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Patriots.com News Blitz - 4/18/2012

Tom Brady
Tom Brady

**Mike Reiss** of ESPNBoston.com gives his game-by-game predictions for the 2012 Patriots season after the schedule was announced on Tuesday evening.  This year, Reiss predicts a 13-3 campaign for the Pats with the only losses coming against the Ravens, Seahawks, and Jets.  Check out his article for a more detailed analysis and predictions for each game.

**Mike Reiss** also reports that LSU cornerback Ron Brooks was spotted around Gillette Stadium on Tuesday.  Brooks was spending time with Patriots' running back Stevan Ridley, his former college teammate.  Reiss writes that Brooks was presumably taking a pre-draft visit to the Patriots, and that he previously worked out for the club with other LSU players.  Brooks never was a full-time starter at LSU, but showed flashes of his potential and versatility when given the opportunity.  He had three career interceptions and all three were returned for touchdowns.  Brooks is considered a "mid-round" pick for the 2012 NFL Draft.

**Shalise Manza Young** of The Boston Globe writes that after speaking with Jerod Mayo at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, there were other notable players who were spotted partaking in offseason workouts.  New Patriots Brandon Lloyd and Robert Gallery -- along with second year-Pat Chad Ochocinco -- have also started participating in the workout program at Gillette Stadium.

**Karen Guregian** of The Boston Herald writes that New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is looking forward to his team's Thanksgiving night matchup against the Patriots after the schedule was released on Tuesday.  Here's what Ryan had to say: "That one's going to be a beauty, there's no doubt," said Ryan. "Our fans will be ready to roll...It's going to be a great challenge for us. Last time we played on Thanksgiving, we had success...Hopefully history will repeat itself. And I hope my wife has the green bean casserole ready for after the game."  The Patriots swept the season series with the Jets last season.

**Christopher Price** of WEEI.com notes a few more names that have popped up on the pre-draft radar for the New England Patriots.  Included in that list are USC defensive end Nick Perry and Vanderbilt cornerback Casey Hayward.  Perry, considered to be a mid-to-late first round prospect, recentely had a pre-draft visit with the Patriots according to Scout.com.  Hayward, who also had a pre-draft visit with New England, could be a late first round/early second round possibility.  Click on the player's names above to view exclusive highlight videos of both Nick Perry and Casey Hayward.

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**Christopher Price** also looks at six Patriots who have uncertain futures and breaks down what may happen if they don't return to the team next season.  Included in Price's list are Andre Carter, Brian Waters, Matt Light, Kevin Faulk, James Ihedigbo and Gerard Warren.  In writing about Andre Carter's injury situation, Price notes that the Patriots will likely wait on any contract offers with the free agent defensive end to try and get a better grip on how he is progressing from surgery on his quadricep.  Carter injured himself in mid-December but still managed to record 10 sacks for the Patriots last season. 

**Tom E. Curran** of CSNNE.com breaks down the running back position in the 2012 NFL Draft and takes a look at the best fits for the Patriots.  Curran writes that Virginia Tech's David Wilson, Boise State's Doug Martin, and Washington's Chris Polk could help the Patriots after the team lost lead back BenJarvus Green-Ellis in free agency this offseason. "It'd be eye-opening if they spent a second-rounder on a running back but they often open eyes at draft time," writes Curran.

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