01:27 PM EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Frank the moderator: Are you ready for some football? Chat, that as. Providence Journal sportswriter Tom Curran returns to talk about the start of training camp and the Super Bowl champs' upcoming 2005 season, WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, at NOON.

Frank the moderator: Submit your questions now. Login and then you'll be able to send in a question. Tom will log in around noon. See you then.

talk: Tom -- Which other draft picks need to be signed. And talk about the role the picks (rookies) will play this season. Thanks.
Tom Curran: Talk... All the rookie draft picks are in the house. Other than Mankins, there will be a lot of special teams work for the bulk of the picks. Even a guy like corner Ellis Hobbs who last year may have been in competition for the nickel will have a lot of guys with more experience to beat out to get on the field even in sub defenses.

talk: Tom -- How does Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's relation change now that Charlie Weis is gone. Can anyone replace Weis, in terms of working with Brady so well?
Tom Curran: Hey, Talk... Brady has had as strong a relationship with Belichick as he's had with any of his coaches. Not only has he appreciated Belichick's input on offense, he's asked for it. So in answer to your question of whether anyone can work as well with Brady, I say no problem. Can anyone replicate Weis' knowledge of his players' skills and his nuance at playcalling and meld those two as Weis did the past two years in particular. No. Not at this time. Maybe by October. Maybe by December. Maybe never. But not yet.

PATS726: Hello TOM!! Just wondered about the PUP move..Dwight/BJ...Why so early?? Does this open 2 spots up for the roster of 88????
Tom Curran: I guess if they weren't going to be ready, they weren't going to be ready. It lets them do some paperwork before camp starts and -- as you pointed out -- vacates spots for roster hopefuls (or fodder).

BoxScore: Your thoughts on the lack of a personal touch as it relates to the Bruschi announcement?
Tom Curran: Box Score...my favorite...you me and Mr. Chico Walker need to spend some time in R.I. I wasn't fazed by the lack of "personal touch" some in the media lamented. He's not playing this year. Doesn't warrant a eulogy. Maybe if he retires for good, then that would be appropriate but anything else would be unseemly. Seemed like a way for some to caterwaul about the organization's lack of chatter. I'd like them to run off at the mouth more too, but this wasn't the time to take a swipe.

Len: Tom, who do you think will emerge as the #3 receiver? My thinking is that Branch goes to the slot and Terrell goes outside.
Tom Curran: Len, I think it will depend on situation, field position and down and distance. Givens and Branch will be on the field most all the time. I'd assume Terrell would be a red-zone threat more than Troy Brown. Brown might be a better option on tweener situations (second-and-6). I agree with Branch being in the slot a lot, though. He is so hard to cover and that gives him more field to work with than being outside where he is limited into juking one way.

Mendoza: Any news on Seymour?
Tom Curran: Hey, Doza. I just spoke to Eugene Parker after having 731 calls to him go unreturned (he's the agent fella for Seymour). He wouldn't say whether Seymour would be there or even whether the decision has been made. He also wouldn't tell me if he's A) asking to be the highest paid DL. Tremendous reporting, huh? He did talk philosophically about holdouts and what benefit there is and why he hasn't been out front with talking about Seymour's deal. One quote: "Even sympathetic fans have problems with a player when you talk about the numbers being discussed. You have fans making anywhere from $30 to $100,000 and this guy won't play for $2M? There's no way to relate what the player is dealing with and no reason to cry for sympathy to people who work as hard as the players do."

Len: Will Belichick be wearing the headsets when the Pats are on offense?
Tom Curran: He's going to wear the Oakleys with the ear buds like Manny. Actually, Len, I don't knoiw. My perception from mini-camp was that Scarnecchia was the de facto OC. Whether he'll be the guy radioing plays to Brady's helmet or whether Belichick will do it will no doubt evolve through the preseason. If I had to guess, I'd say he wears the headset.

Snapper: Tom, Nick Cafardo and Paul Attner floated a theory yesterday that Belichick has indeed already designated an OC, but hasn't announced it publicly - either to shield the new guy from criticism or keep him from getting the credit. They both quickly determined it must be the latter. This is all based off a "feeling" Cafardo got. Have you had similar "feelings"?
Tom Curran: Feeeeeee-lings....whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...feeeeee-lings...I wish I never met you Bill.... Ummm, sorry. Snapper, it seemed like Scarnecchia was in charge at mini-camp. Beli will be prominent. Josh McDaniels and Brian Daboll will help. So will Ivan Fears. Brady will have a large say. Whoever the OC is I'm sure has yet to be officially established. And if they don't know, they can't tell us. (Nor can they tell us that they don't know because, well....they just won't.)

PatsFan37: Tom, thanks for hosting, you always have a great column. Who do you think will be the surprise cuts? And of those who make the team, who will be surprise performers (in a positive sense)?
Tom Curran: I definitely appreciate the question but I can't even guess at it now. I can make enough mistakes WITH information, never mind trying to make guesses without. I will say that corner is going to be the most cutthroat spot in terms of time and trying to make the team

PatsFan37: Tom, everyone has Mankins slated for LG based on minicamp. Surprising to see the Pats spend a first round on a guard. Any chance they were thinking RT in 05 or 06?
Tom Curran: Hey, 37... I was surprised too (see my predraft: "They won't draft a guard..." proclamation). I felt that way not because guards aren't important in the Pats system (with the amount of pulling their interior guys do it is vital) but because they could get one later. And that said, I don't think RT is as important to them as guard in terms of drafting for the spot. And if they ever felt differently, three SB wins with 3 different RTs may have convinced them.

QuickOutGo: News on Bruschi seemed positive right up until the announcement. Was this just a way of keeping the issue from dominating training camp? Will Bruschi reevaluate his 2005 status later in the year or is he really done for the year?
Tom Curran: I agree...from Peter King's "little birdy" to the NECN report to Bruschi's teammates, he seemed to be gearing up to play. I think his announcement was more about Bruschi being tired of the speculation himself than any concern for it being a training camp issue. We'll find out Friday depending on what list Bruschi is on as to whether he's even going to have a chance to play in 2005 if he changes his mind.

PATS726: Tom What are your thoughts on Mangini (DC) and BB (OC..)? I tend to think the "group" approach to both as they have done in the past will continue. The big difference will be what happens on the fly..during the game..adjustments... Thhoughts??
Tom Curran : They're group guys. The undersold thing about Mangini (and the bulk of the offensive coaching players and personnel) is that they were all here last year and the Patriots did wicked good. It's not like they have to show them how to use the video thingys and everything.

Russ: Tom, I heard on Sporting News Radio an interview with Roman Phifer. He still wants to play. Do you think he will be back?
Tom Curran: I've been trying to get in touch with him but haven't been able to. I would imagine if he wants to play, this would be one of the few places that would clear a spot for him (because of age, not talent). I hope he does, he's been one of my favorite guys. Really genuine, really funny but soft-spoken.

BoxScore: Who's looking like they will be getting the majority of the snaps at WR? Is Terrell "plodding" in compartison to others or was that an unfair description?
Tom Curran: Box, Terrell kept taking reps after Branch in the mini-camp situation that seemed to lead to the "plodding" description. Terrell is about 35 pounds heavier and seven inches taller. Of course he looked slower. It's not like he was running in a scuba suit. I don't think speed is an issue for Terrell. I'll be better able to tell you what is an issue in a few days.

n8wood: Tom, how long do that Pat's have to come to terms on a contract with Vinatieri and remove the franchise tag from him?
Tom Curran: They can do one at any time now. The only obstacle previously was that they couldn't give him a deal before July 15 after franchising him or they would lose the franchise tag for the length of the agreed-upon contract. (Stupid rule. Who would ever break it? Other than Mike Tice...)

Len: Any updates on injured Patriots - Bailey, Bethel Johnson, Gus Scott, Tom Ashworth?
Tom Curran: As far as I know, Bailey, Scott and Ashworth are good to go... Bethel...not so good to go.

BoxScore: Tom, are you typing with your knees?
Tom Curran : kyugef srg...and piubkhfgKHGEF iN SHORT... KJHDFJKGKFG

QuickOutGo: Flutie, Davey, Cassel... choose two (I think we can assume Brady's slot is safe)
Tom Curran: Floots...Davey... Cassel needs to come down with the Foxboro Fever or something and go on IR because if they try to pass him through waivers and onto the prax squad he'll be gone... PS Wait until you see Cassel throw. He's got presence. Completely looks the part.

Bob Gamere: Tom, how has Cedric Cobb progressed this offseason? Does he have a shot at making the team?
Tom Curran: The Great...Gamere.... I'll be able to tell you after watching him try to catch passes. Last year he looked like a grizzly trying to land a salmon. I also want to see if he runs a little more patiently in preseason. I would consider him a definite to make the team, though. It's early yet.

BoxScore: How do see the AFC east shaping up? Most national pundits seem to feel that everyone in the division impoved themselves.
Tom Curran: I think the Bills (special teams, defense, deep receiver corps) and Dolphins (entrance of the Sabanator) will both be on the uptick. The Jets quarterback isn't throwing, one of their best defenders (Abraham) is either holding out or pouting and their first draft pick was a kicker in the second round. I no likey the Jets offseason.

Snapper: What's the depth chart going to look like at ILB?
Tom Curran: First down TJ and Monty Second Down Chad Brown and Monty Third All LBs are eligible to be plugged anywhere. That's a guess

Bob Gamere: Are they still experimenting at all with Vrabel at ILB? Did they ever do this, or was that just media speculation?
Tom Curran: One more. He did take reps there during mini-camp. We'll see in the preseason games if they see it as a need/opportunity

train52: how does doug flutie fit into the pats offensive plans for 2005. where would he be on the qb depth chart??
Tom Curran : Train, I'd say he's the No. 3/2 at this point. He has to beat out the incumbent No. 2 which is Davey. And with that, I'm going to wrap it up. Hot weather and chats make me sleepy. I started a blog today. It should be up somewhere on projo.com Tomorrow, I'll have 7 questions and 3 answers for training camp. Friday, the old training camp preview. And I'll update the blog daily. Also, FSNE tonight at 6:30 and 790 the Score Friday p.m. Thanks, everyone. Tom