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The ins and outs hint at Patriots' long-term plan

As surely as the ball has traveled from one to the other, the focus shifts now, from Brady to Moss. The former appears on the...

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Today's Globe Sports front-page

Red Sox scoot past Tampa Bay

Marco Scutaro was not supposed to play against the Tampa Bay Rays last night. Red Sox manager Terry Francona planned to give his shortstop the day off to rest his sore right shoulder. (By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff)

Starts and stops tough on Wakefield

Tim Wakefield is under contract next season for a $2 million base, after his start last night nudged him over 130 innings, which triggered a $500,000 bump in his 2011 salary, still small potatoes for a guy who has meant so much in Sox history. (By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff)

No holes in his game

College is still a couple of years away for Nick LaSpada, and he isn’t sure where he’ll go after his days at Billerica Memorial High School are over. But that’s OK with the talented quarterback. He prefers to keep his options open and have room to maneuver. (By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff)

Federer, Djokovic blow into US Open semis

For one match at least, Roger Federer was back to his old self. (By Howard Fendrich, Associated Press)

Baseball

Swisher, Yankees get TKO

Minus their star catcher, the New York Yankees waited at home plate in a merry pack of pinstripes as Nick Swisher circled the bases following his game-winning home run. (Associated Press)

Francona fields questions on bad throws

Red Sox pitchers lead the American League in strikeouts. But when it comes to throwing the ball somewhere other than home plate, trouble ensues. (By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff)

Football

Developing situation

Bill Belichick is fond of saying that stats are for losers, but these numbers don’t lie. (By Albert Breer, Globe Staff)

It’s all on the line for Belichick

The assumption among the Foxborough Faithful is that coach Bill Belichick will remold the Patriots on the fly and the team will be lifting Lombardi Trophy No. 4 faster than you can say Patriot Reign. (By Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff)

Another title would be perfect fit

Does Bill Belichick care about his legacy? Let’s answer the question with a question. Do you think a man who owns what might be the largest private collection of football books on the planet, a man steeped in football history, a man who can talk Bronko Nagurski as well as he can talk Brandon Jacobs, cares about his legacy? (By Bob Ryan, Globe Columnist)

Moving down

Kareem Brown. Kevin O’Connell. Garrett Mills. David Thomas. Clint Oldenburg. Chad Jackson. (By Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff)

Room for improvement

After New England’s abrupt dismissal from the 2009 postseason at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens , the search for answers began as to what went wrong. (By Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff)

Scouting the Patriots

The Red Sox were derided for publicly calling this season a “bridge year,’’ but while the Patriots may not admit as much, they are in transition as well. First- and second-year players will be asked to play key roles, particularly on defense, where questions abound. Who will provide the pass rush? How will the green secondary hold up under pressure? ... (By Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff)

Head coordinator

Back in February the decision was made. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees wasn’t coming back to the Patriots . So Bill Belichick stepped in. (By Monique Walker, Globe Staff)

Brady reports nothing new

For a guy who makes fun of himself for his lack of mobility and speed on the field, Tom Brady is sure proving elusive when it comes to his contract. (By Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff)

Moss sick of it? No, receiver was just ill

Two days after granting a rare interview and saying he felt unwanted by the Patriots as he enters the final year of his contract, Randy Moss was nowhere to be seen during the portion of team practice open to the media yesterday. (By Michael Whitmer, Globe Staff)

Picking winners

When I was awarded the eighth pick in a 12-team draft (“Frank Gore country,’’ as someone at my draft lottery remarked) in midsummer, I started thinking about second-tier running backs. (By Ed Ryan, Globe Staff)

Smart play: Go with your instincts

The tale of The Betting Edge in 2009 is a worn-out gambling story, told by everyone who considers wagering a hobby, or something a bit more. (By Ed Ryan, Globe Staff)

CBS’s No. 1 team still playing favorites

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms have spent a lot of Sundays broadcasting football games from Gillette Stadium. Although that’s hardly unusual given their stature as CBS’s top NFL broadcasting team and the Patriots’ remarkable run of success the past decade, let’s just say certain people are starting to notice. (By Chad Finn, Globe Staff)

Kicking off with a show

The Saints’ first Super Bowl title was so big in New Orleans that Mardi Gras, a revered local institution dating back well over a century, became popularly known as “Lombardi Gras.’’ (Associated Press)

Tonight's game

MINNESOTA AT NEW ORLEANS When, where: 8:30 p.m., Superdome, New Orleans TV, radio: Channel 7, WEEI (850) Line: New Orleans by 5. Last meeting: The Saints won, 31-28, in the NFC Championship game. Of note: The Saints are ready to put last season in the rearview mirror and begin their title defense. Last season the Saints started 13-0 and won ... (Boston Globe)

Basketball

Tommy Heinsohn talks about art and sports

We used to hide under the covers with our transistor radio listening to Tommy Heinsohn and the Celtics play. The basketball legend now dunks a paintbrush into oils, and his landscape paintings and sketches are on view at “Tommy Heinsohn: Beyond Basketball . ’’ The broadcaster/former player and coach painted as a kid in New Jersey which kept him out ... (By June Wulff, Globe Staff)

Teodosic inflicts some pain on Spain

Serbia knocked defending champion Spain out of the world championships yesterday when Milos Teodosic made a long 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left for a 92-89 quarterfinal victory in Istanbul. (Associated Press)

Colleges

Pantale grabs some attention

In his two years as the Boston College starting tight end, Chris Pantale has never played the starring role, never found himself in a situation where he had to make a play to win the game. In fact, Pantale has never caught more than four passes in a game or totaled more than 41 yards. (By Mark Blaudschun, Globe Staff)

High schools

North Andover bewitches Salem

An early 1-0 deficit wasn’t enough to keep North Andover at bay last night, as the Scarlet Knights stormed back to take a 2-1 boys’ soccer victory over visiting Salem in both teams’ season opener. (By Jake Seiner, Globe Correspondent)

Golf

Woods shows plenty of drive

His swing was a mess, and so was his marriage. Tiger Woods figured he could only deal with one problem at a time. In this case, golf had to wait its turn. (By Doug Ferguson, Associated Press)

Arlington’s Paul Murphy steps up his golf game

Even an accomplished golfer sometimes needs a change of equipment to improve his game. Arlington resident Paul Murphy , a 13-time champion at Charles River Country Club and the Bay State’s Senior Open winner last year, is no exception. (By Marvin Pave, Boston Globe)

Additional Sports Coverage

Fidelity, Putnam equine jumper events coming up in fall

The Jumper Classics are coming. Two of them, anyway. The Putnam Boston Jumper Classic starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday at the Myopia Hunt in Hamilton, which until 2009 was the home of the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic. (By David Rattigan, Globe Correspondent)

In a seat of power

One of these years, she will not win the US Open. Maybe. But don’t count on it. (By Bud Collins, Globe Correspondent)

Clemens wants McNamee suit rejected

Baseball A defamation lawsuit against Roger Clemens should be thrown out because the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was merely trying to defend himself against his former personal trainer’s doping allegations, Clemens’s lawyers argued yesterday in New York. Clemens should be able to respond to claims “that are disastrous to his reputation without being subject to a lawsuit,’’ attorney Rusty ... (Boston Globe)