FOXBORO — The New England Patriots have announced the schedule for the first week of training camp.  Set to begin July 30, 2009 on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium, training camp will be open to the public. Camp runs through August 18th.

Practice  schedule:

Thur. July 30 – Wed. Aug 5

9:45-11:15 am  &  3:45-5:30 pm

Fans are welcome to attend the open practice sessions, admission is no charge.

It is important to note that the schedule is tentative at this time and may be changed without notice.  Fans are encouraged to check the team website or call the Training Camp Hotline for updated information.

Hotline: (508) 549-0001

As pointed out first by Mike Reiss (Boston Globe), the Patriots training camp schedule differs from last year’s opening schedule. This season the team has double sessions for the first week, while last year the team alternated between double and single sessions.

One other item to note is that the team regularly changes the schedule every training camp, so fans should verify the schedule on the days they plan to attend in case of inclement weather or other issues that would cause the team to close camp to the general public.

Four weeks till football season. 

Patriots fans can have input into their favorite Patriots moments. Today marks the start of the team’s “Top 10 Moments in Franchise History” fan polling.

Fans can vote for their favorite moments on the team’s official website (www.patriots.com)

The team’s press release describes the fan interaction thusly:

“There have been many memorable moments in the Patriots’ first half century of play and – in celebration of the franchise’s 50th anniversary season – a nomination committee took on the task of pooling together a collection of 50 snapshots in time that will take fans on a stroll down memory lane. “

Voting Ends August 1st, and winning entries will be published in the team owned media outlets beginning in October.

Former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest is mulling a return to football after deciding last year that the 2008 season would be his last.  Playing for former Patriots coordinator and Browns head coach Romeo Crennel, McGinest figured he’d retire after 15 seasons in the NFL.  Now McGinest is having second thoughts, and those thoughts are pushing him to consider a comeback in the place he began his career, New England.

Speaking with The Sporting News, McGinest admitted he’s considering a comeback. A 4-12 season in Cleveland has left a bad taste in his mouth.  He said he’d like to play one more year to change the way he ended his career.

“I don’t like the way I ended last year, going 4-12, it just wasn’t good,” said McGinest. “I was disappointed in what we did. I don’t want to go out like that.”

McGinest, 37, knows that he’s getting a bit old for a veteran linebacker in a young man’s league, but he’s working hard to get in shape if – or when – the opportunity arises.

“I’m preparing to play football and be in shape when an opportunity comes and continue from there,” he said. “I’m going four or five times a week.”

Ellis To Raiders Could Cause A Ripple Effect In New England?

The New England Patriots made their play for linebacker Greg Ellis after his release by the Dallas Cowboys. Their overtures were shunned in favor of a better offer when Ellis opted to sign on with the Oakland Raiders instead.   Ellis’ arrival in the Bay area could have an unexpected ripple effect, one that could still prove beneficial to New England.

The Dallas Cowboys made the only move they could when they finally released Ellis earlier this month. Although the team reportedly tried to trade Ellis, their potential partners knew Dallas wanted to unload the aging veteran, thereby virtually eliminating the need to offer compensation.  

Ellis’ contract had a $1.5 million guarantee to be paid by the Cowboys regardless of whether they released or retained the veteran. The team was able to reduce their total cap charge by making the releasing Ellis after finding no trade partners. The move saved $4.15 million in salary against Ellis’ roughly $6 million cap number.

Five teams reportedly had some interest in Ellis: The Eagles, Patriots, Bengals, Raiders, Dolphins and Panthers.  Ellis turned down a one-year $1.5 million offer from New England to sign a three-year $10 million deal with the Raiders guaranteeing him $5 million according to the Dallas Morning News.

Despite not signing Ellis, New England might still benefit from the move.  Though Oakland signed Ellis to improve their pass rush, the addition of the former sack specialist could pave the way for the possible trade of Raiders defensive end Derrick Burgess.  

While the Kansas City Chiefs are known for acquiring former Patriots, this past week they opted to part with a pair. Among the players cut by the Kansas City Chiefs recently were former New England Patriots, WR C.J. Jones and LB Darrell Robertson.  Both players were acquired by Kansas City this year.

When Scott Pioli took the helm as head of football operations in Kansas City, the Chiefs immediately took on the personality of their new man in charge Pioli’s success in New England has infused him with the belief of turning around the Chiefs by importing elements from New England.

Pioli immediately went in search of players and coaches who were familiar with the type of system the former Patriot VP of Player Personnel derived success – the Belichick model. Enter, new head coach Todd Haley, an offensive coordinator familiar with the system Pioli wanted to use and coming off a strong showing in Arizona the year before. Haley and Pioli were part of the Jets organization while Bill Belichick was on board in New York under Bill Parcells.

Kansas City then acquired former Patriot quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel in a late February trade which gave the Patriots just a second round pick.  Though the Patriots were widely criticized for the move, it showed that Pioli understood the value of players from the Patriots system, and wanted to shore up the foundation in Kansas City with players who had plenty to offer.

Another week and another NFL player is in the news in a negative way

Former Patriot wide receiver Donte Stallworth (Stats) is beginning to learn the true cost of his actions one fateful night in March.  After striking and killing a pedestrian with his car in Miami, Stallworth pled guilt to DUI Manslaughter chargers and began to serve the 30-day jail term this week. In response to his conviction, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has informed Stallworth that more punishment is pending.

Stallworth ran down Mario Reyes, a 59-year old construction worker, in mid March.  He stopped, called police and faced the consequences of his actions.  Reyes died from injuries related to the accident. Stallworth’s blood alcohol level was found to be over the legal limit.

Thursday, Goodell issued a strong warning for Stallworth. In excerpts of the his letter to Stallworth, the Commissioner notified the Browns receiver that he will be subject to additional punishment by the league, and that he’s been suspended.

 “The conduct that led to your conviction plainly violates both the Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies.,” Goodell wrote.  “In this case, there is ample evidence to warrant significant discipline under both policies.”

Stallworth’s legal ramifications are now known.   Instead of being incarcerated for years, Stallworth plead guilty to lesser charges, receiving 30-day jail term, two years house arrest and eight years of probation. He also reached an undisclosed settlement with Reyes’ family, and will perform 1,000 hours of community service.  The deal was reached with the encouragement of Reyes’ 15-year old daughter.

Apparently Patriots fans in South Dakota aren’t quite as passionate as other New England supporters, because the home of Mount Rushmore is the only state that hasn’t sent anyone to visit The Hall at Patriot Place, even though South Dakota native Adam Vinatieri is among the many players immortalized in the team’s Foxborough museum.

As incentive to right this egregious wrong, museum directors are dangling a juicy carrot: the first South Dakota resident to visit The Hall at Patriot Place will receive Vinatieri’s severed right leg, dipped in bronze and mounted on a sheet of plywood. Actually, you’ll receive "a mini helmet autographed by the former Patriots kicker and three-time Super Bowl winner who hails from Rapid City and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings," according to The Rapid City Journal.

"We reached our 49th state some time ago and have already had visitors from eight foreign countries, but still no South Dakota," said Bryan Morry, Executive Director of The Hall at Patriot Place."We know Patriots fans in South Dakota would love to visit, but it’s a long trip, so we decided to provide an incentive by offering a small prize."

Have you seen South Dakota licenses? They’re easy to reproduce. That mini helmet is mine.

Other links of note today:

Former Red Sox Bob "Bigfoot" Stanley, Sam Horn, Rick Miller and Jim Corsi will participate in a charity softball game this Saturday in Wales, Maine. (Sun Journal.com)