At least there will be an NFL season. The winter would've been brutal without football or basketball (I don't follow hockey).
Hopefully the NBA can get together, but I've always had much bigger doubts with them than the NFL. Let's face it, no one in the NFL was ever really losing money, so they had a lot to lose. The NBA on the other hand, there are teams losing money. They do have motivation to see this out.
As for the Pats, I'm hopeful. As devastated as I was to see them lose to the Jets last year, we knew all along that they weren't as good as they seemed due to their youth. This year, not even looking at their rookies and any potential FA signings, they have another year under their belts which should do a world of good for guys like Cunningham, Spikes, McCourty, Gronkowski, Hernandez, and (hopefully) Tate.
I also wouldn't overlook the return of Leigh Bodden. Pairing him with McCourty (not to mention Dowling) and they could have one of the better secondaries in the NFL.
Now if they can only get a pass rusher and a deep threat...