when Jiri Tlusty was picked 13th overall. They m

It wasn’t the copy and paste job the Seahawks’ roster comparison was, but the New England Patriots are still bringing along a number of familiar faces from their last Super Bowl appearance, three years ago. The most important piece is of course back in quarterback Tom Brady. Brady’s numbers are down this year from his 2011 campaign – more than 1,000 yards less passing and six less touchdown passes – but his unofficial MVP rating is about the same. Another big offensive piece is back in tight end Rob Gronkowski, and this year he won’t be inhibited by an ankle injury, both during the game and at the post-game dance party. Gronk’s two best seasons have both now culminated in Super Bowl appearances. In 2011 the massive tight end had 1,327 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, and this year he finished with 1,124 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Gronk’s running mate from three years ago however won’t be with the team, with Aaron Hernandez of course now behind bars and standing trial for murder. Along with Brady and Gronkowski, offensive linemen Nate Solder and Dan Connolly are returning as offensive starters for the Patriots, although both in different positions. Solder, a rookie the last time New England made it to the Super Bowl, moves from right tackle to left tackle, while Connolly shifts from centre to guard. Wes Welker is back in the form of Julian Edelman, who was actually with the team three years ago. Primarily a punt returner, Edelman played as much defensive back as he did wide receiver in 2011. That won’t be the case this time around as the (listed as) 5-foot-10 speedster has found a home as a pass catcher and could be Brady’s top target Sunday. Brandon LaFell presents a bit of an upgrade at the veteran starting wide receiver spot. The only position group with a much different look is the running backs. BenJarvus Green-Ellis led a ragtag committee approach in 2011 that was never considered much of a threat. The Patriots’ employed a similar approach for much of this year until LeGarrette Blount walked out on the Pittsburgh Steelers and fell into New England’s lap. After Blount’s 148-yard, three-touchdown performance in the AFC Championship Game, the Seahawks will surely be taking him more seriously than the New York Giants took the LawFirm. Five other offensive players are making their second trip to the Super Bowl with the Patriots in RB Shane Vereen, WR Matthew Slater, and offensive linemen Sebastian Vollmer, Ryan Wendell, and Marcus Cannon. On the defensive side of the ball, three starters haven’t moved on from 2011, highlighted by the immovable Vince Wilfork. Now 33-years-old, Wilfork is actually playing at a higher level this year than in 2011, his run defence numbers up more than 14 points according to Pro Football Focus, a good thing with a heavy dose of Marshawn Lynch expected to come his way Sunday. Rob Ninkovich remains alongside Wilfork and the new cast, highlighted by impressive linebacker Dont’a Hightower, presents an upgrade over the front seven of three years ago. While there is some name recognition on the left column in the front seven, those veterans have mostly been replaced by younger, hungrier players. Devin McCourty returns as a starter in the secondary and is joined by Kyle Arrington, who lost his starting spot along the way, and Patrick Chung. The addition of Darrelle Revis of course tips the scale in favour of this year’s squad. Stephen Gostkowski leads a similar looking special teams unit as well, although while his long snapper Danny Aiken remains, punter Zoltan Mesko has been replaced by Ryan Allen. Mesko’s 46.5-yard average on punts in 2011 is almost identical to Allen’s 46.4-yard average this year. See the full roster comparison from Super Bowl XLVI to XLIX below. Roster Comparison Super Bowl XLVI Patriots Position Super Bowl XLIX Patriots Tom Brady QB Tom Brady Brian Hoyer QB Jimmy Garoppolo Ryan Mallett QB BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB Shane Vereen Kevin Faulk RB LeGarette Blount Shane Vereen RB Jonas Gray Stevan Ridley RB Brandon Bolden Danny Woodhead RB James White Lousaka Polite FB James Develin Rob Gronkowski TE Rob Gronkowski Aaron Hernandez TE Michael Hoomanawanui TE Tim Wright Deion Branch WR Julian Edelman Wes Welker WR Brandon LaFell Chad Ochocinco WR Danny Amendola Julian Edelman WR Brian Tyms Matthew Slater WR Matthew Slater WR Josh Boyce Matt Light OT Nate Solder Nate Solder OT Sebastian Vollmer Sebastian Vollmer OT Cameron Fleming OT Jordan Devey Logan Mankins G Dan Connolly Brian Waters G Ryan Wendell Marcus Cannon G Marcus Cannon Donald Thomas G Josh Kline Dan Connolly C Bryan Stork Ryan Wendell C Nick McDonald C Andre Carter DE Rob Ninkovich Shaun Ellis DE Chandler Jones Mark Anderson DE Zach Moore Brandon Deaderick DE Alex Silvestro DE Vince Wilfork DT Vince Wilfork Kyle Love DT Chris Jones Gerard Warren DT Alan Branch Ron Brace DT Sealver Siliga DT Joe Vellano Jerod Mayo LB Jamie Collins Brandon Spikes LB Akeem Ayers Rob Ninkovich LB Donta Hightower Gary Guyton LB Jonathan Casillas Niko Koutouvides LB Chris White Dane Fletcher LB Darius Fleming Tracy White LB Kyle Arrington CB Darrelle Revis Devin McCourty CB Brandon Browner Nate Jones CB Kyle Arrington Antwuan Molden CB Logan Ryan Sterling Moore CB Malcolm Butler Malcolm Williams Patrick Chung S Patrick Chung James Ihedigbo S Devin McCourty Sergio Brown S Nate Ebner S Duron Harmon S Tavon Wilson Stephen Gostkowski K Stephen Gostkowski Zoltan Mesko P Ryan Allen Danny Aiken LS Danny Aiken Tampa Bay Rays Gear . -- James Harden scored 31 points, including 25 in the second half, and the Houston Rockets dug out of a double-digit, first-half hole to beat the Orlando Magic 101-89 on Wednesday night. Cheap Rays Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/ . The 23-year-old restricted free agent appeared in all 48 games last season, finishing second among all Sabres skaters with 15 goals and 34 points. Andrew Kittredge Jersey . Speaking on TSN Radio 1050s TSN Drive with Dave Naylor on Monday, Colangelo said he had no intention of tanking the shortened 2011-12 season, but definitely wanted a high pick in the draft. "I wish that word wasnt used for headline reasons," said Colangelo, "but the story behind it was: how can we fix the system? How can we tweak the system to make it less likely that teams are rewarded for losing records? "I do believe that if youre as transparent as we were at the time - with our season seat holders, our fans, the market place and the media - everybody knew what the plan was and what we were going through. Stitched Rays Jerseys . The Raptors had an early deadline Sunday, a dreaded afternoon game, and they left the bulk of their work until the last minute, as theyve done so many times before.PHILADELPHIA – Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis spoke to Florida Panthers boss Dale Tallon on Thursday morning about the prospects of trading up for the first overall pick in Fridays draft. "But at this point," Nonis said a few hours after the conversation, "I dont think theres a deal there for us." Despite interest in moving up the ladder of the first round – from where they currently stand at eighth overall – Nonis didnt believe the current price-tag fit the bill for his club, particularly if it meant sacrificing young talent. The cost was simply too high. "It is for us," Nonis said of the first overall pick. "It may not be for other teams. I know that Dale is serious about moving it – I think hes happy to keep it as well – but hes not going to give that pick away. "Theres been dialogue, but we havent made any traction and as it stands right now, I would expect that were going to stay at eight." Having hoarded a slew of promising building blocks in recent years (including Aleksander Barkov with the second overall selection in 2013) and with the draft lacking in a consensus, slam-dunk superstar, Tallon is inclined to give up the rights for the top spot. But hes labeled the price for the pick as including a top young player, one who can step right into the Panthers lineup, and perhaps a pick or something of similar value. "Somebody has to knock our socks off for us to make the move," Tallon told TSN recently. In a different draft, Nonis might be prepared to pay that price. He was second in command to Brian Burke at the time of the 2009 draft when Burke spoke openly and aggressively about his pursuit of the first overall pick in a draft that featured star John Tavares. "That price-tag is different than possibly moving up to take the player whos going to go [first] here," Nonis said.dddddddddddd "It doesnt mean that the player who goes [first] is not going to be a great player, but those price-tags are different and I think every team in the league would tell you that. Theres a number or a value that we place on moving up and it wouldnt include our top young players, no." Beyond Aaron Ekblad, theres a definite aura of unpredictability at the top of this draft, making the possibility of the Leafs landing a quality asset at eight all the more likely. Toronto has demonstrated a strong inclination toward selecting North American players in recent years, picking just seven Europeans since 2009 and none in the first round since 2006 when Jiri Tlusty was picked 13th overall. They may not be able to land the top centre theyve long desired with the eighth pick – Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart and Leon Draisaitl all figure to be off the board – but theres potential to add front-line skill at wing, perhaps in the form of Nick Ritchie or Jake Virtanen (Nikolaj Ehlers and William Nylander are both intriguing, but neither seem to fit the current Toronto mold). "This [draft] may not have the superstar at the top, but I think most teams would agree theres some pretty good players in this draft that are going to be useful players on good teams," said Nonis. "Its important when youre picking at eight that you get one of those players." Back in 2008, with Cliff Fletcher minding the helm, Toronto moved up two spots in the draft to land Luke Schenn with the fifth overall pick, sending their first round selection (seventh overall) to the Islanders along with picks in the second and third round. The Leafs selected hulking centre Frederik Gauthier with their top selection a year ago (21st overall), adding Morgan Rielly to their young mix in 2012. ' ' '