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I wouldn't say the Patriots' season is imploding before it starts, but the past few days haven't been particularly pleasant ones in Foxboro. For starters, safety Rodney Harrison was suspended four games for a Barroids violation, defensive end Richard Seymour will miss six games while recovering from injury, and Bill Belichick has been exposed as an evil tyrant.

Throw in an abusive former punter and a baby-making quarterback, and it's just like the OC. But different.

Anyway, the latest news is whether wide receiver Randy Moss will suit up for the season opener against the Jets. The internets were abuzz last week that Moss might get cut, but that obviously didn't happen. Still, he's not completely recovered from a hammy injury that kept him out of all four preseason games.

Stopping short of announcing that he'll play in Sunday's season opener against the Jets, Moss said there have been no setbacks in his recovery...

"I think it was the approach to really try to fix and heal my leg up and really not have it lingering throughout the season," he said. "That was the main thing they wanted me to do, that when I do go out there, I'm ready to go."

Given Belichick's wily unpredictability, I guess it wouldn't have been surprising if Moss was released. I mean, Reche Caldwell got the axe, and who saw that coming?

Assuming Moss makes it through the season, there's no reason to think he'll be anywhere near the player he was in Minnesota. There are too many good receivers, and the Patriots aren't a one-trick offense. But you already know that: we've been saying that at FanHouse all off-season.