Update: According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Patriots have very little interest in signing Willie McGinest. The Patriots don't feel like McGinest can play up to the level that they expect, and they will not sign him if they don't feel he can contribute on a high level.
Fantasy Impact: McGinest is a guy who had a solid career, but he is coming to the end. The Pats seem disinterested, but expect another team to take a flier on him. Either way, he has no fantasy value in IDP leagues.

Update: New England Patriots rookie, Brandon Tate is likely to start the 2009 campaign on the PUP list as he is recovering from October knee surgery on his ACL and MCL, according to the Boston Globe.
Fantasy Impact: Tate was a nice selection for the Pats, and the fact that they have depth and don't need him to contribute right away makes it that much nicer. Tate is not a fantasy impact and will most likely on see time on special teams when he gets healthy.

Update: Omar Cuff has been released by the Patriots, according to Pro Football Weekly.
Fantasy Impact: New England has a logjam at the running back position and with the addition of off season acquisition Fred Taylor added into the fray, Cuff had no chance of making this roster.

Update: According to the Boston Globe, Rodney Harrison has decided to hang up his cleats and join the NBC Sports broadcasting team as an analyst. He is expected to announce his retirement Wednesday. Harrison was a member of NBC's coverage of Super Bowl XLIII, and also did some work for the NFL Network during the playoffs. He played 15 years as a safety in the NFL.
The Pats weren't counting on Harrison returning, and this won't impact the defense this season.

Tyrone McKenzie will miss the entire 2009 campaign due to a torn ACL in his knee, according to the Boston Globe. McKenzie was a third-round pick out of South Florida. He would have competed for a backup role at outside linebacker if he did not get hurt.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Fred Taylor suffered a left wrist injury while exercising on his own in South Florida. He fell on his outstretched left hand which caused the injury. Taylor is expected to be fine for training camp, so this injury shouldn't affect his play for this season. He was given an MRI which confirmed that there was no major damage, so he will be fine in a few weeks.

The Sun-Sentinel reports that the New England Patriots have strong interest in Jason Taylor.
Taylor seems to fit the veteran-at-the-end-of-his-career mold that the Patriots tend to target. Depending on where he ends up and what his role is, he could still have some IDP value as a pass rusher.

The Patriots acquired tight end Alex Smith from Tampa Bay on Thursday, according to the Buffalo News. New England surrendered an undisclosed 2010 draft pick in return.
Smith caught just 21 passes as a tight end with the Bucs last season. Three of his 21 catches were touchdowns. The Pats already have tight end Ben Watson, but Watson has struggled to stay healthy. It will be an interesting training camp for these two.

The Philadelphia Eagles are certainly shocking all of their fans with this weekend's NFL Draft. Typically known for trading OUT of the first round, the Eagles moved up in the first round making a trade with the Cleveland Browns for to move up two spots in order to select Missouri's Jeremy Maclin. And you didn't need a wideout Andy Reid? Don't insult your fans Andy, everyone in the NFL including you knew you needed a wide receiver.

The New England Patriots have signed LB Pierre Woods to $1.545 million one-year contract. He was offered his restricted free agent tender Tuesday and is the favorite to start at OLB replacing Mike Vrabel.