Mary Paoletti of CSNNE.com reports that cornerback Devin McCourty should be "completely healthy" heading into training camp, according to his trainer. "He really has no limitations at all for his shoulder," trainer Pete Ohnegian tells Paoletti. McCourty suffered a separated shoulder in last year's Week 10 win over the Jets, forcing him to sit out two games and a handful of practices. McCourty has been working with Ohnegian throughout the offseason and appears to have no lingering issues. "I think other guys you can attribute it to not working as hard...or being focused on other things, but none of that is true in his case," says Ohnegian. "That's why I feel like he's going to have a great year."
Mike Rodak of ESPNBoston.com believes that offensive lineman Robert Gallery will be the team's "assumed starter at left guard" with Logan Mankins still recovering from knee surgery and the availability of Brian Waters still in question. Rodak also notes that the Patriots have a wealth of replacement interior lineman in Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald, and Donald Thomas, so if Mankins and Waters return, Gallery's spot may be in jeopardy. "...It is unlikely there will be room for all of them plus Gallery on the roster," writes Rodak.
Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald reports that the Patriots elected to pass on receiver Josh Gordon, who was taken in the second round of Thursday's supplemental draft by the Cleveland Browns. Howe is not surprised by the team's lack of action. "If they took him, they'd potentially give up on a roster spot that could have been used on Donte Stallworth, Julian Edelman or Matthew Slater," writes Howe. "Considering the hype surrounding Gordon, there's no chance he would have cleared waivers to the Patriots' practice squad."
Zuri Berry and other Boston Globe staff list defensive tackle Vince Wilfork as the most important Patriot of 2012 aside from quarterback Tom Brady. "Wilfork manages to alter a significant number of plays to benefit the Patriots defense," write Berry and Globe staff. "No one else on the defense comes close to him in this regard." Also at the top of the Globe's list of "The 10 most important Patriots in 2012" are linebacker Jerod Mayo, tight end Rob Gronkowski, receiver Wes Welker, and offensive lineman Nate Solder.
Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that offensive lineman Dan Connolly ranks second on Pro Football Weekly's list of top five underrated players in the NFL. According to Reiss, criteria for the list include award recognition, draft position, name recognition, salary, and years in the NFL. "He played as well as anyone last season and I consider him an elite player at that position," says draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki of Connolly. "I think he's very under the radar around the league in terms of recognition."
