Patriots: Five things to know | Freeman

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The talking points had been delivered, the programming of their brains completed and Bill Belichick's hypersonic laser mind-controlling ray gun had been successfully deployed.

Out of Nowhere Man

Rookie LB Vince Redd In a sport that features freakishly large men Vince Redd fits right in at 6-6 and 260 pounds. There doesn't seem to be an ounce of fat on his body. Redd looks like he can dunk a quarterback or a basketball. Redd was signed by the Patriots this year as a free agent out of Liberty. He's extremely raw but his size is something the Patriots like for their outside linebackers.

Who is your Out of Nowhere Man?

Thus the New England Patriots players were all on message as the first day of training camp concluded, and they all said the same thing in a harmonic, Stepford-like chorus: there is no Super Bowl hangover, there is no Super Bowl hangover, there is no Super Bowl hangover.

In fact, listening to the Patriots players, it was as if the Super Bowl never existed. The Super Bowl? What the hell is that? Is that a game of some sort?

"We're not thinking about that," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi. "That was last year."

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"The way they (Welker and Brady) worked together last year, we should have won the Super Bowl ... we got it (19-0) in the bag." dblake3659 : "Win the Superbowl: Thats our goal every year. We have the pieces in place. It is very obtainable."

"It was a game on our schedule last year and we're not thinking about last year," Vince Wilfork said.

Oh, Lawdy.

If the team wasn't still hurting from a brutal and historic Super Bowl loss or that nightmare wasn't bouncing around somewhere in their conscience, even all this time later, they wouldn't be human. They'd be robots. They may sometimes talk like androids but they're flesh and blood despite their occasional resemblance to an invulnerable superhero.

So don't buy into the hype that the Patriots have moved on. They're mad about losing and I get the feeling that improbable loss will definitely serve as motivation for the upcoming season despite New England's public protestations to the contrary.

Laurence Maroney Positives: Maroney is a hard-charging, versatile running back who is tough for defenses to routinely corral. When given the chance, it's not unthinkable that he can total 100 yards against any defensive front in the NFL. Plus, he's part of a very strong offensive unit, which means he'll never face seven- or eight-man fronts so long as Moss, Welker and Tom Brady are healthy. Negatives: Maroney is definitely injury prone, a by-product of his tough style of running. Counting on him for 16 games is a mistake. There's also the fact that even if he is healthy, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk will snare some reps from him. Also, the bar has been set high for Brady and his receivers in 2008 after totaling 50 scores last season, which means more passing and less rushing. Outlook: There's a lot to like about Maroney, but the injury history and unconventional offense throw up several red flags. While we'd prefer to tout him as a No. 3 Fantasy RB, the reality is that he'll hardly fill a role that low across Fantasy leagues this summer. Someone in every league will eyeball him, consider his upside and make him a No. 2 option. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but that means spending a third-round pick on a guy who was virtually absent for just about 75 percent of last year's regular season. -- Dave Richard Patriots draft averages RB: Laurence Maroney (29th overall) QB: Tom Brady (4th overall) WR: Randy Moss (9th overall) TE: Benjamin Watson (162nd overall)

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And you know what? They're going to be great again. They're banged up right now as several key players were on the physically unable to perform list on their first day of practice on Thursday (including safety Rodney Harrison) but nevertheless don't be surprised if they make another run at being undefeated. I could see this team beginning this season 9-0 or 10-0, and if that happens, well, here we go again.

The reason why is New England still has this guy named Tom Brady. Maybe you've heard of him.

As long as Brady is healthy the Patriots are a threat to go deep into the playoffs.

Brady said the ankle problem that plagued him last season is no longer problematic. (Although clearly the ankle is still on his mind. During practice he often reached for the ankle and moved it around loosening it up.)

Brady is also different this year. He's more ... relaxed. Well, about as relaxed as a perfectionist like Brady can be. Brady spent more time away from the complex in the offseason intent on getting away from football for a lengthier period. Brady was gone so much he lost the coveted parking spot given to players who go above and beyond in the weight room during the off time.

The result is a much more refreshed Brady. Last year, before the Patriots' record setting season, Brady said he felt like he was 22 years old. How old does he feel now?

"Twenty one," he said.

That's bad news for opponents.

In the meantime, repeat after the Patriots: there is no Super Bowl hangover.

None whatsoever.