With regular season just six weeks away, Michael Felger of the Boston Herald offers a look at the big stories to keep an eye on from training camp up until the regular season.

Jerome Solomon of the Boston Globe reports that Richard Seymour was absent from the first day of training camp as he continues to hold out due to a contract dispute. Solomon cites a source familiar with the contract negotiations as saying talks are currently underway to devise an acceptable offer that would get Seymour into camp, even if it were only a temporary solution. This temporary solution in the short term would be an act of good faith by the team as the two-sides continue to work out a satisfactory deal.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe offers a story on the new look of the Patriots. Gone are veterans Ty Law, Tedy Bruschi, Ted Johnson, Roman Phifer and David Patten as well as coaches Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis. Can the Patriots continue their winning ways even with so many of their core players gone? "There's been quite a few changes and I don't know how we're going to do with them. I don't think anybody knows. I'm just going to do the best I can every day and whether Tedy is here or not, and obviously he's not, that's not going to affect the way I play. Ted or David Patten or Joe Andruzzi or Roman Phifer or Charlie even, you can sit here and make excuses that wow, we're really going to have a hard time. But you know what? Every team changes. Every team is different from year to year. But I've got to continue to grow and improve or I wouldn't be very happy about it," said Patriots QB Tom Brady.

Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe offers a story on Patriots linebacker Monty Beisel,who with the retirement of Ted Johnson and the loss of Tedy Bruschi for the season will receive considerable playing time and will rotate with Chad Brown on the inside linebacker position.

Michael Felger of the Boston Herald reports that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick yesterday cleared up speculation that Tom Brady will be calling offensive plays from the line. Belichick confirmed that he will take on role of the play caller. "In the end I'll be responsible for it, just like I've always been. I'm sure when something goes wrong you'll be asking me about it. So if you want to put me down as the play-caller, then go ahead and put me down," said Belichick.

The Boston Herald has put together a Ted Johnson timeline which chronicles his career.

Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News offers his daily sports blog with Patriots notes.