FOXBORO, Mass. — This week at Gillette Stadium has somewhat of a symbolic feel. It started with Matt Light's retirement ceremony, and it will conclude with the rookies' first practice in the NFL.

With Light in mind, this Two-Minute Drill has a Hall of Fame feel to it. After, I've got a list of thoughts about the Patriots' offensive backfield. Let's crack it open.

1. Light's retirement ceremony was very well done. The speeches from Light, owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick were all terrific. The atmosphere of the Hall of Fame and the fans in attendance gave it an extra boost, too.

2. Light is a no-doubter for the Patriots' Hall of Fame, but the induction line is going to be crowded. I'd expect wide receiver Troy Brown to get in this year, and linebacker Tedy Bruschi, safety Rodney Harrison and Willie McGinest will be eligible in 2013. I think it's safe to assume Bruschi will win that one.

3. Cornerback Ty Law will be eligible in 2014, and linebacker Mike Vrabel will be eligible in 2015. Light will be eligible in 2016, and running back Kevin Faulk might be, too. For the sake of this exercise, let's say Law gets inducted in 2014 and Harrison gets the call in 2015. That still leaves McGinest, Vrabel and former head coach Bill Parcells as Light's competition in 2016, not to mention the possibility of Faulk.

4. It's going to be tough for anyone to beat Faulk in a fan vote, so he's the biggest wild card for Light's potential induction in 2016. Either way, those two should get the call in 2016 and 2017, which could cause McGinest and Vrabel to slide. It's going to be a while before Parcells gets in, too.

5. Don't forget about kicker Adam Vinatieri and defensive lineman Richard Seymour, either. And I have no idea how much longer quarterback Tom Brady and Belichick stay in the game, but yeah, they'll be commemorated somehow.

6. I think it's easy to dismiss Light from the Pro Football Hall of Fame right now, and I subscribe to that theory, too. But I don't believe it's a 100 percent certainty that Light never gets inducted in Canton. About 10, 15, 20 years from now, Light won't be remembered in the same class as Miami's Jake Long or Cleveland's Joe Thomas, but there's an argument that can be made in Light's favor, and I can see the potential for it to gain some momentum.

7. Here's how Light gets in: Someone looks at Brady's Hall of Fame career and says the left tackle played a role, regardless of how large. Then, they'll find the only offensive lineman in history to start five Super Bowls. (If there are others by then, Light will still be known as the first to accomplish the feat.) And they'll see the All-Pro nod from 2007 and his Pro Bowl honors, plus the Patriots' host of accolades during his tenure. Aside from that, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if Brady and Belichick made some calls to vouch for the Light.

8. Admittedly, it's still a longshot, as it still might not be enough to sway the voters in Light's favor. I still thought it was a theory worth passing along.

9. Left guard Logan Mankins was on hand for the retirement ceremony, and he was coming from a workout so he was wearing gym shorts, which made it clear he wasn't wearing a brace or sleeve over his surgically repaired knee. He was also standing around for at least an hour and a half, which I'd have to believe is a sign of progress.

10. I ran into former Patriots running back Sammy Morris at the ceremony, and he told me he still wants to play in 2012. He made sure to stress he has not hung it up just yet, and he's exploring his options.

11. Since Morris has his permanent home in the Foxboro area, would he like to rejoin the Patriots? "I haven't closed the door on anything," Morris responded.

12. I found the Patriots' decision to sign running back Joseph Addai to be an interesting one, though I want to see him in camp before I know whether or not he can make the team. As the Patriots' best-case scenario, Addai will be a steady role player in the passing game.

13. Then again, the Patriots already have Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen to play in that capacity, and Faulk wants another chance, too. I thought the Patriots needed to add a veteran running back, but I'm surprised they went this route, rather than a more traditional between-the-tackles back.

14. I also take it as a vote of confidence for Stevan Ridley, who should be the primary ball carrier. In the same regard, my other thought is it could be a good sign for Vereen, too. It's easy to peg Vereen as a bigger asset in the passing game because of his talent in space, but he shouldn't be labeled as a one-trick pony. He's probably a better ball carrier than he's given credit for, though it was hard to get much of a read during a rookie season in which he had 15 total carries.

15. Of course, if the Patriots sign a between-the-tackles back tomorrow — or, at any point before training camp, really — my last two points will be relatively moot.

16. I'm interested to see Navy running back Eric Kettani during training camp, too. Think about it: His summer in 2011 was wiped out due to a calf injury. He earned a spot on the practice squad before getting recalled to the Navy. Belichick didn't want to put Kettani on the reserve/military list at that point because it would have ended his 2011 season, and they held out hope that Kettani would win his appeal and return to New England. Obviously, Belichick likes Kettani, but I haven't seen him get any significant work in practice.

17. With all that said, I wonder if Kettani can be a serviceable between-the-tackles option. He was very effective for Navy in 2007 and 2008, racking up 1,862 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. I think, at this point, it would be premature to assume he's strictly a blocking fullback.

18. Belichick hasn't exactly employed many fullbacks in recent years, so it was an eye-opener when he signed two of them this offseason. I came across an interesting stat, though. In their careers, Spencer Larsen and Tony Fiammetta have combined for just 28 carries for 88 yards. However, they've turned 11 of those carries (39.3 percent) into first downs. Not bad.

19. The Patriots conduct their rookie camp Friday and Saturday, and it won't be overly complex stuff or anything. Keep in mind, the players' jersey numbers won't necessarily be permanent. With 90-man rosters, the rookies will have the lowest priority when picking their numbers. It's often the case that players change their numbers at the conclusion of training camp when about three dozen players get released.

20. Patriots tight end Daniel Fells got a lot of guidance from former Pats tight end Alge Crumpler while the two were together in Atlanta. While speaking of Crumpler's value as a leader, Fells said something timely, at least in terms of what rookies might be thinking as they get ready to report to their NFL facilities. It's a peek inside their minds as they prepare for one of the biggest challenges of their playing careers.

"Coming in as a rookie, you don't really know what to expect," Fells said. "I went into Atlanta not knowing if guys were going to try to sabotage you because you're competing. That's what it's all about. You're competing for a job, for the same position, and so you don't really know if you can trust anybody. But Alge welcomed everybody with open arms."

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

About a year and a half earlier, the Patriots took Brown in the draft's eighth round, a round that ceased to exist after that season. Then, Brown was cut in his second training camp with New England. He returned home to West Virginia, where he began working at the Guyandotte Boys & Girls Club during his two months out of the league.

"I was planning to go back to school in January [1995] and finishing up my degree," he said. "That's what you have to do when you don't have a job and you've been out for almost two months. But I was blessed and I was lucky to get the phone call [to return to New England]."

Brown remembered watching the Patriots play the Jets just before he received that call. Ronnie Harris, the Patriots' punt returner, fumbled a ball that cost him his job and yielded a new opportunity for Brown. As it turned out, he never had to look for work again.

It could have turned out so differently, too. Brown was famously ridden by former Patriots head coach Bill Parcells, and the wide receiver even tried out for the Jets and Chiefs during his two months away from the game.

If the Jets or Chiefs showed a little more interest, or Harris didn't fumble, or that eighth round went into extinction just a year earlier, Brown may have missed his chance to develop in New England. Surely, hard work pays off for people like Brown, but in the ultra-competitive world of the NFL, players need a break to fall their way, too.

When it came together, Brown became one of the brightest stars in the history of the franchise. He always excelled at his role, in any of the three phases of the game, and emerged as the model team-first player.

Now, Brown is one of three finalists for the Patriots Hall of Fame. Naturally, he's not in yet, and he's lined up against Parcells and former safety Fred Marion, who are two deserving candidates in their own right. But the expectation is that this is Brown's year, with all due respect to Parcells and Marion.

Brown, a first-year nominee, is just happy to be considered. After the way his career began, who can blame him for such humble expectations?

"I think about all the hard work I've put in with the New England Patriots for 15 long years," Brown said. "You get repaid in this way, to be honored by this organization and be a part of a very unique group of not so many athletes, because they only choose one of these guys a year. I'm honored to be even nominated. Between Bill Parcells and Fred Marion, [there's] great competition there. It means a lot to me that they would think that my career was that successful here in New England to be considered to be one of those members."

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Yet, the former Patriots left tackle hid a huge secret throughout it all. During an interview with ESPN.com, Light revealed Monday that he's been dealing with Crohn's disease since his rookie season in 2001. It got so bad that he missed a portion of training camp in 2004 due to a near-death experience, which resulted in a month in the hospital and a surgical procedure that removed 13 inches of his intestine.

"I basically got to the point, over the 3-4 years of being diagnosed with Crohn's, that I couldn't handle the pain anymore," Light told ESPN.com. "The pain became so difficult that in the offseason it just paralyzed me. I'd hit the ground. You can't wake up. You can't sit down. You can't do anything without this becoming a problem."

Light, who retired Monday, said he kept the disease quiet because he didn't want it to be used as an excuse. For instance, if he had a bad game, he didn't want people pointing to Crohn's as the potential reason. Now, he revealed his condition to raise awareness.

"When you go through a moment like that, when you have a near-death and struggle with things and can relate with other people that struggle with things, you're reminded constantly of how fortunate you are and how blessed you are," Light told ESPN.com.

"That's something I think God put in my path to say, 'Hey, look man, you can go out and do all these things, but the reality of it is that it means squat if you don't remember where you came from and why you're here, and what you can do with it. Think beyond yourself.'"

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Fells referred to himself as a chameleon, and there's some credence to that. The 6-foot-4, 272-pounder has more of a background as a pass catcher, but he has worked diligently to improve in the blocking aspect, too.

For instance, Fells caught a career-best 41 passes in 2010, when quarterback Sam Bradford had a strong rookie season. But with the Broncos in 2011, Fells was the primary tight end for the top-ranked rushing offense in the NFL.

It's unclear how many snaps Fells can see with the Patriots, who obviously have Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez at the position. Yet, Fells' presence gives the Patriots a reliable third tight end that they lacked throughout the vast majority of 2011.

That depth will be useful if Gronkowski or Hernandez succumb to an injury. Obviously, the Patriots struggled badly when Gronkowski was hobbled during the Super Bowl, and Hernandez has missed a pair of games in each of the last two seasons. While Hernandez returned to the lineup quicker than expected each time, it took an extra week or two for him to regain his explosion and valuable cutting ability.

There's also the question of wear and tear, as Gronkowski and Hernandez rarely left the field last season. Maybe it played a detrimental role. Maybe it didn't. But the chance to catch a breather will help them down the road at some point.

Of course, Fells' addition will give the Patriots more opportunities to spread Hernandez into the slot, which will continue to advance the dynamics of the offense.

"They do things right," Fells said of the Patriots' offense. "From an offensive standpoint, they go out there, and they put up points. They find the open man. It's not just about one player. You have two good tight ends. There's not a lot of teams that use both tight ends and get them all kinds of catches. There's always just one guy that usually stands out, and you have a bunch of players out there that stand out in this offense."

Fells visited the Patriots in 2010 and said he was "real close" to signing with New England at that time. Coincidentally, the Patriots' veteran addition at tight end that offseason was Alge Crumpler, who served as Fells' mentor during his first season and a half with the Falcons.

Crumpler taught Fells about the inner workings of the NFL, and he also played a role in Fells' development as a blocker. While the marriage between the Patriots and Fells didn't work out in 2010, he's become a more well-rounded player over the last two seasons, so things might have actually worked out for the best for both sides, at least in terms of 2012 and beyond.

"I know that Bill [Belichick] is the type of guy who finds ways to keep defenses on their toes or keep them back on their heels," Fells said. "[Defenses] don't really know what to expect, don't really know what's going on. He's an innovator in that sense."

Of course, Fells can help the offense in that regard. Even as the third tight end on the depth chart, Fells will serve an important role in New England.

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Photo via Twitter/Field Yates

It seems like the season just ended, especially for Patriots fans who are still distraught over the team’s Super Bowl loss to the Giants, but with the NFL draft complete, we’re inching closer and closer to the start of training camp.

A lot can still happen between now and then, though, meaning there’s plenty of questions still lingering, both from a Pats standpoint and in terms of the rest of the NFL.

Players are still arriving to New England, with the Pats signing wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and reportedly agreeing to terms with Joseph Addai, while others (see Matt Light) are exiting.

NESN.com Patriots beat writer Jeff Howe took to Twitter on Monday to answer any questions Patriots fans have this offseason. The topics ranged from changes in the offense to the Patriots’ recent draft picks.

Check out the entire conversation below.

[View the story "Joseph Addai Could Be Good Asset in Passing Game for Patriots" on Storify]

Photo via Flickr/Jeffrey Beall

Light, the team's left tackle for 11 years, announced his retirement Monday in front of a packed crowd at the team's Hall of Fame. Patriots owner Robert Kraft predicted Light will be in the spotlight of another big event at the Hall in a few years.

Light just completed one of the best seasons of his career, so his decision to retire was somewhat surprising, even though it had been anticipated for some time. Light will turn 34 next month, and he said it was important to be able to walk away from the game with his health intact, particularly since he wants to spend more time with his family, which includes a wife and three kids.

"One of the things that was very apparent over the last couple seasons was it takes a lot longer to recover the older you get," Light said. "Really, during that six, seven, eight months of football season, it really became very difficult for me to give much outside of a 'Hi' or a 'Goodnight' or a 'Good morning' to my family. That's always been really important to me.

"And to be quite honest with you, I really had this sense of just being grateful for the experience. I remember in 2011, this past season, there was a different mindset. Maybe that's why I enjoyed some success out there, to whoever's degree. But I really just felt like, 'Man, I am just blessed to be a part of this.' And it made that season so memorable and so much fun. Knowing that, for me, when I finally close the chapter, I don't look back. I am truly grateful."

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick spent 10 minutes reflecting upon Light's career, and he noted it didn't get off to a fast start. Belichick, who traded up in front of the Jets to draft Light because he was convinced they'd select an offensive lineman, immediately placed Light at right tackle. After Belichick realized the experiment wasn't working, Light suffered an injury that kept him out for a few weeks, and when he finally returned to action, he was late for a couple of team meetings that landed him on the bench.

Belichick noted how far Light had progressed, citing 19 mental errors (a statistic compiled by the coaching staff) during his rookie season, and just two in 2011.

"As [offensive line coach] Dante [Scarnecchia] would say, I didn't know if the ball was pumped or stuffed," Light quipped.

Once things smoothed out, Light became Tom Brady's personal protector. Light is also the only left tackle in history to start five Super Bowls, and he was a three-time Pro Bowler and nine-time AFC East champion.

Light was also incredibly popular in the locker room, and he was supported at the ceremony by a host of offensive linemen, including left guard Logan Mankins and center Dan Koppen. Brady wasn't in attendance, but he did have a prominent role on a tribute video that played during the ceremony.

Belichick's personal reflection was the highlight of the show, as he offered various stories that shed light on the left tackle's career, both on and off the field. The Patriots will miss Light in each area, but they know his greatest production always came on Sundays.

"Nobody was more consistent, more dependable, more of a guy that you could count on to coach than this guy has been for the last 11 years," Belichick said. "He's been a tremendous player for us, a tremendous resource for our team."

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Wes Welker

That's why he spent some time getting lessons Thursday in Florida. Welker got connected with Jim McLean, a well-known golf instructor who owns a school on the Doral Golf resort and teaches a number of pros, including 2011 PGA Champion Keegan Bradley.

McLean said Welker was the perfect student.

"It was really fun to meet him and to work with him, to see that world-class focus and concentration," McLean told NESN.com. "He was really an easy guy to work with. It was great. It was a fun day.

"There was really a lot of effort in doing the drills and the work. [Welker was] very easy to work with, and you can see that he really wants to do well even though he's a novice type of player. He wants to get better at it when he has the chance. He knows he's not going to play much golf right now, but he just wants to know a few more things when he goes out there, mostly for these charity events seven or eight years from now or more, whenever he retires."

Welker told McLean his motivation to get better partly had to do with competing with Tom Brady, who is a very good player. And since Welker plays in so many charity events, he wants to have a better feel for the game because he's out there on the course in front of so many people, not to mention the television cameras for the high-profile events.

"Those guys don't want to go out there and not have any idea what they're doing. People want to go out to watch them, and they'd probably like to do their best," McLean said. "To me, he wasn't a nervous type of guy at all, but it's something he's not used to doing. It's just one shot at a time in golf. We did talk about the tremendous difference in golf about trying to relax, chill out, smooth out. In football, that's pretty much the opposite. You want to get jacked up and just nail somebody."

McLean said there was a lot to work with because Welker was so dedicated to learning.

"He's been working out really hard here to get ready for next season, so of course, he's in great shape," McLean said. "He has a lot of speed in his swing. He has some pretty good basics. I really reviewed with him some golf stuff, the setup, the balance points, how he released the club. It's like going to training camp for golf, for a day of just learning about the game.

"He's able to hit some good shots. I just tried to get him where he'd have some things to work on, so if he had a chance to go to the range or just hit some balls that he wasn't just out there smashing one ball after another with no game plan."

It was a useful session for McLean, too, because he likes to learn how to teach different types of people. By getting a feel for Welker's work ethic, McLean said he'll have some examples to better relate with future students, whether they're football players or Patriots fans from New England.

"It was great talking to him about how much work he does in preparation for football," McLean said. "It was fun for me. I probably got more out of the day than he did, learning how he prepared, how organized the Patriots are, how serious Tom Brady is about everything he does, how absolutely, totally focused Wes Welker is. And I didn't expect anything less.

"When you're looking at an All-Pro, I know he's going to be great. It was fun for me because I work with some great players like Alexis Thompson, Keegan, Cristie Kerr and some other Tour players, so it's fun to see anybody that is really great at what they do. They do a lot more. It's not just the natural ability. They've got to have the natural ability, but the work ethic is unbelievable."

McLean mentioned he's already met Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick, so he's beginning to develop a rapport with the Patriots. And while Welker didn't set up any future lessons, McLean said they'll be sure to get onto the course sometime down the road. If Welker is a better player at that point, he knows he'll have McLean to thank for it.

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The Patriots have signed 14 free agents this offseason who were established veterans that played for another team last year: safety Steve Gregory (Chargers), wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (Colts), defensive back Marquice Cole (Jets), defensive end Trevor Scott (Raiders), tight end Daniel Fells (Broncos), wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (Rams), defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene (Bengals), offensive lineman Robert Gallery (Raiders), cornerback Will Allen (Dolphins), wide receiver Donte Stallworth (Redskins), fullback Tony Fiammetta (Cowboys), fullback Spencer Larsen (Broncos), linebacker Bobby Carpenter (Lions) and wide receiver Jabar Gaffney (Redskins).

Only four of them — Fells, Fanene, Larsen and Carpenter — came from 2011 playoff teams. Others have seen their respective organizations go through some difficult times. And to be fair, while the Raiders and Bengals haven't exactly been model franchises over the last decade, each team is on its way up, which is particularly the case in Cincinnati.

The Patriots, on the other hand, have been as consistent as any team in professional sports since 2001. The credentials don't need to be listed, and their reputation around the league is discussed in every single locker room.

"When you see something that works for a long time, as it has here, you kind of admire it a little bit," said Allen, who hoped to sign with the Patriots last September before returning to Miami. "I'm grateful to be here, and I'm just trying to work as hard as I can right now to put myself in the best position to help this team."

Fanene, who spent his first seven seasons with the Bengals, was asked about the cultural differences between the two environments. Even though Fanene hadn't even experienced three full weeks of offseason workouts at that point, his response was telling.

"There was a lot, but I'm just going to pick out one thing," Fanene said. "I see guys focused more, not just in the workout, but everything we do out here is more like a team effort. Guys really welcomed me inside the locker room. It's not about all of the talking, the media, TV stuff, but it's more hardworking and just do your job."

Allen hadn't seen an offseason routine with so much intensity since his time at Syracuse.

"It's been great," Allen said last month. "It just reminds me of college and what it's about as far as trying to get in shape to play at the level that you need to play at this game. I think [strength and conditioning] coach Harold [Nash] does an excellent job. He's been kicking my butt for the last week and a half, so I'm excited about that."

It's May, so the cliche is the same in all 32 locker rooms. Every team, at this point, has a chance to win Super Bowl XLVII. And hey, that's true, as the NFL's structure is more conducive for surprising year-to-year turnarounds than any professional sport in the country.

The reality, though, is certain teams just don't have the capability to function that way. While the Patriots have gone seven consecutive seasons without winning a Super Bowl, they've fielded teams that were good enough to compete for one nearly each of those years, and their new batch of free agents were enticed by that notion.

"It's a winning organization," Gregory said. "Obviously, everyone's goal in the NFL is to win a Super Bowl, and I know that this gives me a great opportunity to do that."

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Nate Ebner Earns ‘Leonidas’ Nickname, Dubbed Ohio State’s Most Valuable Player for Strong Work Ethic

By: Jeff Howe

The legend of Nate Ebner is consuming all of New England.

The Patriots’ sixth-round draft pick was initially met with the lice effect, as many in the NFL universe scratched their heads while trying to figure out Ebner’s deal.

He was listed as an Ohio State safety, but he only played three snaps on defense last season. And his biography had more impressive details about his rugby career than anything he’s done in football.

On paper, the pick didn’t make any sense. Then, his rugby highlight video surfaced. After that, he met the New England media, and his passion and personality revealed a genuine, dedicated athlete.

Paul Haynes backed it up. Haynes, who is currently Arkansas’ defensive coordinator, worked closely with Ebner throughout his career at Ohio State. Haynes was the Buckeyes’ co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, and he had a couple of mutual connections with Ebner before he walked onto the team. The former rugby star didn’t have an ounce of organized football experience to his name.

“He has a passion for being great,” Haynes told NESN.com Tuesday.

Ebner’s father was murdered during a robbery in 2008, and the horrific event changed Ebner’s on-field work ethic, Haynes said.

“His work ethic, his passion to be great — you knew by any means necessary, he was going to go out there and make a play for you on special teams,” Haynes said. “The only reason he probably did not play safety for us was just his lack of knowledge of playing [defensive back]. He was full steam ahead. He was just a downhill player, but you knew on kickoffs, on punts, he was going to be the first guy down there to make the tackle. You banked on it. You counted on it. It was going to happen. Ebner was going to make the play.

“He was one of the most fun kids that I’ve ever coached, still to this day, because you just knew he was going to give it his all. He just has so much confidence in himself to get it done. He’s going to get it done on that level.”

Then, Haynes dropped the most eye-opening bomb.

“He was probably the most valuable player on that whole team, the most valuable player on that whole team last year,” Haynes said passionately. “If there was a guy that we were going to go down with, it would have been Nate Ebner by far. There isn’t a coach on that staff who wouldn’t say that.”

Ebner earned the nickname, “Leonidas,” a Greek hero who was portrayed by Gerard Butler in the movie 300, because of his intense workout regimen, as well as his beard. And every night before bed during Ohio State’s football camps, Ebner forced his roommates to do an insufferable amount of pushups, an act that took on a life of its own with the team.

How many did Ebner do?

“Maybe 5,000,” Haynes laughed.

To clarify, Haynes said he was just throwing a number out there, but with the stories that have emerged about Ebner, that amount of pushups doesn’t sound completely inconceivable anymore.Insane. But not inconceivable.

“That’s just his work ethic. It’s out the roof,” Haynes said. “You know what? I don’t know if it’s 5,000, but all the kids had a joke about it.”

Ebner will have to cut his teeth as a special teamer in the NFL, but with his intensity in the nasty side of the game, it should be a good fit for him, particularly with his skills in the open field. Ebner might get a chance on defense in a few years, but he’ll have to learn the mental aspect of that side of the ball first.

“Here’s the thing about Ebner, I don’t think the kid can’t do anything,” Haynes said. “If you put him in that position, and you tell him, ‘Hey, I want you to get good at this,’ I think he’ll be out there until the freaking sun goes down to get better at it. That’s the kind of respect that I have for him, and I wouldn’t say that about a lot of guys. I really wouldn’t.”

Ebner, who was drafted Saturday, hasn’t even been a Patriot for a week, but he has already been one of their most heavily discussed draft picks. The tone of those conversations has been fun, and there’s a lot of anticipation to watch him play during training camp.

Haynes was as excited as anyone. He didn’t think Ebner would get drafted, let alone in the sixth round, but Haynes was convinced Ebner would be successful once he linked up with a team. Ebner has always been a coach’s dream, and that was part of the reason why Belichick targeted him earlier than anyone expected.

“He’s a great kid, man,” Haynes said. “You guys will love him. You can’t go wrong with him. You can’t go wrong with Ebner.”

(Courtesy of NESN.com)

But as much as I love the draft, I can’t say enough how excited I am that it’s over because that puts the focus directly on the field. Coincidentally — or maybe not, actually — the Patriots transitioned into their second phase of offseason workouts this week. They broke from their conditioning period into on-field work, though it will be a few more weeks until the offense can line up against the defense. With all of that in mind, this was an exciting week in the NFL.

Yet, the league lost a great friend Wednesday, as Junior Seau‘s death has devastated so many who knew him. He’s a future Hall of Famer, but people have mostly reflected about the vibrant way he lived his life off the field. In my opinion, that’s his greatest accomplishment.

Of the three front-seven players — Chandler Jones, Dont’a Hightower and Jake Bequette — who will have the best rookie year?
–@tomwatsonpats, via Twitter

Good question, and I’ll go with Hightower because I think he’ll have more of an opportunity to play due to his versatility. He can play in any front, whether it’s the 4-3, 3-4 or nickel, so he should have plenty of chances to get on the field. Plus, if Jerod Mayo or Brandon Spikes suffer an injury, Hightower will be a starter.

I think Jones and Bequette have the talent to earn starting-caliber reps, but the Patriots’ defensive line has so much depth that they’ll probably be used as rotational players until — or, unless — they prove they deserve to be on the field for every down, as Mark Anderson showed later last season. In four-man fronts, Jones and Bequette will rotate with Jonathan Fanene, Trevor Scott, Brandon Deaderick, Markell Carter, Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich, among others. The Patriots will also add Andre Carter to the mix if he’s healthy.

In a few years, I believe Hightower and Jones will be high-octane playmakers, and Bequette could be a sturdy, reliable piece on the edge. But in 2012, Hightower should have the best opportunity to contribute.

I think the selection of the defensive backs is a total gamble. Tavon Wilson and Alfonzo Dennard could be busts or great. What do you think?
–@iMassri, via Twitter

I’ll start with the obligatory statement that all draft picks are gambles. OK, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, let’s get down to brass tacks.

I’m still not entirely sure how Wilson will develop, but he’s got the versatility to play throughout the secondary, which will give him the chance to get on the field. I’d be surprised if he earned a starting job in 2012, but then again, I really need to see him play in camp before I get a better opinion. He’s a good kid, and he’s going to work hard, so you can rely on that.

Dennard is a good player, no doubt. He wasn’t the Big Ten’s defensive back of the year by accident, but he’s going to have to mature to earn a starting job. I don’t mean that in an off-the-field sense, either. Dennard plays the game with a tough and physical mentality, and that’s great, but he’s going to have to be smarter with that style at the NFL level. He won’t be able to get away with everything until he earns it.

As for Dennard’s issues off the field, if he can rein those in, he could really develop into something solid, even if that takes a few years. Dennard allegedly punched a cop one week before the draft. That’s stupid. But if he was a no-doubt talent who could start Week 1 of his rookie season, he wouldn’t have fallen to the seventh round. The Patriots probably got a steal there, but he’s got some developing to do.

How do you see Sterling Moore progressing after a full offseason program? He seemed to show a lot of potential.
–@SDSCHWAB, via Twitter

Moore was one of the defense’s best playmakers during the final month of the Patriots’ run, and I definitely liked what I saw. He plays with confidence, and he knows how to go after the ball. He’s got to improve his consistency, though, because he can make two terrific plays in one series and get burnt on an easy route on the next series.

It’s a terrific point about the offseason program, though. Moore was undrafted, so he had to wait until the lockout ended in late July before signing with a team, which turned out to be the Raiders. Because of that, this offseason program should be infinitely helpful to last year’s undrafted players like Moore.

Keep in mind, last year’s draft picks were permitted on the team premises for a few hours during the draft weekend, which gave them enough time to meet coaches and collect contact information. That gave them the chance to work out with their new teammates and learn things about the playbook. By that notion, draft picks got a three-month head start on undrafted players.

Now, I was told by multiple sources that there was plenty of tampering going on with undrafted free agents during the lockout. I’m not sure if every team did it, but there were a number of players who had basic contracts in place for the time the lockout concluded. But because each side still braced for that deal to unexpectedly fall apart — for any reason, really — I’m not sure the wink-wink agreement translated into the head start that the draft picks got. It might have been too much of a gamble in that regard.

It’s wide receiver madness! Who gets cut and who’s on the bubble? And does Julian Edelman now make his living on defense and special teams?
–@Giguere4211, via Twitter

The wide receiver depth chart as I see it: 1. Wes Welker 2. Brandon Lloyd 3. Jabar Gaffney 4. Deion Branch 5. Julian Edelman. Slater as a defensive back, and Chad Ochocinco and Donte Stallworth cut. Thoughts?
–@bostonsboy87, via Twitter

First things first, I believe Edelman’s future will be as a do-it-all player. He might be officially listed as a wide receiver, but he’ll play in all three phases, and I believe he’ll make the team in 2012.

Right now, I believe Welker, Lloyd, Gaffney and Branch are locks. I also believe Edelman and Slater make the team. Very soon, I’ll take a thorough look at the entire roster to see if there’s enough room for Anthony Gonzalez, Donte Stallworth or Ochocinco. I think one of them can make it, but if all three get cut during camp, I can also see the scenario of Belichick telling them to stay by the phone in case of an injury.

Britt Davis and Jeremy Ebert are candidates for the practice squad.

Would you not agree that the Bengals had a better, deeper draft than the Pats? What is it about the Patriots locker room that allows them to handle problem players like Corey Dillon, Randy Moss and now Dennard, where the Bengals are ill-equipped to handle players like Vontaze Burfict? Is it veteran leadership or the strength of Bill Belichick’s personality?
–Nathan (New York City)

I’m not sure if the Bengals had a better draft than the Patriots, but I do know with 100 percent certainty the Bengals had more holes to fill than the Pats. Therefore, the Bengals might have had a deeper draft.

I’ve also heard more about more of the Bengals’ draft picks than some of the Patriots’ selections, but pre-draft hype doesn’t mean anything after the draft. But hey, I didn’t know much of anything about Logan Mankins in 2005 or Sebastian Vollmer in 2009. Turns out, those guys are pretty good at football. On the flip side, I loved Chad Jackson at Florida and Brandon Meriweather at Miami. I also thought Meriweather was on his way to stardom after the 2009 season. Sometimes, things stop working out.

I also know the Colts had a better draft than the Patriots because the Colts took a franchise quarterback that the Patriots didn’t need. But the Colts probably won’t be in the playoffs in 2012, while the Patriots are easily the best team in the AFC right now.

Point is, the draft is about efficiently filling needs, and that’s how success is determined. The Patriots needed defensive playmakers, and they got two in the first round, and they might have gotten two more later in the draft. If Jones and Hightower get the defense over the hump next season and they win the Super Bowl, I think the Patriots will be pretty happy with their draft. And if eight of the 10 Bengals draft picks improve various spots on the depth chart and they continue to emerge as a consistent playoff contender, I think they’ll be pretty happy with their draft, too. But one doesn’t have to be “better” than the other.

As for the discipline thing, the Patriots have a strong structure in place from the ownership to the coaching staff to the players. They’ve got leaders and proven winners across the board, and as long as the leaders strongly outnumber the knuckleheads, teams can do OK. That ratio shrunk in 2009, which caused the Patriots to field one of their worst teams of the Belichick era, so it was proof that the recipe doesn’t always work.

But on Dennard and Burfict, their success is totally up to them. The Patriots absolutely have a better track record than the Bengals of turning questionable personalities into solid performers. We’ll see if Dennard buys into the program. As for Burfict, though, I just don’t think he’s very good. Not only that, but I’m not sure he’s got the drive to be good, either. We can laud the Patriots for their track record all we want, but I’m not convinced they could maximize Burfict’s ability. So if the Bengals can’t, I wouldn’t fault them for it.

As a Pats fan since 1968, I find it refreshing that this team has finally got it. From the owner down to the training staff, this team is finally the model on how to run a football team. Mr. Kraft lets the football team do the talking for him, not like his counterpart in Dallas, Jerry Jones. With what they did in this draft and free agency, I think they still need a Rodney Harrison-type of defensive back to solidify the defense and instill fear among wide receivers going over the middle. What do you think? Thanks.
–Bill Kendrick (Missoula, Mont.)

Well, Harrison was a rare player. He was truly among the elite safeties throughout his time in the league, so any team could use a player of that caliber.

Don’t give up on Patrick Chung. He plays the game with the same type of attacking mentality, and he loves to hit people. The Patriots were a much better defense last season when he was in the lineup. If Chung can get past the injuries, he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

What would make McCourty (skill wise) better at safety than cornerback? Based on the draft, what are the chances that he a safety along with Chung?
–@CoreyCondardo, via Twitter

I still think McCourty would be more valuable at cornerback than safety, and I’m not convinced the decision has been made about his future at this point. But to your question, McCourty was a much better player facing the ball last season, and he struggled with his awareness when he got turned around. By putting him at safety, he’ll be able to read the play as it happens in front of him from the snap to the whistle. I think that would be a big advantage. Plus, he’s got good ball skills, so if he’s at safety, he might have more of an opportunity to break up passes and create turnovers.

With all that said, I don’t believe 2010 was a fluke. I do think he can get back to that, and if that’s the case, he’s more of an asset at cornerback.

Jeff, could all of this posturing work against Wes Welker, or is this common practice with players in this position?
–C. Lefebvre (Prescott, Ariz.)

Welker is just trying to exercise the little amount of leverage that he’s got as the team’s franchise player. Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Ravens running back Ray Rice are both doing the same exact thing right now. It’s common. As long as the Patriots show Welker they’re willing to work toward a contract extension, I think he’ll show up when it’s time.

The difference between Welker and the other two is the organization. The Patriots have proven time and again that they’ll draw a line in the stand and stick to it. The Saints, meanwhile, can’t afford another public-relations disaster this offseason, and Brees is a hero in New Orleans. He’s also their quarterback, so there’s that. Rice is the Ravens’ best offensive player, too, and there’s not even a close second. Welker doesn’t have the same leverage against his organization as Brees and Rice, so that works against him.

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Photo via Facebook/Donta-Hightower

Linebacker Terrell Suggs, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, told ESPN he suffered a torn Achilles over the weekend. Suggs maintained his ability to get back to the field at some point during the 2012 season, but those are devastating injuries that can take an entire year of recovery. If Suggs beats the odds and returns this season, it would be incredibly unlikely that he'll be close to full strength.

That's a huge loss for the attitude of the Ravens' defense. Suggs had 14 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions last season. Suggs became just the 18th player in history to force seven fumbles in one season.

Of course, the Ravens still have linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, but they lost incredibly underrated outside linebacker Jarret Johnson in free agency, so their front-line talent on the edge has been wiped out. Baltimore did take advantage of Courtney Upshaw's slide in the draft, so he figures to start in Johnson's spot.

But the Ravens will need someone like Sergio Kindle to show up on the stat sheet for the first time in his career. Kindle was a supremely-touted pass rusher out of Texas, but he's been a huge disappointment due to injuries over the last two years.

The Ravens' defensive identity was as strong as any team last season, but their greatest playmaker just went down with a treacherous injury. They couldn't afford that after already losing ground to the Patriots this offseason.

Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.