Yeah, yeah, yeah. What can I tell you? There's never enough NFL news between mid-February and July to keep your attention! So let's get on with the important stuff!

Patriots at Buffalo October 3rd: Calling All Pats Fans

The Patriots travel to Buffalo on October 3rd to play the Bills, and individual game tickets go on sale July 17th. The Monday Analysis is looking for a few good Pats Fans to travel to Buffalo for the weekend and witness this Bills Destruction.

Please send email confirmation if you are interested. If tickets can be obtained, they will be distributed on a first come basis. Get those inquiries in early! I am hoping someone with a van shows some interest, so we can take a comfortable vehicle to Buffalo!

The first trek we made was in 2002, and the three of us had a blast! Buffalo fans are all right folks, and the spirit of football and competition is certainly in the air. Early October should be great weather.

Please reply as soon as possible! Spaces are limited, and I need a positive head count before July 17th. I cannot make any promises afterward, but those who show late interest will be called first as a space opens up.

For more information, drop me a line and I will be more than happy to talk you into the trip!

Patriots Get the Bling-Bling

At a private party at the Chestnut Hill home of Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, the 2003 World Champion New England Patriots received their Super Bowl XXXVIII rings.

The stats on these medals of honor are as follows:

    Estimated value $20,000

    Weight: 3.8 ounces and 5.05 carats.

    33 percent larger than the team's ring from the 2001 season

    104 diamonds

    Heaviest Super Bowl ring ever

    15 full-cut gems running across the crest of the ring to symbolize the 15-game win streak

    12 diamonds run along the bottom for the 12-0 perfect record at home

"This is all right," said  Patriots hero kicker Adam Vinatieri, who kicked game winning field goals in both Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII. "We get these tonight, and it symbolizes what we did last year. This is the last time we get to celebrate. Some players play their entire careers and don't get even a sniff of a ring like this." 

"This is why we play," linebacker Ted Johnson said. "The ring is a huge symbol of what we were able to accomplish. This event gives some closure to last season."

"So many days out of the year, we're one game at a time, one day at a time," linebacker Tedy Bruschi said. "But this is one night when we can embellish."

Coach Bill Belichick arrived last of everyone, probably because he had more to put one. Coach BeliGod already owned three Super Bowl Rings (two from the Giants in 1986 and 1991 and one with the Patriots in 2001) and one AFC Championship (with the Patriots in 1996). He now has five rings, enough to cover his left hand (or right).

Kevin Faulk settled the event in one sweeping motion:  "Tomorrow it's back to work to try and win another one." For Belichick, its to start filling his second hand.

Patriots Coming and Going

Another Raid-ed player. DE Bobby Hamilton signed with Oakland, joining Ted Washington...QB Damon Huard has a new home in Kansas City after signing a two-year deal with the Chiefs...CB Terrell Buckley is back with the Pats for the third time, signing a one-year deal...Christian Fauria signed an extension with the Patriots through the 2005 season (with no bonus). He was entering the third and final year of his contract, and renegotiated terms to lighten the cap, of which he was to count $1,272,268 against it. Fauria reduced the cap charge to $968,934, and received $340,000 of his original $1 million dollar bonus up front. As a ten-year veteran, he is entitled to the league minimum of $765,000, and will count more than a million dollars next season against the cap...Tedy Bruschi acted as his own agent and received a contract extension through 2007. The deal is reportedly worth $4.6 million over the next four seasons. Bruschi, a fan favorite and one of the best middle linebackers in the league should be retiring as a Patriot...Second-round pick Marquise Hill is officially signed to the Patriots...Fourth-round pick Dexter Reid also signed with the Patriots...The Patriots signed free-agent tackle DeVonte Peterson.

League Movements

June 1 cuts are in and here are some of the movements.

Former Giants quarterback Kerry Collins signed with Oakland...Kurt Warner was cut by the Rams, then signed with the Giants later the same day...Vinny Testeverde was cut but the Jets, and later reunited with old coach Bill Parcells in Dallas...Former Dallas running back Troy Hambrick signed with Oakland...Carolina rewarded Jake Delhomme on his terrific season with a contract extension for five years worth $38 million...Also extended in Carolina is Delhomme's favorite target Steve Smith for a six-year deal worth $28 million...Arizona named Emmitt Smith their starting running back...Giants TE Jeremy Shocky had surgery on his foot and is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks...Tim Couch signed a one-year deal with Green Bay...Kordell Stewart signed a one-year deal with the Ravens.

Top Ten List of the Week

1. One month until training camp.

2. Those rings are unbelievable. Just awesome!

3. A final salute to President Reagan, the last of the great American leaders.

4. A couple weeks until the 2004 Tour de France, or as I like to call it: the Lance Armstrong Texas Whipping of the French.

5. I just got a satellite dish, and I am enjoying the NFL Network. What a great channel 212 is.

6. I love this extended Spring-like weather. The humidity can just stay down south, thank you.

7. Congratulations to both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Pistons on their recent championships. Both teams, incidentally are owned by William Davidson.

8. Nice to see Ty Law back in Foxboro with his head screwed on straight.

9. Bravo to NFL Films for another great Patriots Super Bowl video, which includes an edited version of the World Broadcast of Super Bowl XXXVIII.

10. I saw Willie McGinest on a segment of Total Access on the NFL Network the other night. Here's a great stat: McGinest has been to three Super Bowls with the Patriots with two wins. Think about those numbers for a while.

ejh