Patch Patriots Roundup: Football Is Back And So Is Tom Brady

FOXBOROUGH, MA — It's the beginning of a new NFL season and the Patriots have a lofty task in their opening day matchup.

The Patriots are set to face the defending NFC champion — and current favorite to repeat that feat — Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Welcoming Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown and company to Gillette is a big enough draw for the Pats, but Sunday will also mark the return of Tom Brady to Foxborough.

The team announced that Brady would be honored during halftime of the game, and that the ceremony will be livestreamed.

"Mr. Kraft has been very welcoming to me," Brady said during a podcast appearance this week. "I'm going to have a lot of great friends there. I've had so many people text me and say that they're excited to see me come back, so it'll be a really special reunion."

This doesn't need to be explained to NFL fans, particularly those in New England, but Brady is perhaps the defining football player of the past 23 years.

Brady and the New England Patriots with Head Coach Bill Belichick at the helm were the winners of six Super Bowls from the start of the decade until his departure after the 2019 season. He won another Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2020.

He is the record holder for career wins, Pro Bowl appearances, Super Bowl MVP awards, completions, passing attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He was also named MVP three times.

Some of those records verge on untouchable, garnering him the well-deserved GOAT moniker.

His return to New England will be an opportunity to reconnect the franchise's brightest star with its fanbase.

Here's what else to know heading into Sunday:

Jack Jones Charges Dropped

Patriots cornerback Jack Jones has agreed to a deal in his gun case on Tuesday that will see those charges dropped, according to multiple reports.

The Suffolk County District Attorney agreed to drop the charges against Jones with the second-year cornerback agreeing to a deal that gives him one year of pre-trial probation and 48 hours of community service.

Jones was arrested on weapons charges after two guns were found inside carry-on luggage at a security checkpoint at Logan International Airport on June 16, Massachusetts State Police said at the time.

MassLive.com obtained the court's nolle prosequi, and within it, the Suffolk DA said that Jones had lawfully purchased the guns in Arizona and is in the process of becoming a legal gun owner in Massachusetts.

Though charges against Jones were dropped he could still be subject to a suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy. Regardless, it's unlikely he'll be in action on Sunday after he suffered a hamstring injury during the week of practice.

How To Watch, Listen

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m.

Network: CBS

Streaming: Parmount+ app and FUBO

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Full 2023 Schedule

• Vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 4:25 p.m.
• Vs. Miami, Sept. 17, 8:20 p.m.
• At New York Jets, Sept. 24, 1 p.m.
• At Dallas, Oct. 1, 4:25 p.m.
• Vs. New Orleans, Oct. 8, 1 p.m.
• At Las Vegas, Oct. 15, 4:05 p.m.
• Vs. Buffalo, Oct. 22, 1 p.m.
• At Miami, Oct. 29, 1 p.m.
• Vs. Washington, Nov. 5, 1 p.m.
• Vs. Indianapolis, Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m.
• At New York Giants, Nov. 26, 1 p.m.
• Vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Dec. 3, 1 p.m.
• At Pittsburgh, Dec. 7, 8:15 p.m.
• Vs. Kansas City, Dec. 18, 8:15 p.m.
• At Denver, Dec. 24, 8:15 p.m.
• At Buffalo, Dec. 31, 1 p.m.
• Vs. New York Jets, Jan. 7, Time TBD