DATE:
Saturday, August 10, 2002

SITE:
Giants Stadium (80,062) - Grass

TIME:
8:00 p.m., EDT

TELEVISON:
This week's game will be broadcast locally on WCVB Channel 5 in Boston for the eighth consecutive year. Don Criqui will provide the play-by-play detail and will be joined by broadcast partner Jerry Glanville. They will also be joined by Mike Lynch from the sidelines. All games will also be televised throughout most of New England on WWLP (Channel 22) in Springfield, Mass., WNAC (Ch. 64) in Providence, R.I., WMTW (Ch. 8) in Portland, Me. and WTXX (Ch. 20) in Hartford, Conn.

RADIO:
WBCN's Rock Radio Network 104.1 FM will be the Patriots flagship station for the eighth consecutive season. Gil Santos, who enters his 25th season as voice of the Patriots, will call the action along with Gino Cappelletti. The tandem is entering their 17th year together.

The defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots will kick off their 2002 preseason schedule against the New York Giants next Saturday, Aug. 10 at 8:00 p.m. The Giants opened their preseason against the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame game on Monday Aug. 5. The two met in last year's preseason opener, and the Patriots claimed a 14-0 victory at Foxboro Stadium.

While the Patriots continue to practice in preparation for 2002 season at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I., head coach Bill Belichick has stressed there is still a lot of work to do before the start of the season.

"I think we'll have to get through camp and get over a few hurdles before I'll feel the way I did last year," said Belichick. "It's going to take a little time, but I think the players have worked pretty well. The concentration, effort, and attitude were pretty good in mini-camp. It's been okay so far in training camp, but we have a long way to go."

Twenty of the Patriots 22 starters from the Super Bowl team return to defend their title this year, with the only vacancies created by departures during the offseason coming at tight end and defensive tackle. Despite that, the Patriots remained among the most active in the offseason by signing 18 veteran free agents (including re-signings). Only Houston (21) and Oakland (20) signed more. With those signings, the Patriots will open the preseason with a roster rich in veteran experience, creating new depth and fierce competition at many positions.

Next week, the Patriots will begin their home preseason schedule the following week against the Philadelphia Eagles in a nationally televised game on CBS on Aug. 17 at 8:00 p.m.