A capsule look at reasons for concern among teams in the AFC East: Buffalo Bills 1. Left tackle. The Bills might not be good enough at the position. LT Demetrius Bell struggled mightily last season and has gotten limited preseason reps coming off knee surgery, so stamina might be an issue. RT Cornell Green has not looked good in pass protection. The Bills must limit long-yardage situations because shaky pass protection could endanger QB Trent Edwards.

Reebok issued a statement earlier today that it never offered a marketing deal to New England Patriots rookie…

Last year, coming off of season-ending knee surgery the year prior, no one was sure what we would see from Tom Brady. The last year he had participated in fully, 2007, Brady threw for an unprecedented 4806 yards, 50 TD’s, and a 117.2 passer rating.

Yet serious injury was something Brady had never before experienced; he was able to maintain a relatively clean bill of health throughout his career. 

It was clear from the get-go that the knee injury was impacting Brady’s comfort and pocket presence early on in the season.

During the 2009 campaign, Brady struggled to spread the ball out. He essentially had only two receivers, Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Veteran Joey Galloway, who was expected to be the third wide receiver, was cut after three games and just seven receptions for 67 yards. He had failed to get comfortable with Brady and the Pats offense.

The Patriots offensive line experienced a fair amount of injury. RG Steven Neal, RT Nick Kaczur, and LT Matt Light all missed time during the year.

Brady was on the ground a bit too much last season, and rumors of shoulder and rib injuries, among others, were speculated widely upon. 

The Pats also struggled to run the ball consistently. Injuries to Fred Taylor and fumbling problems for Laurence Maroney led to a fairly average rushing output of 1921 yards, 12th overall. 

Because of the inability to run, the Pats were unable to set up the long ball on a consistent basis.

This, combined with no legitimate third or fourth receiving options, led to Brady hooking up with Moss only eight times for more than 20 yards last season.

Yet, despite all of this, Brady threw for 4,398, 28 TD’s, a 65.7 completion percentage, and a 96.2 passer rating. All in all, this was Brady’s second best statistical season of his career, behind only the record shattering 2007.

In 2010, the Patriots have set Brady up to significantly improve on his 2009 output. WR’s Julain Edelman and Brandon Tate are expected to fill in at the third and fourth receiving spots. Both have New England personnel and fans alike raving about their ability, and, most importantly, their timing with Brady. 

Already this preseason, Edelman has caught seven receptions for 98 yards; Tate five receptions for 62 yards.

To make matters even better (for fantasy, at least) the Pats secondary has major questions. Their best CB last year Leigh Bodden has been placed on season-ending IR. Combined with the fact that the Pats have the sixth toughest schedule in football, this can only lead to one thing: the New England offense is going to be on the field a lot this season.

But perhaps the biggest additions for the Patriots passing game were the selections of TE’s Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in the 2010 draft, as well as the addition of veteran Alge Crumpler.

All three TE’s can contribute greatly to the blocking game, huge for a team who’s offensive line struggled to stay healthy last season.

Most importantly, the addition of the physical specimen that is Gronkowski (6-6, 265) gives Brady a weapons he’s never had in his tenure in New England; a big, nasty, and athletically gifted tight end who can dominate the middle of the field and outwork defenders for balls.

Gronkowski has caught seven balls for for 104 yards and three TD’s this preseason. His three scores lead the team.

Hernandez has also caught seven balls, for 72 yards and one score. He’s expected to be a viable receiving option during the season.

Brady is traditionally drafted behind fantasy QB studs Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Peyton Manning, and for good reason.

If you examine the 2009 campaign, you can see why:

Brees: 4,388 Yards, 34 TD’s, 11 INT’s, 109.6 Rating

Rodgers: 4,434 Yards, 30 TD’s, 7 INT’s, 103.2 Rating

Manning: 4,500 Yards, 33 TD’s, 16 INT’s, 99.9 Rating

Brady: 4,398 Yards, 28 TD’s, 13 INT’s, 96.2 Rating

But, if you examine the ADP (average draft position) of Brady, you will see why Brady might produce more for where you pick him then if you draft Brees, Rodgers, or Manning.

Here is the ADP of Tom Brady on four of the biggest fantasy sports sites: ESPN, 17.9, CBS, 19.18, NFL.com, 19.56, and Yahoo 31.7.

In all scenarios, Rodgers, Brees, and Manning are going ahead of Brady, sometimes more than a round before. Also, unless you’re in a league full of NE fans, don’t be surprised if you see some combination of Tony Romo, Matt Schaub, and Philip Rivers go off the board before Brady. 

There will be some situations, depending on the competitiveness and depth of your league, where Brady is still available in the third, fourth, and occasionally fifth rounds of drafts.

Especially in auction formats, you have the opportunity to get a QB who might finish the season in the top three at his position after three to five other QB’s have gone off the board.

The biggest factor in why Brady will be such a steal simply boils down to the talent surrounding him. Brady has the most options he’s ever had in his time in New England, even 2007.

Brady is in a contract year, and so is his best WR Randy Moss. The running game was the No. 1 focus in camp, which will set up the long ball much better than last year. The Pats offense is going to have to put points on the board to beat teams like the Bengals, Ravens, Chargers, Vikings, Steelers (Big Ben will be back), Colts, Bears, and Packers, all of which are on the Patriots 2010 schedule.

2010 Prediction: 4,600 Yards, 35 TD’s.

Read more New England Patriots news on BleacherReport.com

Is it ever too early to talk about the draft?

Nope.

Simply put.  Nothing gets NFL fans more excited than the prospects of their team accumulating a Dallas Cowboys 1989-esque draft, and the possibility that the college stars and unknowns will lay the foundation for a dynasty.

So, before we discover which 2010 draft picks pan out, and which players will breakout into stardom and fill previously dire team needs, let’s take a look at which position each NFL team most needs to address in the 2011 NFL Draft.  Obviously, things will change, and nothing is ever as it seems.  Chances are, more than half of these will change by Week 6 or 7.

But, hey, it’s never too early to talk about the draft.

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The predications surrounding the 2010 Patriots are as varied as they are readily available after an eventful, up-and-down preseason.

One school of thought is that any team that fields Tom Brady and is coached by Bill Belichick has a chance not only at the playoffs, but at a deep January run. Sporting two of the top options at two of the most important spots in football is a good start for any team. Throw in Randy Moss, Wes Welker and the makings of an offense that’s been amongst the best in the game since 2007 and there is reason for the hope that permeates plenty of corners of Patriots Nation.

But the flipside of that is a realistic and more analytical look at a team that last we saw was being run off the field by Ray Rice and the Ravens on wild-card weekend.

New England Patriots at New York Giants

Location: New Meadowlands Stadium

7:00 on NFL Network

On Thursday night, the New England Patriots will play their first game in the New Meadowlands stadium and their last preseason game when they battle the New York Giants.

It may be the fourth game of the preseason, but BroBury Sports has still posted sports betting odds for the game. The latest line has the Giants as three point favorites with the total set at 37.5.

The Giants and the Patriots have made a habit out of playing each other on the last game of the preseason, which does not come as a surprise since many of the coaches and players have ties. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was on the same coaching staff as Giants head coach Tom Coughlin when they were both members of the Giants’ staff.

The background that these two teams share should make for a “friendly” game between the franchises. In fact, the biggest story of this game is not on the field at all.

Verizon’s local FiOS TV customers will be able to watch the game between the Patriots and Giants in 3D, providing that they have a 3D TV. It will be the first NFL game broadcasted in 3D.

Not many fans will see the game in 3D, because the equipment is still very expensive, but it is a major move for sports technology. This game could be remembered as a pioneer in the 3D industry pushing sales of 3D equipment through the roof and changing the way we watch football.

But let’s get back to the game.

Last year, both defenses took the game off, as the Patriots won 38-27 over the Giants at Gillette Stadium. This year that might be different as starters will barely see any playing time as coaches have already announced they will sit in this game.

Tom Brady did not play in last season final game and will not see any action in this game. Eli manning has already been hurt once in the preseason so his playing status will be limited to nonexistent for this game.

Injuries become another factor in who will play in this game and the Patriots are currently hit hard.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman, cornerbacks Terrence Wheatley, Kyle Arrington, and Leigh Bodden, defensive back Bret Lockett, safety Brandon McGowan, rookie defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick, offensive lineman Nick Kaczur, rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez, defensive linemen Ron Brace and Darryl Richard, and rookie linebacker Jermaine Cunningham did not practice.

That is a pretty big list and exposes one of the big weaknesses for the Pats right now, the secondary.

The Giants have their share of injuries as well. They placed wide receiver Sinorice Moss, along with backup quarterback Jim Sorgi, and rookie linebacker Adrian Tracy on the season-ending injured reserve.

The quarterback depth has become such an issue that the Giants are rumored as suitors for the services of current Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart.

Starting Giants cornerback and expected punt returner Aaron Ross likely will miss the rest of the preseason, and possibly the regular-season opener as well.

Game Time Prediction

This game will only be interesting to watch for the new 3D technology or if you are a diehard fan of either team. Both teams will play a friendly but competitive game, with a common goal of staying healthy. Several players are still battling to avoid being cut, and a few position battles remain open, but nothing that will stir up excitement.

There is not a reason to think that either team has a vested interested in winning. Well, maybe in New England.

The Patriots looked horrible against the Rams and that instigated a locker room tirade by Belichick.  “We didn’t do well on anything,” said Belichick, when asked about his team’s performance after the Rams game.

The Giants struggle with short week preparation as they are just 1-5 against the spread (ATS) in the last six games with less than six days to prepare. They have been beat up by teams in the AFC East as they are 7-18 ATS in the last 25 games.  The Patriots are 8-3 against the spread after a home loss and get turned off by losing any game, even in the preseason.

Play: Patriots +3

The Patriots win this game as both teams wrap up the preseason.

More NFL and College Football Previews, Picks, and Articles can be found at Bookie Blitz!

Read more New England Patriots news on BleacherReport.com

NFL trade rumors are beginning to heat up as the start of the regular season draws ever closer.

The most credible trade rumors Wednesday involve Matt Leinart, who has been woefully ineffective in the preseason and failed to grab hold of the Cardinals’ starting quarterback job.

Elsewhere, several NFL stars continue to look for new contracts. Darrelle Revis and Vincent Jackson remain absent from training camp, and Tom Brady still hasn’t inked an extension.

Could any if these superstars be traded? 

It might seem unlikely, but that doesn’t stop us from speculating.

Here’s a look at 10 blockbuster trades we would love to see happen.

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If Brandon Spikes’ career as a football player fails, he can always go into movies.

Well, not those kinds of movies.

The Patriots rookie linebacker out of Florida is being investigated by the NFL for a video that shows Spikes and another women engaging in an “embarrassing situation.”

No details have emerged as of yet as to who the situation was more embarrassing for, but it is known that a sexual act did occur.

The video was reportedly shot before Spikes was drafted as a member of the Patriots.

The question now is whether or not Spikes has violated the league’s personal conduct policy that states, “All persons associated with the league are required to avoid conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League.”

It’s hard to believe that Spikes would be suspended for his debut film, but you never know how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will handle the situation.

If he is suspended, that could set a precedent in the future, and Saints and Cowboys fans will have to begin to worry about Reggie Bush and Miles Austin, who have both dated Hollywood celeb Kim Kardashian.

We all know how much she enjoys the film industry. 

They most likely won’t have anything to worry about though because the Spikes incident clearly took place while he was in college, and as Reggie Bush has also taught us, nothing you do wrong in college will affect you in the NFL.

The Patriots would definitely miss the presence of Spikes if he were to be suspended, as he has started every preseason game for the team this season and has registered 18 tackles.

Spikes was the 62nd overall pick in April’s draft and one of the key players on Florida’s national championship defense two seasons ago.

Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick is known to run a tight ship, but it is doubtful that even he would take action against the former Gator.

The most likely course of action taken by the commissioner’s office will be a stern talking to and a fine.

Spikes should have known this tape would get out and that it would end up making him look bad (on and off the screen).

Spikes needs to be smarter in the future in everything he does; one more wrong move and a suspension could be on the horizon.

Read more New England Patriots news on BleacherReport.com

The New England Patriots were dealt a huge blow Tuesday as cornerback Leigh Bodden was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Bodden played 15 games last season as a starting defensive back. He was the Patriots’ most productive player on the weakest unit of a defense that struggled.

He registered 55 tackles and a team-high five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. New England rewarded him this past offseason with a four year, $22 million contract.

Bodden had missed most of training camp with a knee injury. He had returned to practice last week and played in Thursday’s preseason game against the Saint Louis Rams.

Without Bodden, a seven-year NFL veteran, the Patriots’ already thin defensive backs unit will rely on several young corners that have yet to prove themselves.

The injury means that the starting positions will be handed to Darius Butler, projected to start alongside Bodden, and first-round draft pick Devin McCourty.

The second-year Butler played in 14 games last season, five as a starter, and picked off three passes, one for a touchdown. The Patriots felt confident in Butler as a prospect and were ready to let him, although inexperienced, earn a starting spot.

McCourty is another prospect highly regarded by the Patriots’ brass, but the coaching staff wanted to bring him along more slowly.

An athletic as well as intelligent player, McCourty was expected to play on special teams as well as contributing to the defense as a nickel back.

He has impressed at training camp and could have eventually worked his way into a starting role, but Bodden’s injury expedited the process. Now New England places the starting cornerback positions in the hands of two players who have one NFL season and five starts between them. While not the most enviable situation, if the two players are talented enough it could be a welcome change to inject more youth and skill to the defense.

The depth becomes the problem.

Two players the Patriots desperately need to step up are third-year corners Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley.

Wheatley is a second-round pick, like Butler, but has not matched his productivity. Wheatley has played in only 11 games, has four tackles, and has zero interceptions. Most of the action he has seen has been on special teams and return units.

In his third year and with the team in need it is time for Wheatley to live up to his second-round billing and perform.

Wilhite, a fourth-round pick, has been a bit more productive and has progressed in his first two years. In 2009, Wilhite played in two less games than his rookie campaign (14) yet recorded 17 more tackles (45) and one more interception (2).

He now has a chance for even more playing time, and if Butler or McCourty slip up he could even earn some starts.

The inexperience is the most prevalent issue at hand. Butler, McCourty, Wilhite, and Wheatley have a combined five seasons of NFL experience. There has been inconsistent play from this group, and although there is confidence in those players from the coaching staff, there simply has not been enough of a sample size to be brimming with optimism, not for 2010 at least.

Need more reason to worry? The Patriots will face Carson Palmer, Joe Flacco, Philip Rivers, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers; all considered some of the best quarterbacks in the league.

They also need to cover Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, Reggie Wayne, Calvin Johnson, and Santonio Holmes.

The New England secondary was already in question heading into the season.

Now, those remaining need to learn on the job and grow up fast or else the Patriots will get burned by an all-out aerial attack.

Read more New England Patriots news on BleacherReport.com

New England Patriots rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes is dealing with embarrassment and scrutiny from the…