If you're a New England sports fan who can’t evict Joel Ward’s overtime winner from your memory, couldn’t stomach the sight of LeBron James ousting your team en route to his NBA title, or is fed up with the Red Sox’ frustrating slog through the mud of mediocrity — today is your day.

Today is the day the Patriots officially begin work on their 2012 season, and while similar new beginnings bring optimism in 31 other locales across the parity-promoting NFL, few are the places with more reason to be excited by the return of football than the home of the reigning — and reloaded — AFC champions.

“Training camp,” cornerback Devin McCourty tweeted early Wednesday, “is where the road to New Orleans starts.”

It’s an awfully long road from Foxborough to the Big Easy, where Super Bowl XLVII will be staged, but it is one the Patriots and their fans plan on navigating between now and February after seeming to solidify a group that was just a couple critical plays away from lifting the Lombardi Trophy last season.

They’ve added veteran depth at receiver, while retaining Wes Welker and their two big-play tight ends, which could make Tom Brady’s offense even better after the quarterback threw for the second-most yardage in the history of the league last season. They’ve strengthened the defensive front seven by adding pieces through both free agency and the draft. They’ve spent cash and picks on a couple of safeties they hope will stabilize a secondary with some intriguing young pieces at corner.

They’ve established a roster where there is competition at practically every position, which is never a bad thing as a team embarks on the process of readying for a season, and which should make for an interesting -- possibly intense — camp as battles for jobs are waged daily.

As those battles begin, here’s a look at what the Patriots endeavor to determine over the next six weeks:

QUARTERBACK — There’s no question who the starter will be, but with backup Brian Hoyer eligible to become a free-agent at year’s end, Ryan Mallett could get an extended look during the exhibition games as New England tries to figure out how near he is to being its No. 2. The depth at receiver should help this process, as their will likely still be some established pros still in the game by the time Mallett takes the field for preseason action.

RUNNING BACK — Second-year backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are expected to compete for BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ carries (especially after ex-Colt Joseph Addai was released Wednesday), while the versatile Danny Woodhead projects as a multi-purpose threat. It also bears watching to see if the Patriots keep both of the two tradition fullbacks they bring to camp, or stay instead with undrafted rookie runner Brandon Bolden.

TIGHT END — In addition to Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, the Patriots feature three-tight end sets regularly. And after tackle Nate Solder filled the role for much of last year, veterans Daniel Fells and Visanthe Shiancoe could fight for the role in 2012.

RECEIVER — This will be the most-watched contest in camp. Welker and outside threat Brandon Lloyd are roster locks — but, beyond that, Deion Branch, Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater are joined by fellow familiar faces Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth in jousting for jobs. Whether they keep five or six, and how heavily versatility is weighed, Branch, Edelman and Stallworth appear the guys on the bubble.

OFFENSIVE LINE — Matt Light retired. Logan Mankins and Sebastian Vollmer both open camp on the active/physically unable to perform list. It’s unknown when (or if) Brian Waters will show up. And Dan Koppen is coming off an injury that cost him all but a game of 2011. A number of questions face this group, though last year it flexed its depth despite a variety of injuries — and with Nate Solder and Dan Connolly returning as starters, plus Marcus Cannon and Robert Gallery in reserve, coach Dante Scarnecchia’s unit is expected to find a way to keep Brady clean.

DEFENSIVE LINE — Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick made an effective trio last season, but that didn’t stop Bill Belichick from accumulating as much depth as he could. He brought Jonathan Fanene and Trevor Scott aboard in free agency, then spent high picks on Chandler Jones and Jake Bequette. Rehabbing vet Andre Carter could also re-sign at some point, so it’ll be interesting to see how the pieces fit together in the preseason.

LINEBACKER — This group remained mostly intact, with first-rounder Dont’a Hightower and ex-Cowboy Bobby Carpenter joining a unit led by Jerod Mayo. Brandon Spikes’ late-season emergence was encouraging in the middle, as was Rob Ninkovich’s continued under-the-radar playmaking — but it could be intriguing to see how Hightower fits into the mix at either of those positions.

SAFETY — The most inconsistent position on the roster last season begins this new one with roles remaining up for grabs. Ex-Charger Steve Gregory has the inside track on starting next to Patrick Chung, but camp will show where Josh Barrett, James Ihedigbo and Sergio Brown — all 2011 starters for a period — fit into the plans for 2012. Also fascinating will be the early showings of Tavon Wilson, the club’s controversial second-round selection.

CORNERBACK — This might be the most intriguing group of all — especially when it’s working against motivated receivers in practice. McCourty needs to be better than he was last season. Sterling Moore showed promise in big moments. Kyle Arrington led the NFL in interceptions. Ras-I Dowling could be a starter if he’s healthy. Alfonzo Dennard is a tantalizing talent who slipped to the seventh round. And Will Allen has been an NFL starter for 11 years. If things go well, the league’s second-worst pass defense could improve. That would only make an elite team even more dangerous. Make those other sporting frustrations disappear.

And make the road to New Orleans all the more navigable.

Dave D’Onofrio covers the Patriots for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. His e-mail address is ddonof13@gmail.com.