Top dogs

Page 2 of 18 -- As we reported here many weeks ago, Larry Centers has returned to the team this week. Centers is welcome because he's one of the best pass-catching fullbacks in the league and Tom Brady could use am outlet like Centers. The Patriots released J.J. Stokes, but Belichick said the team may look at him again next season.

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Here's the mailbag:

Nick, Thanks for taking my question. In today's NFL with the cap, what will be the chances of the Pats signing players like Law, McGinest, and Brady? Will players like that look to stay with a competitive team like the Pats or will they leave for more money? The reason why I ask is because the NFL has parody and a player could say, "Well, so I jump ship and go to a loser team who cares. They might be competitive in a few years from now." Or do they say, "We got something going here. I'll take a restructuring of my contract to see what happens." Is it really about the money? I love parody and the cap because we got a Super Bowl out of it. But will it mean teams like the Pats will never become a dynasty?
Sean Androsoff, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

A: I think the players who take less money to stay in a good situation are the ones who have already made a lot of money and don't need to make every last penny. McGinest, you mentioned, might be a guy who is wiling to play for less. In speaking to Law recently he's definitely softer in his comments about leaving if the Pats try to cut him, but I know he won't take a significant cut. As for a dynasty, I never think that way in football. I can see it in basketball with the Lakers perhaps, but not in football. The two teams who played in the Super Bowl last season are sub-.500 right now.

With the Patriots still without a consistent running game, why don't they take a look at Adrian Murrell? He looked pretty good at times with Dallas.
Martin Tully, McAllen, Texas

A: What they have in Smith, Faulk, and Cloud is better than Murrell. That's just my opinion.

Nick, No doubt you saw Dr. Z try to rip the staples out of Charlie Weis's tummy in SI this week, basically charging that he's putting his own future as a head coach over the good of the team. I'm not trying to egg you into a fight with an older guy or anything, but what's your take? Is Charlie still throwing the ball with a 21-point lead because his ego is out of control or because ball control is just not the Pats' game?
Dan Riley, Vista, Calif.   Continued...