The Facts: Almost 16 weeks removed from offseason surgery on a nagging high ankle sprain that dramatically altered his first season with the New England Patriots, Sanu's recovery is going better than anticipated. "I would tell you he's probably faster, quicker, leaner and in better shape now than prior to the surgery," said Hilton Alexander, who is in his third offseason working with Sanu in Atlanta. "I would say he's way ahead of any doctor's knowledge or prediction where he would have been at this point. Way ahead of the curve."

Diehards Line:According to Alexander, last week was a significant milestone for Sanu's recovery, as he graduated to work on explosive movements, cutting, hill running and full-speed drills. That is ideal news for the Patriots, who traded a second-round pick for Sanu last October and would like to see that significant investment pay off. After this year's NFL draft, in which the Patriots didn't select a receiver in what analysts touted as one of the deepest and most talented classes in recent memory, HC Bill Belichick noted the second-round chip the club utilized to bring Sanu aboard. So it's a match between a motivated team and a 30-year-old receiver entering his ninth NFL season. "He is training like he has something to prove, like this is Year 1 in this league and he has to make his name known," Alexander said.