With the NFL now days into its first work stoppage since 1987, franchises are already starting to feel the impact. Teams are talking about laying off personnel, while player movement has ground to a halt. How will the lockout affect the Patriots? Here are five ways:

COMPARED TO MOST OTHER TEAMS, THE PATRIOTS ARE FAIRLY WELL POSITIONED

The lockout rules dictate that coaches and trainers cannot meet with players. As a result, many teams with new GMs and coordinators will struggle because they won’t be allowed to meet with players and get teams ready for new systems. Once football does start again, teams like the Titans (new head coach, major quarterback problems), Broncos (new GM and new coach) and Browns (new coach and young quarterback) will all have to scramble to try to catch up with other, more established teams that already have solid systems that have been in place. (For more on which teams will probably be hurt the most, check out this excellent piece from Gregg Rosenthal, writing for NBCSports.com.)

In New England, there’s the sort of continuity that should assure Patriots fans that there shouldn’t be any problems once football does pick up again. The biggest change anticipated for the 2011 season is the fact that Bill O’Brien was recently named offensive coordinator — but he’s really been the offensive coordinator in waiting for the last two seasons, so it’s not like New England will be hamstrung when it comes to installing a new offensive system. And the members of the Patriots front office have been experts at exploiting the current market for their own gains, especially when it comes to things like free agency. Compared to many, they should be OK. Rosenthal writes of the Patriots: “The weirder the rules are, the more that creative front offices should thrive. The Patriots and other quick-thinking teams can better adapt and sniff out market inefficiencies.”

EXPECT ROBERT KRAFT’S PUBLIC IMAGE TO TAKE A HIT

The Patriots owner wasn’t around for the final few days of negotiations, having previously committed to a business trip to Israel with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. This is not to suggest that Kraft’s overseas activities were not important, but he’s one of the most important men in the NFL. (He was lionized in Fortune last fall, which said that when it comes to league matters, “no one has more clout these days than Bob Kraft.”)

Perception can be everything in the eyes of some, and when someone as powerful in league circles as Kraft isn’t present for one of the most important day of negotiations in NFL history, fair or not, it looks like he’s not taking this aspect of his business as seriously as he should. His absence from the proceedings — and his subsequent statement lashing the union for walking away — drew some heat from fans on Twitter over the weekend. That could ratchet up if the lockout drags on.

GET READY FOR TOM BRADY TO FLEX HIS UNION MUSCLES

Brady isn’t going to get all Norma Rae on everyone, but New England’s quarterback and alternate player rep is taking an active union stand along with his teammates. Don’t expect him to come striding into the courtroom with a stack of legal briefs arguing the case of the players, but he will be forever remembered in the annals of NFL history as the lead plaintiff in the case against the owners — the lawsuit is named “Brady v. NFL.” (However, it’s not like Brady is taking an especially proactive stance because his name is on suit — the plaintiffs are name alphabetically, and Brady comes before Brees, Manning, Mankins and the rest of the players who have lent their names to the action.)

Brady has weighed in on union matters before — he talked last year about one of the major sticking points between owners and player, the possibility of an 18-game schedule.

“I’ve taken part in several postseason runs where we have played 20 games. The long-term impact this game has on our bodies is well documented,” Brady said. “Look no further than the players that came before we did. Each player today has to play three years in order to earn five years of post-career health care. Our union has done a great job of raising the awareness on these issues and will make the right decision for us players, the game and the fans.”

WHILE EVERYONE WANTS THIS TO COME TO AN END, THE PATRIOTS ARE HOPING ONE PARTICULAR PART OF THE NEW CBA IS APPROVED

One of the key elements to the new CBA remains the possibility of a rookie wage scale. If the plan is approved when the new collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon, expect the Patriots to alter their draft approach — with draft picks possibility taking slotted salary positions, New England could be free to make more trades toward the front of the draft without fear of doling out a massive contract to a first-year player. And with three picks in the top 33, the Patriots could be in excellent position to go all in and trade into the top 10 if opportunity to land a player who fits their needs is presented.

THE LONGER THINGS DRAG OUT, SOME VETERANS COULD ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO CALL IT A CAREER

When he announced his retirement last month, veteran offensive lineman Stephen Neal intimated that one of the reasons he decided to walk away was because of the impending lockout: There was no way he’d be allowed to work with team trainers because of the rules. While there’s no one in his exact shoes, there are a handful of veterans (Kevin Faulk? Fred Taylor?) who are likely weighing their options at this point because of the work stoppage.