It Is What It Is » Sunday NFL Notes: New year, same old Rex Ryan

Chris Price’s Sunday notes have the Jets being a near-lock to open the Pats’ season, but the rings will already be handed out sometime in June. Also some good insight into the Pats’ search for a Vereen replacement, with Pierre Thomas and Ahmad Bradshaw now potentially leading the list. Obviously, they’re not the names that Reggie Bush and CJ Spiller are, but I think both are strong possibilities as the Pats have shown interest in Thomas before and Bradshaw could be a good low-risk signing.