NFL: Patriots get makeover, but they still have Brady

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots begin the season without five of last year's defensive starters.

Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison retired. Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel and Ellis Hobbs were traded. That's 39 years of combined service with the three-time Super Bowl champions.

So why are the Patriots still one of the NFL's leading title contenders?

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are back.

One of the best quarterbacks and one of the best coaches of all time will lead the Patriots — presuming Brady stays healthy — with some extra drive after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.

"We have plenty of motivation," Brady said. "We finished 11-5 last year and didn't make the playoffs and didn't win the division."

Of course, Brady played only the first half of the first quarter of the first game. That's when his season ended with torn ligaments in his left knee when he was hit by Kansas City's Bernard Pollard.

Since then, he went through surgeries, a long rehab, a demanding training camp and exhibition games in which he absorbed hard hits. The knee, protected by a brace, held up. He even threw well in practice after suffering a sore right shoulder when he was tackled in the third exhibition game.

There still may be some rust to shake off, but guard Logan Mankins expects Brady to sidestep pass rushers like he used to.

"Tom's not going to outrun anyone," Mankins said, "so if it's just for a few steps he's pretty mobile."

The veteran offense has returning starters at all five line spots and is deep at running back with Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. It has Randy Moss and Wes Welker at wide receiver with Joey Galloway backing them up.

"Tom's an outstanding player for us. I think we all know that," Belichick said. "Great players make players around them better, not just by what they do but by their ability to create opportunities for their teammates."

The same could be said of Belichick.

He's willing to cast aside some of the franchise's top players if he thinks that provides a better chance to win. Bruschi was dropped to a backup role in training camp and Seymour was traded to Oakland after five Pro Bowl appearances.