick in '07. He's six feet and 193 pounds. He knows how to run routes (unlike Ocho). He's got great hands. He had a good rookie season and and even better sophomore year (57 catches, 4 TDs) before a knee injury took away most of his '09 and '10 seasons. He didn't fare too well last year without Peyton Manning and the Colts set him free. Gonzalez is 27 with lots of upside. And he's a model citizen.

You can't say that about the other receiver the Pats signed today. Brandon Lloyd. Another six footer. He and Gonzalez are no Megatron, but they bring a little more size to the passing game. And with Lloyd, a good deal of attitude. I want the Pats to have more attitude. Especially if they should find themselves facing little Manning and the Giants again in the Super Bowl. Lloyd has attitude. It's often on display in the video above. Lloyd is 30. That's the prime for a wideout. He spent his first two years catching a lot of passes for the Niners before getting traded to Washington. He immediately got on Joe Gibbs's bad side (he wasn't the only one) and he was soon on his way out and on to Chicago. He lasted a year there before reviving his career in Denver with head coach Josh McDaniels. In 2010 he had nearly 1,500 yards catching with 11 touchdowns. Lloyd said he couldn't wait to be reunited with McDaniels, now back at his old post as Pats' offensive coordinator where he belongs. Now they are back together. Time will tell if it works as well as the first time. But with Brady, Belichick, Welker, and McDaniels around him, I have a hunch Lloyd is going to thrive. Moss-like.

Lloyd signed for $12m over three years. Gonzalez will get much less than that. The Chargers signed Robert Meachem for more than the two combined. Robert Meachem. He's decent, but doesn't even get drafted in my family's fantasy league each summer. We draft about forty wide receivers. Forty. And no Meachem. The Chargers gave him $25 million. The Pats got Lloyd for half that. One team knows how to spend its cap money, one team doesn't. Hopefully the plan is to use some of that money saved and get Welker signed for three or four more years. 

Tom Brady and Gisele have to be feeling pretty good today. You think Brady had weapons last year? Here's the group of guys that #12 will be throwing to in 2012 if all goes as planned...

Wes Welker

Brandon Lloyd

Anthony Gonzalez

Deion Branch

Rob Gronkowski

Aaron Hernandez

Can you say six wide? Can you say so-long Chad? 

The Pats are all set at the receiver position. Now they can use those two first-rounders and two second-rounders on defense, defense, defense, and defense.

Let's get it started

The Globe's Shalize Manza Young, as good a football beat writer as there is, reported today -- in the Boston Globe, a newspaper -- that the Patriots were getting close to signing free agents LaRon Landry and Brandon Lloyd.

Now we're talking.

Mr. Kraft said fans shouldn't be disappointed if the team doesn't make a big splash in free agency because that's not their way. We know that. You can never predict how Belichick is going to treat the offseason. Some years he goes all in with big names and big dollars (Adalius Thomas, Rodney Harrison. Ocho), or dips his toe in with some smaller names (Andre Carter, Mike Vrabel, David Patten), and some years he spends his time on his boat fishing. We're used to that.

The Pats continue to win more games than most, so it's hard to argue with whatever the coach/GM wants to do ... including fishing and golfing. But this offseason is different.

The sour taste of that Super Bowl loss still lingers. I need a few key free agent signings to wash that away.

Time to put down the fishing rod and get some wide receivers.

Now that most of the big free agent names have found homes, former Ravens coach Brian Billick has a good list on NFL.com of the guys that are left. I want a few of those guys wearing Pats uniforms ... and soon.

All quiet

You know it's been a slow start to free agency for the Patriots when you go to their website and see "Inside The Helmet: Ross Ventrone" on the home page.

I really don't want to get to know Ross Ventrone that well.

I want a wide receiver ... and a pass rusher. Oh, and someone who can play man coverage.

The Pats reportedly did sign a D lineman (Jonathan Fanene), but he's a backup from the Bengals. Enough said.

Taking stock

The Patriots came so close to entering the 2012 season as defending champs. So close. Now the question is can Bill Belichick make the moves to keep them atop the AFC during the final few years of Tom Brady's career and get them another shot at that fourth Lombardi. A question that is just as important is can Belichick continue to build a team that can compete for a title even after Gisele locks the hall of fame QB away forever in their California mansion.

As the free-agency free-for-all kicks off today -- and with the NFL draft a little more than a month away -- it's time to take a quick look at the roster and identify where the biggest needs are. There aren't many glaring weaknesses, but there is always room for improvement.

OFFENSE
Quarterback: Brady is still playing at an MVP level as he enters his mid-30s. That's why it is so surprising when he doesn't make the big pass to win the big game. He had the ball late in the AFC title game and went three-and-out. He had the ball with a chance to wrap up the Super Bowl and missed a wide-open Welker. You could see that he couldn't believe he didn't get it done as much as I couldn't. There's still no other quarterback that I would want. Brian Hoyer and young Ryan Mallett are just fine as backups. Free agency/draft need: LOW.

Wide receiver: There's no other wide receiver I would want over Wes Welker either. 122 catches. All of them clutch. He took all the blame for a drop that was mostly Brady's fault. He's a class act. And a leader. Veteran Deion Branch should be back. He is a solid third or fourth wideout. Problem is that he was often the number two guy. Chad Johnsoncinco will have a full training camp to show that he can no longer play in the NFL. It shouldn't take long. Young guys Slater and Edelman are not going to scare anyone. The thing that made the wideout corp look better last year than it really was was the play of Aaron Hernandez. He may be listed as a tight end, but he was often the second best wide receiver on the field. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.

Tight end: One word: Gronk. Rob Gronkowski had the best year statistically ever for a tight end. The only thing that could -- and did -- slow him down was injury. Gronk had his surgery and should be back to catching TDs and dancing come the start of camp. Hernandez gives Brady two young, talented targets to throw to. It's a heck of a combination that should make the last few years of Brady's career enjoyable. The Pats are pretty set at tight end for years to come, but that never stops Belichick from drafting another one. Free agency/draft need: LOW.

Running back: There's no stud in the group, but the thinking seems to be that since the Pats are a passing team they don't really need one. They have gone 27-5 the last two years with that philosophy so it's hard to argue that. BenJarvus, Woody, and second-year guys Ridley and Vereen are a solid group who know how to get that extra yard and take care of the ball. Ridley showed he could break some big runs. If he can build on that he could end up becoming the lead back, especially if Bennie leaves as a free agent. The Pats finally added a fullback -- my favorite position -- in Lousaka Polite, but they didn't really use him. Football historian Belichick should show more respect to the fullback's role. I'd be surprised if the Pats added another running back unless one slid to them in the draft. Oh, and I look forward to Kevin Faulk's retirement ceremony. Free agency/draft need: MEDIUM.

Offensive line: Is the Pats line overrated? Maybe a bit. Brady was sacked 32 times this year, which put the Pats line at ninth best at protecting their quarterback. But as long as Dante Scarnecchia is coaching 'em up, the offensive line will be solid. Matt Light, who was on the verge of extinction, found the fountain of youth and had a great season. But can he do that again? Logan Mankins continues to be a guy who has great games followed by not-so-great games. Not really worthy of all the holdout noise he made and the giant contract that he got. But I think his best few years are right ahead of him. Dan Koppen -- one of the best centers in the game -- might not be back which would not make me happy. Veteran Brian Waters was one of the best free agent signings last year and should be back for more. Youngsters Vollmer, Solder, and Cannon give the Pats a bright future on the line. Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell provide depth. Among the drafting rules in the NFL ... when in doubt, it's always worth grabbing another O lineman. Free agency/draft need: MEDIUM.

DEFENSE
Defensive line: It all starts with Big Vince. Wilfork signed a huge contract two years ago and has played his best two seasons of his hall of fame career. Not many pro athletes do that. He's the leader that has kept a young, evolving -- sometimes devolving -- defense together. The question, as it was last year when the Pats brought about 25 D lineman to camp, is who will line up on either side of him. Free agent Andre Carter filled one of those spots better than anyone imagined till he went down late in the season. He says he wants to be back. Mark Anderson was also a pleasant surprise, getting stronger as the year went on. After that, there's not a lot to love. Oh, there's Kyle Love. And Shaun Ellis. Gerard Warren. Brandon Deaderick. All had their moments, but as a whole the line once again failed to get any consistent pressure on the quarterback. The Pats still need a pass rusher. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.

Linebacker: I love this group. If they can stay healthy (the proverbial BIG IF), this young group could grow into one of the best in the league by year's end. Jerod Mayo. Brandon Spikes. Rob Ninkovich. Mayo and Spikes both were injured at times last year but with both of them on the field, the defense played its best football in the playoffs. Mayo -- when on his game -- is a beast. Spikes's pick in the AFC title game was a huge moment for him. Ninkovich has the playmaking knack of a Bruschi or a Vrabel. However, there's not a lot of depth behind them. Guyton, Fletcher, and White are all replaceable parts. You always need more linebackers. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.

Safety: Now we get to the real problem areas. The defensive backfield. It got so bad that wide receivers Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater took some snaps on the defensive side of the ball. And they were actually better than many of the real defensive backs. Among the group of safeties and cornerbacks there is one great player. Patrick Chung. Check that, he's a really great player. But he can't cover and tackle everyone, although at times last year it felt like he did. James Ihedigbo, a Jets castoff, struggled early but played solid as the playoffs neared. He would make a solid third safety. I'm not going to even mention the other safeties that are still on the roster or passed through during the year. Not going to waste the bold ink on them. The Pats need to get Chung some help at safety. Lots of help. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.

Cornerback: And lots of help at cornerback would be good too. Rookie sensation Devin McCourty took a huge step back in his second year. So far back that he was moved to safety. I kept the faith in him all year so I'm not giving up on him now. I still rank him as a solid NFL defensive back. Kyle Arrington had seven picks last year, among the league leaders. But many of those were of the "ball bounced right into his arms" variety. But he still caught them. That's something. Rookie Ras-I Dowling missed the year with an injury. Will he be the next Wheatley/Wilhite and never play? Like safety, I'm not even mentioning the backup guys. They should be moving on. Except Edelman and Slater. They can stay. They just shouldn't be playing defensive back anymore. Free agency/draft need: SKY HIGH.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pats are set at kicker for years to come with Gosty and Zoltan. They've got the legs. Free agency/draft need: LOW.


Guys that can catch the ball. Guys that can keep old man Brady off his back. Guys that can stop other guys from catching the ball. And guys that can put the other team's quarterback on his back. Those are the priorities. Now we'll see what coach/GM/concessions manager Bill Belichick can do about it.