**Mike Reiss** of ESPNBoston.com questions how far the Patriots will look to extend DE Mark Anderson this offseason. Anderson, one of the Patriots' best free-agent signings last year, produced 10 regular-season sacks and 2.5 sacks in the playoffs. Reiss writes that Anderson's situation is interesting in part becuse he wasn't a full-time player through the first 15 games of the year, but played well in extended playing time after Andre Carter's season ending quad injury. It was Anderson's best season since his rookie year in 2007 when he recorded 12.5 sacks as a fifth-round draft choice. "After Anderson's work as a sub rusher in that impressive rookie campaign, the Bears tried him in a full-time role and it didn't work out." It reamins to be seen how the Patriots will value Anderson heading into the 2012 season.
**Greg A. Bedard** of The Boston Globe caught up with former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien at the Big New England Coaching Clinic in Newport, RI on Saturday. O'Brien spoke with Bedard about how too much blame has been placed on Wes Welker for the incompletion during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI. "That wasn't a drop," stated O'Brien. "That would have been a tremendous catch, and he should never think twice about that. And it had nothing to do with us losing the game." O'Brien's biggest regret of the Super Bowl? "Probably the first play of the game, call a different play,'" he said of the safety on Tom Brady.
**Karen Guregian** of The Boston Herald had a chance to speak with Patriots' DE Andre Carter on Sunday. Carter indicated that his rehabilitation from December surgery to repair a torn quadriceps muscle continues to go well. Guregian also wrote of Carter's desire to remain a Patriot. "Of course, without a doubt, if the opportunity presents itself to finish my career as a Patriot . . . I'd love to," Carter said.
**Max Tedford** of WEEI.com writes about Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King's appearance on the Mut & Merloni show Monday morning. With news breaking that running back Arian Foster agreed to a new contract with the Texans, King noted that the chances of defensive end Mario Williams becoming a Patriot just increased. King argued, "If you're Mario Williams and the Patriots offer you, say, $13 million a year in a long-term deal with good guarantees, you've got to think of that. If you're a defensive player, who the heck wouldn't want to play for Bill Belichick? ... I've not talked to Mario Williams, so I don't know what he's thinking. Maybe he's thinking, 'This is the last contract I'll ever sign and I'm going to make every last dime.' If he is, he's not going to the Patriots. But my feeling is, if you're a really good defensive player and you want to be deep in the playoffs every year, where's your best chance right now? My feeling is your best chance right now is go to play for* *Bill Belichick."
