MVN: Most Valuable Network

The NFL Network's flagship show, NFL Total Access, counted down the Top 10 Patriots this Independence Day weekend. You can watch the video at the link below:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81120cee/Top-10-Patriots-of-all-time

Here is the Top 10 Patriots list, according to the NFL Network:

10. Ben Coates, tight end
9. Nick Buoniconti, linebacker
8. Tedy Bruschi, linebacker
7. Willie McGinest, linebacker
6. Drew Bledsoe, quarterback
5. Mike Haynes, cornerback
4. Adam Vinatieri, kicker
3. Andre Tippett, linebacker
2. John Hannah, guard
1. Tom Brady, quarterback

It's always tough putting together a list like this, and I'm sure you could make a case for other players to be on here, such as Bruce Armstrong and Troy Brown. However, I think you can't really argue against any of the players on the list. I think I would have liked to have seen Drew Bledsoe higher up on the list (he's still New England's career passing leader), but I've always been a big Bledsoe guy so that may just be my biased talking.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Go Pats!

Back in April, former Patriot OLB Willie McGinest answered questions on NFL.com from fans and mentioned that he would like to return to the Patriots if possible. Just a few months later in a Q & A session with Sporting News' Albert Breer, #55 again mentioned returning to New England. He is currently training like he is going to play one more season and his preference is to play for a 3-4 defensive team. When questioned further about returning to the Pats, McGinest had this to say:"Yeah, I've talked to Tom (Brady), (Richard) Seymour and some other guys there. Those guys are lifelong friends, and I've heard some people say that it'd be a good fit. Why wouldn't you want to go to a really good team, which is always close to the Super Bowl, which was in one a couple years ago, was a game away from another one,... Read more

For the past week, ESPN has put together lists of the top players, teams, moments, coaches, etc of the opening decade of the new millennium. What shouldn't be a surprise to anybody with an impartial bone in their body, the Patriots dominate many of the lists due to their tremendous success this decade, including winning 3 Super Bowls in a 4-year span. These types of lists, of course, always carry their share of controversies and arguments over snubs and "How could you include that guy?" The following is a re-cap of where the Patriots fit into the lists as well as my Patriots "All-Decade" team for 2000 - 2010. ESPN opened the week putting together an All-Decade defensive team. There were no Patriots that made the team, though Richard Seymour and Ty Law were near-misses for the team. I can't really argue with any of the selections ESPN made with... Read more

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Today in a press conference, former Patriots safety and team leader Rodney Harrison announced his retirement from football. This will not be the last we see of Harrison as he is expected to join the NBC broadcast team. I look forward to hearing Rodney's insight each week on NBC. On a personal note, I will miss seeing #37 on the field in a Patriots uniform. Harrison was unquestionably a leader on the team and brought an attitude to the field that will be hard to replace.Tedy Bruschi mentioned that the team followed his example, which he called the "Rodney Harrison formula." "When we watch film, I think guys can watch him and remember his example and remember 'that's the way we got it done with him.' I think that's the right example to follow, that was the right formula -- the Harrison formula."The Patriots have drafted potential on-field replacements in... Read more

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