Pats Schedule Released; Belichick Dips Into Free Agent Pool

The National Football League released their 2006 schedule today. Here is how things will break down for the New England Patriots. Week 1: September 10 vs. Buffalo Bills (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 2: September 17 @ New York Jets (4:15 p.m.) - CBS Week 3: September 24 vs. Denver Broncos (8:15 p.m.) - NBC Week 4: October 1 @ Cincinnati Bengals (4:15 p.m.) - CBS Week 5: October 8 vs. Miami Dolphins (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 6: BYE WEEK Week 7: October 22 @ Buffalo Bills (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 8: October 30 @ Minnesota Vikings (8:30 p.m.) - ESPN/Monday Night Football Week 9: November 5 vs. Indianapolis Colts (8:15 p.m.) - NBC Week 10: November 12 vs. New York Jets (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 11: November 19 @ Green Bay Packers (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 12: November 26 vs. Chicago Bears (1:00 p.m.) - FOX Week 13: December 3 vs. Detroit Lions (1:00 p.m.) - FOX Week 14: December 10 @ Miami Dolphins (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 15: December 17 vs. Houston Texans (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 16: December 24 @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00 p.m.) - CBS Week 17: December 31 @ Tennessee Titans (1:00 p.m.) - CBS It is way too ridiculous -- no matter what the Big Show does this afternoon -- to try and break down each individual game. It's April 6 and we are still more than three weeks away from the Draft. The schedule does not look to be a back-breaker however. The Pats are only on the road in back-to-back situations twice (although one of those situations will close out the regular season) and they avoid playing Miami in the heat and there are no trips to either Indianapolis or Denver (both are 2006 home games). As for the roster, two new additions were announced today on the Patriots website. Familiar face Tebucky Jones was signed to add depth to the rebuilt defensive secondary and kicker Martin Gramatica. Jones, a hard hitting strong safety, was a member of the Super Bowl XXXIV winning Patriot team. He left the organization after the 2002 season and signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was with the Dolphins in '05. Gramatica, who once went by the nickname "Automatica" while in Tampa Bay, has struggled in the past few seasons and was even out of football in 2005. If he can find his old form -- a longshot at best -- than the Belichick/Pioli team will have found another free agency gem. Time will tell for both players.