Derrick Burgess News

The NFL's most dominant team in the past decade will have a different look when it lines up today against the Dolphins - particularly on defense.

Every offseason in the NFL, teams that seem just on the cusp of becoming great aggressively go after the players they feel will be the final piece of the puzzle; guys with singular talents who can turn a potential 10-6 team into a real contender.

The Patriots have, by NFL standards, been pretty healthy as a team this season. But there have still been injuries, the latest one being to Jarvis Green.

Whether Jason Taylor would be a part of next weekend's Dolphins-Patriots clash in Foxborough, Mass., was never really a question.

One unforgettable memory from the Patriots' trip to London came Saturday night when 600-plus fans jammed into the Sports Cafe in the Haymarket section of town.

Every Thursday, former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi and Mike Reiss break down the Patriots' next game.

Every Tuesday on ESPNBoston.com, questions from fans are answered as part of a Patriots mailbag.

Simply for his presence on defense. He's setting the tone on the back line, much like Vince Wilfork is doing in the trenches.

Last Sunday's game in Foxboro was littered with messages from the head coach. They were neither hidden nor subtle.

Linebacker Adalius Thomas played in two Pro Bowls with the Ravens . Then he signed the biggest contract the Patriots ever gave an unrestricted free agent .

Just off the field from practice, where the Patriots players are in full pads for today's session.

The mystery behind Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas and his being on the inactive list for Sunday's game didn't get any clearer yesterday.

Junior Seau's return was a much-discussed subject among the players in the Patriots' locker room during media availability at Gillette Stadium.

Junior Seau was in the weight room pumping iron at 5:30 this morning, as if he's always been a member of the Patriots [ team stats ] . Of course, the Pats officially said as much today, putting their stamp on an announcement that was released by the TV station Versus yesterday.

For all Junior Seau accomplished in his long, distinguished and disjointed career, the Pro Bowl linebacker has a hole in his resume.

Wide receiver Randy Moss, defensive lineman Ty Warren, and tackle Matt Light were not seen at the media portion of practice today.

It is a skill learned by youth football players across the country. When an athlete arrives in the NFL, the act of tackling is second nature.

Tom Brady said yesterday he wasn't bothered by comments former teammate Rodney Harrison , now an NBC analyst, made about a pair of roughing-the-passer penalties Brady drew from the Baltimore Ravens.

During the Patriots [ team stats ] ' 27-21 win against the Ravens, referees called a combined total of 14 penalties for 126 yards.

After 4 games I now feel the defense is capable of holding their own. They played well against two good offensive teams two weeks in a row, and made several big plays today.