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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots stocked up on top free agent cornerbacks. Now its time to make their job easier by adding a young pass rusher. They hope to find one in the NFL draft starting Thursday night. "Theres a deep group of defensive linemen that are different types of players," Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said. Chandler Jones led the team with 11 1-2 sacks last season, but only two teammates had more than three. Outstanding pass rushers who could be available with the Patriots 29th pick are defensive ends Dee Ford of Auburn and Kony Ealy of Missouri. This weeks signing of defensive end Will Smith after 10 years with New Orleans could help fill that need, although hell be 33 in July, missed all last season with a torn ACL and averaged just six sacks in his previous three seasons. In their 26-16 loss to Denver in the AFC championship game, the Patriots allowed Peyton Manning to throw for 400 yards without a sack. In the off-season, they signed cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner while losing Aqib Talib to Denver. Browner gives the Patriots a physical presence, although he must sit out the first four games after being suspended for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. "Those guys have played a lot of good football," Patriots safety Devin McCourty said. "Every year you have new guys that have to learn the defence. Youve got to start working together." Five other things to look for when the Patriots draft: NEEDY POSITIONS: Tight end, a strength of the team from 2010-12, was a weakness last season after Aaron Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder and Rob Gronkowski was injured and sidelined for nine games. Gronkowski may not be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from knee surgery. So the Patriots could draft Jace Amaro of Texas Tech. They need depth at running back after LeGarrette Blount signed with Pittsburgh. That left them with just Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden. CHARACTER ISSUES: This draft is the first since Hernandez was arrested last June and pleaded not guilty to murder. Afterward, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the organization would review its procedures for evaluating players. In 2012, cornerback Alfonzo Dennard slipped to the seventh round after an outstanding career in Nebraska. He started nine of his 13 games last season with the Patriots, then spent 35 days in jail after pleading no contest to driving under the influence, a violation of his probation for punching a police officer shortly before the 2012 draft. He was released from jail April 4. "You look at the entire body of work when you create the profile on a player," Caserio said. "If we dont feel comfortable, then we move on to the next player." BACKING UP BRADY: Tom Brady says he wants to play into his 40s. Hell be 37 in August and his successor could emerge from this years draft. Brady was taken in the sixth round, so the Patriots feel they dont have to choose a quarterback early. They took current backup Ryan Mallett in the third round in 2011, but hes thrown just four passes, all in 2012. So would the Patriots focus on drafting Bradys successor? "I would say were focused on improving our football team in whatever capacity we can do. Well always consider that," Caserio said. CATCHING UP: The Patriots moved to bolster their weak wide receiving corps by drafting Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce last year and signing free agent Kenbrell Thompkins. Dobson had 37 receptions, Thompkins had 32 and Boyce had nine. Then they signed free agent Brandon LaFell, who had a career-high 49 catches for Carolina last year. But with only Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola catching more than 37 passes at wide receiver, the Patriots might draft one. "You dont want to pass on a player just because he has a position where there might be numbers or volume," Caserio said. LETS MAKE A DEAL: The Patriots have eight picks in seven rounds and could package some in trades. Last year they sent their first-round choice to Minnesota for picks they used to take linebacker Jamie Collins in the second round, cornerback Logan Ryan in the third and Boyce in the fourth. Collins and Ryan had solid rookie seasons. They also obtained a seventh-round pick in the deal, then traded it to Tampa Bay for Blount. Mexico Blank Jersey . Its great to be back for another season in Banditland, and Im looking forward to another competitive season with my teammates, said Tavares. Miguel Layun Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. http://www.mexiconationalshop.us/Guiller...-Jersey-Soccer/. Long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced Friday that he is retiring after a 16-year-career with the Bears, a span in which he played in a team record 245 games and snapped the ball 2,282 times. Alfredo Talavera Jersey . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena. Hector Moreno Jersey .J. Hardy to avoid a three-game sweep after blowing a big early lead. Odour had a leadoff single in the seventh and scored the tiebreaking run with the help of two errors by Hardy as the Rangers went on to beat the Orioles 8-6 on Thursday night.Minneapolis, MN - J.T. Barrett accounted for 389 yards and four touchdowns and No. 8 Ohio State held off upset-minded Minnesota, 31-24, on a snowy Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. Barrett set the Ohio State record for touchdowns in a season with 38, breaking the mark set last year by the man he replaced -- the injured Braxton Miller. The freshman QB threw for 200 yards and three scores and added 189 yards and a TD on the ground for the Buckeyes (9-1, 6-0 Big Ten), who avoided a letdown following their upset win oover Michigan State last week.dddddddddddd These teams can meet again in the Big Ten title game. The Buckeyes control their fate in the East Division, and Minnesota (7-3, 4-2) still has a chance in the West with road games against Nebraska and Wisconsin remaining. Senior David Cobb carried the Golden Gophers offense with 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his last home game, while Mitch Leidner completed just 7-of-19 passes for 85 yards and two interceptions in the frigid conditions. ' ' '