The charges stem from an incident just days before the NFL draft, in which Dennard reportedly struck an officer outside a bar in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dennard played corner for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2008-2011 and earned Big Ten First Team honors his senior season. He was selected in the seventh round, 224th overall, by New England in April’s draft.

Read: Pats Release WR Anthony Gonzalez

The 22-year-old Dennard signed a four-year contract with the Patriots last week.

A follow-up court date has yet to be determined.

The 27-year-old former first-round pick signed with the Patriots in March after spending the first five years of his career with the Colts. He’s played in just 11 games in the past three seasons due to injury, though.

Gonzalez said he had hoped to leave those difficulties in his past and start fresh in New England, but that journey did not last long.

He did show promise in his first two seasons with the Colts, when he caught a combined 94 passes for 1,240 yards and seven touchdowns. In the three seasons since, he has just five catches for 67 yards and no touchdowns.

The Patriots currently have receivers Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, Jabar Gaffney, Donte Stallworth, Matthew Slater, Jeremy Ebert, Britt Davis and Matt Roark on the roster. More cuts are expected before the season begins.

BOSTON (CBS) – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is taking his turn at comedy once again, although he isn’t really the one making the jokes this time around.

Brady appears as himself in a new FunnyorDie.com video, where he enters a sporting goods store in California in search of some Under Armour gear. Brady, an Under Armour spokesman, asks for assistance, but ends up getting made fun of for his “Boston accent.”

Brady, a California native, plays it cool for a while, but gets aggravated near the end. There are only so many “wicked” and “chowder” jokes a three-time Super Bowl champ can take.

It’s not the first time the Patriots star has showed his comedic chops. He hosted Saturday Night Live in 2004, after he had won his third Super Bowl in New England. This month, Eli Manning hosted SNL after beating Brady’s Patriots in the Super Bowl, so perhaps this video was the next best thing for Brady.

Brady has also appeared in several humorous Visa commercials and a Snickers commercial around the time of his SNL-hosting days.

Three-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick made the list, under the category “Human Monsters,” while first-year Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was included under the “‘I’ in ‘Team’-ers” category.

Authors Jeff Johnson and David Roth wrote that it was not a difficult decision to include Belichick, but it was indeed hard trying to figure out which category in which he should be included.

“Actually, we could put this scowling, blond-TV-host-wooing, illegallyvideotaping- his-opponents control freak and future Hall of Famer in most categories on this list,” they said.

Belichick’s company in the “Human Monsters” category is former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was included because of  his bounty program that encouraged players to “kill the head.”

Valentine, meanwhile, made the list for stealing the spotlight from his players.

“[Valentine] loves to cast doubts about the talent/physical and emotional preparedness of his own roster/all of Western civilization. With a smirk. To any news outlet large or small,” the story said.

Valentine’s company in the “‘I’ in ‘Team’-ers” category is Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, who was included for his questionable tactics that have resulted in two Final Four trips being vacated.

“What we’re talking about is hubris in something close to its precise classical sense,” the story said. “Coaches, operating in a system that values absolute power, have, perhaps reasonably, come to believe that that power extends just as absolutely outside the locker room. Thus their Olympian puzzlement when upbraided for behavior that would give presidents and billionaires pause. It’s enough to make you pity the poor athletes who work for them.”

The complete list of coaches is below:

Amorous Wonders

Former Arkansas Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino, for his affair with a 25-year-old and motorcycle crash coverup.

Louisville basketball coach and former Celtics coach Rick Petino, for his 15-second affair in a restaurant bathroom.

Human Monsters

Gregg Williams and Bill Belichick

Passive Aggressors

Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, for not doing more than he could have to stop Jerry Sandusky from molesting boys.

Former Knicks coach and former FIU basketball coach Isaiah Thomas, for contributing to a losing culture in New York that included sexual harrassment.

“I” in “Team”-ers

John Calipari and Bobby Valentine

Morally Blind Guys

Saints head coach Sean Payton, for looking the other way when Williams’ bounty system was in place.

Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, for failing to report his players trading memorabilia for tattoos.

Bloviators

Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen, for having no filter and challenging the sexuality of others.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan, for making “a lot of crazy-ass promises his team can’t keep.”

But after his first few days of practice with his new team, Lloyd also knows there is a lot of work left to be done.

“Only time will tell,” Lloyd said when asked how good the Patriots’ air attack can be. “We still have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of practices ahead of us. We still have a lot of work to do before we can start making any predictions like that.”

Lloyd On OTAs, Pats Receivers 

Lloyd, who signed a three-year, $12-million deal with New England over the off-season, joins Tom Brady’s arsenal that includes Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Jabar Gaffney, Chad Ochocinco, Donte Stallworth, Julien Edleman, and Anthony Gonzalez (just to name a few). And those are just the receivers. Brady also has a duo of talented tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez at his disposal.

Read: Ocho Runs Lap As Punishment At Practice

“There are a lot of talented pass catchers, not only that are on this team and played last year but that are new to the team and were successful at previous stops. There’s a lot of talent there,” admitted Lloyd.

It helps that they have Brady throwing to them as well.

“He’s good from far away and he’s good up close,” Lloyd said of his new quarterback. “[He’s] definitely professional; makes the throws, makes the correct reads and delivers the ball.”

But for now, the nine-year veteran just wants to get used to a new team and new surroundings.

“Plugging away,” he said when asked how his first few days with his new team went. “Just getting into our OTAs and understanding the process and the way that the plays are called and run and just the execution of the workouts and the timing and the scheduling. It’s been a change and I’m excited to see how everything works out.”

Lloyd joins the Patriots after catching 70 passes for 996 yards and five touchdowns for the Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams last season. Those numbers are a significant drop from his career-highs in 2010 with Denver (77 receptions, 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns) but the transition to New England will be eased by one man: offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The two have been together on both of Lloyd’s previous teams; as his head coach in Denver and as his coordinator in St. Louis.

“It helps because I’m familiar with the offense. I’m familiar with the nuances of the offense so that definitely helps with the transition coming to this team,” he said. “The way the plays are called is very good for the way that I run routes and catch the ball.”

When asked if he would have difficulty picking up the system, Lloyd gave a simple “no.” One thing that will make it easy is the Patriots and Rams’ terminologyis “pretty much the same,” according to the receiver.

Read: Pats Roster Predictions: Wide Receivers

Over the off-season, Lloyd made it very clear that he wanted to be a member of the Patriots. Through numerous campaigns on TV and online interviews, it was well-known that he wanted to land in New England. The Patriots uniform will be Lloyd’s sixth of his career, with his longest stay a three-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2003.

So why such passion to join the “Patriots Way?”

“The coaching; the way that the message is delivered and the way that the coaches coach and the players all fall in line,” he said. “It’s been a good experience so far.”

More On Patriots:  Patriots.com | NFL.com

And so far so good with that crowded group all fighting for passes from #12.

“Everybody has been communicating and excited,” he said. “However this pans out, however the lineup falls, it’s going to be a talented group of players.”

The 34-year-old receiver had to run a lap during the practice session as punishment for jumping offsides, according to several reports. Additionally, Ochocinco had to ask Deion Branch where to line up on one play.

While it’s only a practice session in May, it’s nevertheless concerning for Ochocinco’s future in New England.

He struggled to fully grasp the playbook last season, often asking Brady where to line up and occasionally running the wrong route. As a result, he ended up on the sidelines more often than not, particularly during the no-huddle offense, and he finished the season with just 15 receptions and one touchdown.

Last season, he had some reasonable excuses, such as joining the team late and the shortened offseason due to the lockout. This year, he’ll really have to prove he’s worthy of Brady’s and Belichick’s trust in order to make it through roster cuts.

Also of note from Thursday’s session, Rob Gronkowski was present but worked out separately, as he recovers from his offseason ankle surgery.

While reports have yet to been confirmed, the story has been picking up steam since it was first reported by the Brazilian magazine Epoca.

It’s just too bad that some places don’t know who Tom Brady is, or at least, what he looks like.

DNA (Daily News & Analysis), a daily English paper out of Mumbai, India featured their own blurb on the story. But instead of a picture of the three time Super Bowl Champ, they have Tom Brady, the English Rugby player, in a split screen shot with Bundchen.

American football must not translate well in India, but as long as Gisele hasn’t made the same mistake, all should be good in the Brady household.

According to Epoca, Bundchen has told several family and close friends of the pregnancy, and is roughly two months along.

Brady and Bundchen have been married since 2009, and had their first son, Benjamin, later that year.

Bundchen’s representatives have denied the reports.

Ochocinco reported on Twitter that someone had smashed out the back window of his rental Cadillac Escalade SUV overnight and took his iPod and wallet.

Someone on Twitter later reported she had found the wallet in a parking lot in Providence.

Ochocinco’s credit cards and license were still in it, but his Starbucks card was missing.

“Not just any Starbucks card, but a gold Starbucks card,” Ochocinco ranted in a video he posted to Twitter that was aimed at the thieves. “What did I do? You took my iPod, you took my wallet…”

Starbucks caught wind of the stolen gold card and reached out to Ochocinco on Twitter, telling him they will send him a new one in the mail.

Watch: Ochocinco Rants About Burglary (viewer discretion)

Ochocinco vowed to reward the person who found his wallet.

Brady’s father, Tom Brady Sr., spoke to Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver, and he said that given the revelations about concussions and brain injuries suffered in football, he’s not sure he would have allowed his son to play football had he been equipped with that knowledge during the quarterback’s childhood.

“No, not without hesitation. I would be very hesitant to let him play,” Brady Sr. told Silver. ”This head thing is frightening for little kids. There’s the physical part of it and the mental part – it’s becoming very clear there are very serious long-term ramifications.”

Brady Sr. told Silver that he supports Kurt Warner for saying he wouldn’t let his own son play football, and that those criticize Warner “don’t take their own parenting responsibility very seriously, or they don’t value their children’s health as much as they should.”

Still, despite his hesitancy, the elder Brady said he would be able to be convinced to allow his son to play.

“If he were 14 now, and he really wanted to play, in all likelihood I would let him,” he told Silver. “But it would not be an easy decision, at all.”

Brady Sr. said he kept his son active with baseball, soccer and basketball, until he allowed him to play football at age 14. In fact, the idea of professional football really never crossed either Brady’s mind back at the start of his football career.

“Even getting out of high school, we thought his career would be in baseball,” Brady Sr. said. “Eventually, football just kind of became his sport of choice.”

And the football world — particularly those members in New England — will forever be thankful.

Welker said his peace last week, and now owner Robert Kraft got his chance with NFL Network.

“We’d like to see him be a Patriot for life, but it takes two sides,” Kraft told Kim Jones on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Those two sides currently aren’t seeing eye-to-eye when it comes to agreeing on a long-term contract, with Welker saying last week that negotiations have “gotten worse.” Though he later backed off on those comments, his revelation that the two-year, $16 million deal that was originally offered was now pulled off the table was a good indication that the player and the team are miles apart in negotiations.

As it is now though, Welker has signed his franchise tender, meaning he’ll play for the Patriots this season. That’s enough to make Kraft happy — for now.

“We’re just happy he’s back in the system,” Kraft told NFL Network. “He’s a wonderful young man, and a special guy. I think both sides would like to do a deal, but it requires intelligence and putting our team first.”

Kraft explained that despite all of the great things Welker’s done on the field, it’s not as simple as throwing briefcases full of cash at the receiver.

“We’re always trying to do whatever we can do to put our team in the best position to win,” Kraft said. “That means balancing a lot of things, understanding what the cap is, what the cap growth is, how things fit in the system and we try to have values for every position and every player.”

Yet, as NFL rules evolved over the past decade and made it harder and harder for teams to win with defense, Belichick has spent a bit more time focused on offense. And all he’s doing is changing the way the entire league plays the game.

CBSSports.com’s Pat Kirwan detailed the emerging need for the “big nickel” defense, a system that employs an extra safety playing in the place of a linebacker. The defense is becoming a near-necessity, and that’s thanks to the two-headed monster Belichick has created at tight end.

READ: Patriots Roster Predictions — Wide Receivers

With Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez combining for more than 2,200 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns last season, it became very clear that stopping the Patriots’ offense can occasionally be completely impossible. A defense could choose to put two defenders on each tight end, sure, but that would have left slippery wideout Wes Welker in a one-on-one situation elsewhere. That’s where the Big Nickel comes into play.

“The problem with not having a Big Nickel package is it can reduce the base defense to zone coverage calls, and the quarterback knows right away that there are a limited number of ways a team can play an offense like New England or San Francisco,” one coach told Kirwan.

The bad news for the Patriots is that the Jets are onto them, as Kirwan noted that the Jets signed LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell in addition to drafting a pair of defensive backs who could help fill the extra safety spot in the Big Nickel defense. The good news, though, is that more teams seem to be trying to imitate the Patriots than there are teams trying to stop them. Kirwan noted that the Colts, Chargers, Dolphins and Bengals all added tight ends, despite already having an established player at the position.

But the Patriots have the advantage against all imitators, because they not only have the original duo that’s inspired the trend, but they also have Tom Brady. And in addition to Welker, they also now have Brandon Lloyd (averaged 1,207 yards the past two seasons), Jabar Gaffney (947 yards last season) and Josh McDaniels playing with the controls (look to the 2007 season to see what he can do with elite talent).

Defense, however, remains equally important, even if opponents won’t have a duo comparable to Gronkowski and Hernandez. Last year, the Patriots rode their offense all the way to the Super Bowl, but they ultimately fell just a few plays short of winning it all. But they addressed their defensive needs by using their first six picks of April’s draft on defensive players.

With a few offseason additions on offense, and Belichick’s continuing creativity, there’s sufficient reason to believe they’ll be in the same position to win it all next February.

Read: Dan Roche’s Sports Blog

And, he should be. After all, he recently signed his franchise tender contract that will pay him $9.5 million this upcoming season to play for the Patriots.

“I’m excited to be back. I’m excited to be a Patriot. I’m excited to be out there on the field coming up with OTA’s and minicamps with my teammates. I’m looking forward to the 2012 season and us going out there and getting better,” said Welker as he took time out during his camp.

Earlier in the week Welker told the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian that his talks on an extension with the team had actually gotten worse, but on Saturday he backed off those comments.

“You know, that was probably a bad choice of words saying they’ve gotten worse,” said Welker. “They’ve pretty much stayed the same. I’m franchised for the year and I’m completely happy with that and completely OK with it and I look forward to contributing to the team in 2012.”

Welker also said that he’s not frustrated and happy to be making five times what he made last season.

The four time Pro Bowl wideout led the NFL with 122 receptions and was second with 1,569 yards receiving. The 31-year-old also had a career-high 9 touchdown receptions.

Follow WBZ-TV’s Dan Roche on Twitter @RochieWBZ

According to The Boston Globe’s Shalise Manza Young, free-agent tight end Dallas Clark visited the Patriots on Tuesday.

As much as the Patriots may lack a need for another tight end, it’s easy to see why Belichick would at least be interested. In seven games against the Patriots, Clark has 16 catches for 271 yards, impressive numbers considering how much focus Belichick’s defenses put on shutting down Clark.

Clark, however, has played in just 17 games in the past two seasons due to injuries.

Welker signed his $9.5 million franchise tag earlier this week, but has since said that contract extension talks have “gotten worse” with the Pats. The two-year, $16 million guaranteed offer from the Patriots that was offered last year has gone down, and Wes is a little upset with it.

How should the Patriots, who have had their battles with players in the past over contract extensions, handle the situation with Welker so things don’t get worse?

“It looks like the deal has kind of gone backwards, and that Wes Welker — hash-tag ‘leapoffaith’ — may have leapt into a volcano,” said Gresh. ”It’s going to come down to what everyone thinks the value of the player is… If I were running the organization (I’d say) ’Wes here is your franchise tag, one-year for $9.5 million, thanks for doing business.’ That would have been it.”

Felger & Mazz: Welker’s Future In New England

“If I had to go to extend to a third year, I could live with it but I would be uncomfortable in that final year,” added Gresh.

“Now the waters are muddied; the waters are clouded, everything is fractured. I would have taken it on a year-to-year basis with Welker,” said Gresh. “If I was running the organization, I would have been ripped for that, but I think that is the best to do business and you wouldn’t have run into this muck.”

Zolak, on the other hand, doesn’t think replacing Welker will be all that easy, and if these talks get ugly it may upset more than just the two sides involved in the negotiations.

“He’s Brady’s guy… not that that is going to matter in negotiations,” added Zolak. “For everybody that thinks, ‘take the money if you don’t like it Wes, hit the bricks after next year; you’re a slot receiver,’ good luck finding a slot receiver that can do that. You think Edeleman can do that for 16 games? You think Anthony Gonzalez can do it. It’s not like they have a definitive answer sitting there waiting to go.”

Read: Brady Ranked 5th Best QB Of All-Time 

“The number you have to start at is $9.5 (million)… and the key word starts with a ‘G’; guaranteed,” said Zolak.

How can these talks effect younger players on the Patriots roster who are up for a new contract soon, like tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez?

“Now, I think you’re running the risk of effecting the guys in the room,” said Gresh. “This guy has been vastly underpaid for his production. I think he’s viewed as one of the good guys. He’s viewed as one of the guys that works hard, the definition of ‘The Patriots’ Way’.”

“I think the Patriots, the biggest risk they run — forget about pissing Welker off — what message are they sending to a younger football team? Sebastian Volmer is going to be coming up, Rob Gronkowski is going to be coming up, Aaron Hernandez. The thing that scares me the most about the way they’re handling things with Welker is… guys talk; you catch wind of what’s going on. When you’re in that room and you follow this stuff, especially if you’re heading into that contract year, is it going to effect the mindset heading in to those negotiations with those individual players?”

How bad have the negotiations between the Pats and Welker gotten? How will Welker’s negotiations compare to other Patriot free agents?

Read: Wes Welker Says Long-Term Contract Talks With Patriots Have ‘Gotten Worse’

Why would the Patriots lessen the original offer to Welker? Are the Patriots leveraging Welker?

How much would the Pats offense change without Welker in it?

Brady was named the fifth-best quarterback of all time by CBSSports.com this week, behind only Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham, Joe Montana and John Elway (in that order).

“Brady could be — should be — an MVP finalist every year because he carries the New England Patriots, a club that hasn’t ever surrounded him with all-star casts,” Clark Judge wrote. “I mean, tell me how many future Hall of Famers you see there now? Uh-huh, which is pretty much standard operating procedure. The team that last year had the 31st-ranked defense and 31st-ranked pass defense still made it to another Super Bowl, and we all know the reason. You’re looking at him.”

Brady is fresh off a career-high 5,235 yards last season, when he also threw 39 touchdowns, which was his second-most in a single season. Of course, he and the Patriots came up short in the Super Bowl, but the overall success of the Patriots since Brady became the team’s starter is part of what makes Brady so great.

“Football is a team game, but I don’t know how many individuals determine the success of their franchises as significantly as Brady does,” Judge wrote. “When he stepped into the lineup in 2001, the Patriots were 1-2. And they were 5-11 the year before. Since that time, they’re 124-35 with Brady and won the AFC East all but once in the last nine years — or the one season Brady bowed out after the season opener.”

The only other active quarterback listed in the top 10 was Peyton Manning at No. 9.

“This is one thing I don’t like: 9-10. That’s [Manning's] playoff record, and it includes a 1-1 performance in Super Bowls,” Judge wrote. “Sorry, but you’re not a Top-Five quarterback unless you step it up in big games, and Manning has a checkered record in that department.”

So it’s easy to understand why they wanted to bring in Spencer Larsen. Listed as a fullback, Larsen’s duties on the field have gone much further than just one position.

Back in 2008, an injury-plagued Denver Broncos team needed some help at linebacker as they faced off against the Atlanta Falcons. Larsen not only started the game at fullback, he filled in at linebacker as well, becoming the first player to start on both sides of the field since 2003. To add a cherry on top, Larsen also played special teams that afternoon.

“It was a fun time in my career,” Larsen recalled at Gillette Stadium on Thursday. “I’d been playing fullback for a few weeks, and we ran into some injury problems and I needed to play linebacker… It was just one of those exciting days. I didn’t play a whole lot on offense that day. As a fullback you kind of come in and out, so it wasn’t 100-percent taxing. It was a good day’s work.”

Larsen On Role With Pats: 

Now a member of the Patriots, Larsen’s versatility must have head coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels salivating. But while he is focused on one role for now, fullback, Larsen knows he may be called to wear a few different hats once again now that he’s in New England.

“I came over to play fullback and we’ll see. I’m going to do my best there and try to get a spot on the team and see where I can help,” Larsen said.

Although the Patriots added some more linebacker depth in the draft, after seeing receiver Julian Edelman play some safety last season, Larsen isn’t putting his linebacker days behind him just yet.

“You never know. You just want to do whatever I can to help the team and wherever that is — fullback, special teams, and just try to fill needs.”

Read: Welker Says Contract Talks Have ‘Gotten Worse’

While his versatility will certainly help when it comes to his new head coach, Larsen said he still has plenty to prove with a new team.

“The bottom line is it’s a new year and I have to prove that I can play and help in any way I can,” he said.

Coming to New England was very enticing for Larsen, who has never been on a winning team in his four-year NFL career. He also has a few connections to the team, playing under McDaniels in Denver from 2009-10.

Larsen has 17 career carries in 27 games, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. But even though he’s already played in a McDaniels’ offense, he still is not sure what to expect as a fullback, especially since the Patriots also signed Tony Fiammetta.

“Coach McDaniels and being with him in Denver, he just likes to have different things that he can do week-to-week, so who knows?” Larsen said of his potential role with the team. “I don’t think any of us know right now what’s going to happen to that position, I think you just need to work and get better and let that thing happen naturally.”

Gallery: Patriots Free Agent Signings

“I love playing for him and I loved all the opportunity that he provided for me,” the 28-year-old said of McDaniels. “I’m excited to be back with him.”

An Arizona alum, Larsen also spent time with Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in college, who was just a freshman at the time.

“I joke with him; he was a freshman when I was a senior and it was nice to beat him up in college — if you guys believe that,” joked Larsen. “It’s just been good seeing him and seeing the success he’s had and getting to talk with him again.”

Even though Gronk was just a freshman when he was there, Larsen still knew the kid was destined for great things.

“Just incredible. You’ve never seen a guy like that; Big, strong. I swear he looks like he does right now as a freshman coming out of high school,” recalled Larsen. “I couldn’t imagine what he did in high school. He was a good player … He’s one of those guys that comes around that you just feel like man, he’s going to be special. So far he’s proved that.”

“There have been talks, but nothing that’s brightened anything at all. It’s actually gotten worse,” Welker told the Herald’s Karen Guregian.

Welker told the Herald that negotiations have gotten so bad that the Patriots have taken their original offer of two years with $16 million in guaranteed money off the table.

Despite his desire to get a long-term deal with more security than his current one-year, $9.5 million contract will give him, the NFL’s leader in receptions since 2007 still does not feel entitled to a huge payday.

“If they see me out there at OTAs and minicamps and everything else, and I’m still out there winning and doing what I need to do to help the team win, you know what? The ball’s in their court to make something happen,” Welker told Guregian. “That’s kind of my mind-set — to go out and show them I deserve it.”

While Welker’s position is admirable, a few reps at practice likely won’t change anyone’s mind in New England, because really, he’s already done plenty to prove he’s earned it. He’s played in 77 of a possible 80 regular-season games, averaging 111 receptions, 1,221 yards and six touchdowns per season. In seven playoff games, he’s caught 53 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns. He also made a near-miraculous recovery from torn knee ligaments at the end of the 2009 season to be back in time for Week 1 of 2010.

Despite the lack of progress in negotiations, Welker is someone who just can’t be kept away from the field. So he signed his franchise tender with the hope the team would reward him for his good faith.

If history is any guide, Welker and the Patriots will eventually reach an agreement. As cold as the organization can be when it comes to negotiations, it has always taken care of the most valuable players. Vince Wilfork held out in 2009 and eventually became the second-highest paid defensive tackle in the league. Last season, after Logan Mankins’ situation appeared to be beyond repair, he signed a deal that made him the highest-paid guard in the NFL.

The difference in those cases was that Wilfork was 27 and Mankins was 29. Yet while Welker may not become one of the highest-paid receivers at his age, it’s hard to imagine the Patriots letting this negotiation carry over into the regular season.

Forbes published its list of highest-paid coaches in sports, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick sits atop the list.

With a salary of $7.5 million annually, Belichick tops all those who roam the sidelines. In 12 seasons in New England, Belichick has coached the Patriots to 139 wins in 192 regular season games, with 16-6 record in the playoffs.

But Belichick isn’t the only coach in town enjoying one of the top paydays in sports. Celtics head coach Doc Rivers came in third, making $7 million annually.

The only other non-NFL coach to make the list was San Antonio’s Greg Popovich, who has four titles with the Spurs. His $6 million salary is good for sixth on the list.

Read: Ocho, Branch On Roster Bubble

Between Belichick and Rivers sits Mike Shanahan, also making $7 million per season.  The other NFL coaches making that much are Jeff Fisher (4th), entering his first season with the St. Louis Rams, and Seattle’s Pete Carroll (5th). Neither has won a championship.

Rounding out the Top 10 is Chicago Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith (7th with a $6 million salary), Arizona’s Ken Wisenhunt (8th at $5.75 million), Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (also $5.75 million) and the Eagles’ Andy Reid (10th at $5.5 million).

Yet, now that Welker has officially signed on the dotted line, it’s a good time to take a comprehensive look at the depth chart and try to guess which wide receivers will still be on the roster for Week 1.

Roster Locks

Wes Welker
No surprise here,  as Welker, fresh off a 1,569-yard season, is quite obviously the favorite target of Tom Brady. He’s 31 and should have another two or three seasons as a top producer in the NFL (he’s finished first or second in receptions in four of his five seasons in New England), so don’t be surprised to see the Patriots work out a three- or four-year deal before the season begins, much like they did for Vince Wilfork in 2009.

Brandon Lloyd
He was arguably the Patriots’ biggest free-agent acquisition, and there’s no doubt he’ll play an important role in the Patriots’ offense. Ideally, he’ll develop into a true No. 1 receiver for New England, and his track record with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels offers positive signs for that to happen. As Patriots reporter Jeff Howe noted on Wednesday,  Lloyd’s averaged 4.8 receptions, 78.1 yards and 0.56 touchdowns per game in the 25 games he’s played within McDaniels’ system. Add Brady into that equation, and it’s safe to expect big things from Lloyd.

Matthew Slater
Technically a wide receiver by trade, Slater is guaranteed to make the roster for his contributions on special teams. He was a Pro Bowler and team captain last year and is a valuable member of the team, even if it’s not on offense.

Jabar Gaffney
Normally, a free-agent addition of a 31-year-old wide receiver wouldn’t mean a guaranteed roster spot for the signee. However, consider two very important factors. First, Gaffney is fresh off a 68-catch, 947-yard, 5-touchdown season in Washington, where the quarterbacks throwing to him were Rex Grossman and John Beck. That’s so remarkably impressive that I don’t have the time or space to fully get into it. Just know that it’s very nearly impossible. Second, note how quickly the Pats pounced on Gaffney once he became available. He was released on May 1, and he was reportedly a Patriot on May 2. He’s a guy they wanted badly, partly for his five touchdowns with the Pats in 2007 and partly for his subsequent success under McDaniels in Denver. He’ll be on this team, and together with Welker and Lloyd will create a fearsome and occasionally uncoverable trio for opposing defenses.

On The Bubble

Deion Branch
It’s sad to say for sentimental Patriots fans, but Deion Branch is going to have to earn his spot on the team in training camp. That’s no knock on Branch — he impressed last year with 702 yards and five touchdowns on 51 receptions — but the cruel reality of the NFL is that somebody who’s younger and faster than you will always be poised to steal your job. Branch is loved by Brady and Belichick, and he probably has a good chance to make the team as a fourth or fifth option, but he turns 33 in July and hasn’t played in 16 games in one season since 2005.

(If you are indeed sentimental, you shouldn’t feel too badly. He left in ’06 because he wanted a big pay day. He’s truly a great guy, and he wasn’t wrong for seeking big money, but the four-plus years in Seattle should help facilitate this breakup, whether it comes this summer or next.)

Chad Ochocinco
A restructured contract only guaranteed Ochocinco that he wouldn’t be cut prior to training camp. There’s still no reason to believe Belichick will keep him on the roster through training camp. Sure, Ochocinco’s said all the right things about having a big season, and he’s surely motivated, but he said the same things last year and had just as much motivation. The fact is that he never learned the plays and was unable to participate in the no-huddle offense, which just so happened to be the times when Brady and the Patriots were most effective. If he can show up to camp and prove he knows where to be and what to do at all times, he’ll be a contributor this season. If he needs Brady to run out and tell him where to go, he’ll be available to the highest bidder by mid-August.

Julian Edelman
The case for Edelman is a tricky one. He earned about 3 million brownie points with Belichick for being willing and able to step in on defense last season, and with Kevin Faulk a longshot to make the team, Edelman looks to be the most capable punt returner for 2012. He returned 28 punts last year, 20 more than anyone else, averaging 10.6 yards per return, and he had the highest kick return average (23.7 yards) among all Patriots with multiple kickoff returns. Despite that, he has just 11 catches in the past two seasons combined, as his pleasant surprise of a rookie season in 2009 is a distant memory. He’s inexpensive, and he knows how to contribute, but ultimately, he’s a guy who can be replaced.

Cut/Practice Squad

Jeremy Ebert
Sorry, kid, but without some injuries to some proven guys at the position, and with Slater and Edelman taking up spots on special teams, you’re looking like the odd man out. As he is a seventh-round draft pick from Northwestern, though, you have to like his chances to end up on the practice squad. Belichick drafted him for a reason and wouldn’t want to immediately say goodbye.

Donte Stallworth
Another result of Belichick shouting “Let’s get the band back together!” in a meeting room last month, Stallworth has a lot to prove. He had just 22 receptions for 309 yards and two touchdowns last season, but seriously, don’t discount the Grossman/Beck factor there. Regardless, it wasn’t a tremendous bounceback year for Stallworth after a two-catch season in 2010. If I had to guess without yet seeing a single snap, I’d say there’s a much greater chance Stallworth is cut than there is for him making the team.

Anthony Gonzalez
The Gonzalez signing was made long ago, before Stallworth, Gaffney and Lloyd became Patriots. Gonzalez was a no-risk acquisition, as he’s caught just five passes since 2009 due to injuries. He was a good, young receiver in 2007 and ’08, but with such competition on the roster, the Patriots don’t have to wait to see if Gonzalez is back to his old self. They’ll be just fine without him.

Britt Davis
Not much to say here, as he was a practice squad member last year and should be again.

Matt Roark
Much like Ebert, Roark would probably have a chance to make an NFL roster, just not this one.

Read more from Michael by clicking here, or follow him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.

Seau, 43, committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest at his Oceanside home on May 2.

Police told the North County Times that the burglar forced entry to the home’s garage through a doggy door.

The home was robbed at around 2 p.m. on May 7, five days after Seau’s death. The burglar stole a $500 bicycle that belonged to Seau’s friend.

Police said the burglar did not enter any other part of the home and stole nothing else.

“I just wanting to have an opportunity to put a championship at the end of my name,” Stallworth said from Gillette Stadium on Tuesday. “I think we’re one of many teams that has an opportunity to do that this year.”

Stallworth was with the 2007 Patriots team that went 18-0, only to fall to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

Five years later, a lot has changed for the receiver. He had stops in Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, but it’s what happened between that has really changed the 31-year-old. In 2009, Stallworth was convicted of DUI manslaughter, which led to a season-long suspension and jail time.

Stallworth On Return To Pats: 

But all of that is in the past for the nine-year veteran.

“I’m a lot more mature now than I was then,” said Stallworth. “I feel like I’m playing better. I’m in a better place mentally, physically and I just felt like at that time I was still trying to mature and grow into a professional athlete.”

“I think, back then, I was really more relying on my talent. Now that I’m going into my tenth year, I think I run better routes now and understand different coverages and what teams are trying to do,” he said. “That’s a big thing because you always hear people say this game is 90-percent mental and 10-percent physical.”

Read: Welker Signs Franchise Tender

Stallworth comes in to a very crowded field of receivers on the Patriots, including Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Anthony Gonzalez, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, and Julian Edelman, just to name a few.

“It’s going to be good competition; we’re all friends, we all have known each other for a while and respected each other’s games, so we’re going to make each other better,” said Stallworth. “We’ve been doing that now, with the workouts and really having fun, and the real fun gets to start on Monday when we start practicing. Who knows how it will play out, but I’m feeling good; I’m feeling healthy and ready to go.”

Welker has signed his franchise tender, thereby officially placing him on the Patriots 2012 roster.

“I signed my tender today. I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results,” the receiver tweeted shortly after the news broke.

Welker is not the only Patriot excited. Fellow receiver Julian Edelman and corner Devin McCourty, who were at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, took some time to talk about #83 re-joining the Pats.

“I think it’s a real positive thing. He’s one of our better players on our team, and he’s only going to make us better. That’s the first time I’ve heard it, and I think that’s great,” said Edelman. “It says that he’s a great teammate; he wants to get back with the team. I’m sure he’s excited to get back and train with us. I’m excited to have him back to learn from him and work with him. It’s great to have him back.”

Even though McCourty’s job just got a little tougher when practice begins, he’s happy to have the receiver back as well.

“All those guys give us great work; Julien, Wes, all the receivers. He’s a veteran guy on the team, so having him there will be great,” said McCourty.

“It shows that he cares about being here,” added McCourty. “I can’t wait to see him back in the locker room.”

The Patriots used their franchise tag on Welker this offseason, ensuring him of a one-year deal worth roughly $9.5 million. The signing of the tender does not eliminate the possibility that Welker and the Patriots still work out a long-term deal.

Welker, who turned 31 earlier this month, led the Patriots with 122 receptions and 1,569 yards in 2012.

The Boston Globe’s Greg Bedard was first to report the news.

Fortunately, for now, the thought of retiring is still far from the mind of Brady.

“My wife [Gisele Bundchen] said to me, ‘When I met you [in 2006], you said you wanted to play 10 more years. How come that number never goes down?’” Brady told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. “It’s that I love the game. I love the game. I’m going to play until they tell me they don’t want me anymore.”

That time definitely is not now, not after Brady threw for a career-high 5,235 yards to go with 39 touchdowns last season. However, Matt Light’s retirement last week meant that Brady is the only player currently on the roster who won all three of the Patriots’ Super Bowls. (Kevin Faulk is a free agent but does plan to try to make the team in training camp.) King noted that Brady’s first career start was in September 2001, and he is now the only remaining active member of either team’s roster to have played in that game.

Brady, who will be 35 by the time the 2012 season begins, has stated publicly several times over the past few seasons that he plans to play 10 more years. He currently ranks fifth all time in touchdown passes (300),  14th in passing yards (39,979), sixth in game-winning drives (35) and 10th in comebacks (25).

Despite the long resume, Brady said he still doesn’t take his roster spot for granted.

“I just met with coach [Bill] Belichick,” Brady told King. “I still feel like I’m in my first year trying to prove myself. There’s no entitlement around coach Belichick. I’ve got to be the best guy for him to keep playing me. When I’m not, someone else will play.”

Steven Belichick is the team’s newest coaching assistant in New England, the team announced Thursday afternoon.

The 24-year-old played lacrosse at Rutgers before walking on to the football team as a long snapper in 2011, and he’s spent the past few years on the Patriots’ sideline, taking notes from his father.

The team also announced that Matt Patricia will officially become the defensive coordinator this season. Patricia has been with the team since 2004, most recently as safeties coach last year.

The rest of the coaching staff rounds out with Josh Boyer as cornerbacks coach, Brian Flores as safeties coach, Patrick Graham as defensive line coach, Pepper Johnson as linebackers coach and George Godsey as tight ends coach.

The New York media had a chance to get reacquainted with Jets players on Thursday, and Darrelle Revis wasn’t shy.

The cornerback who could have another holdout session on his horizon was asked about teammate Antonio Cromartie calling Tom Brady an “a–hole.” Revis said it is appropriate at times.

“Sometimes he [does act like that] on the field,” Revis said, according to the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta.

(Some Patriots fans may argue that he acts like that on the red carpet, but that’s neither here nor there.)

Revis also told reporters he had no regrets for calling Patriots coach Bill Belichick a “jerk” on ESPN earlier this year, saying Belichick’s comments on the Jets can be disrespectful.

“When you make it personal, when you say things that are personal, why go there?” Revis said of reported derogatory comments Belichick made on the sideline after a Patriots win. “When you are talking about having a better defense, OK. But when you say they can suck … or whatever. It’s a sport. Hey, we shook your hands after the game. Then it gets too personal, without anything said from our side. They can feel they are better than us, just don’t get personal.”

That’s the same Bill Belichick who punished Wes Welker in a playoff game for making jokes at Jets coach Rex Ryan’s expense.

Last year, the Jets finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs, while the Patriots went 13-3 and made it to the Super Bowl. It’s clear, through one day of media availability, that the Jets’ strategy for 2012 will involve a heavy dose of trash talk.

According to Entertainment Weekly, The Patriots’ young tight end will star in an upcoming reality dating show called The Choice, a show that’s a mix between standard dating shows and the popular singing competition The Voice.

Gronkowski — along with Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, Jersey Shore stars Pauly D and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, and reality relative Rob Kardashian, among others — will be featured on the show, which will give contestants the chance to win a date with the celebrities.

We don’t know what qualities Mr. Gronkowski will be looking for in a woman, but she’ll probably have to be a good dancer, she’ll have to enjoy a good fiesta, and she’ll have to be OK with the occasional spike. Oh, and she also can’t be a jealous person if Rob decides to hang out with some of his other friends.

The show will be another addition to what’s already been a busy offseason for Gronkowski. Following his Super Bowl party with LMFAO, he underwent surgery on his ankle, campaigned to be on the Madden cover, spoke freely about Tim Tebow, invaded the ESPN campus for a day, posed for a picture with Kobe Bryant and tried out a backup career plan in case football doesn’t work out.

BOSTON (CBS) – New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman lent a helping hand in Brighton on Tuesday afternoon.

Both were on hand to help Echostor Technologies CEO John Dooley deliver a $100,000 donation to the Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton to help establish the hospital’s new technology center.

“We’re here to support the Franciscan Hospital; to appreciate the teachers that are here helping these kids,” said Edelman. “It’s definitely for a great cause, and we’re glad we can come out here and give someone a smile on their face.”

“It definitely puts a lot of things in perspective,” added Edelman. “When you think you’re having  a hard day getting yelled at by a coach, you come out here and see these people that are going through a lot. To watch them smile and have a little bit of joy, it really puts life in perspective and it makes you feel good.”

Gronk And Edelman On Giving Back: 

“It’s a great time doing that, giving back to them, seeing smiles, everyone having a great time,” said Gronkowski.

For Gronk, he fulfilled a life-long dream.

“I’ve always wanted to hold up a big check,” he said with a smile. “I always see them in movies and stuff, golf tournaments… I finally got to do it.”

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, both Gronkowski and Edelman also hand-delivered a rose to each of the teachers in the Hospital’s Kennedy Day School.

Brady showed off his new ‘do on Monday night at The Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. His wife, Gisele Bundchen accompanied, him, wearing a much less-flashy hairstyle.

Tom Brady (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Brady, 34, has seen his hairstyle as the topic of conversation several times over the past few years. He grew a moptop look a few years back, a style that earned him a mention from a rapping Justin Bieber.

GALLERY: The Evolution Of Tom Brady’s Hair

That shaggy look developed into a full-on mane in the 2010 season. It became news, then, when Brady chopped it off. It even was deemed worthy of its own obituary on The Boston Globe’s website.

“Tom Brady’s long hair passed away on Monday after brief but controversial life widely chronicled in gossip columns and the sports press. It was 2 years old,” the obituary read.

Fortunately for those gossip columns, there’s a new fauxhawk to discuss.

GALLERY: Tom Brady Through The Years

The hairdo is Brady’s second time in the style section this week, as he and Wes Welker posed together for a picture at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Brady and Bundchen were among the many stars at Monday’s event. The list included Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Rihanna, Jessica Biel, Heidi Klum, Scarlett Johansson, Cameron Diaz, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. Brady was not the lone quarterback in attendance, too, as newest Jets backup QB Tim Tebow donned a tuxedo for the event.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who earlier spoke at Light’s retirement ceremony in Foxborough, was also at the event Monday night.

A fan asked Welker to comment on his buddy’s new hairdo via Twitter.

“He’s just a big fan of Adam Lambert!” Welker tweeted.

Wiggy cites some changes that have already taken place and says “I don’t think they have to change the game drastically.”

Wiggy discussed the lawsuit brought by himself and other former players. Why are players suing the league?

“They didn’t do a good job of letting us know as far as concussions and what they would lead to…I didn’t know about the long-term effects.”

Wiggy told a story about when he was injured in training camp and the pressure he felt to play, citing an increase in guaranteed contracts as one change that could protect the players more.

How much of the concussion risk is on the players? Does/should the NFL make players aware of the dangers of concussions? And is the game safe?

Light, 33, told ESPN’s Mike Reiss that he’s battled Crohn’s disease for a decade, and that he suffered serious complications in 2004, causing him to drop from 315 pounds to 260 pounds.

Light told Reiss that he spent 30 days in the hospital that summer, missing the Patriots’ ring ceremony for winning the Super Bowl earlier that year. Light underwent surgery to have 13 inches of his intestine removed, but his recovery hit several roadblocks. His condition became life-threatening.

Amazingly, Light was able not only to recover but also continue playing for nearly a full decade after the surgery. He’d go on to win a Super Bowl the following season and play in two more.

“Even though it was horrible and it was dark and I’ve had a lot of things since that surgery — Crohn’s doesn’t go away when they cut out your intestine, it stays and it’s definitely a big part of my life, something I deal with on a daily basis — it definitely puts things in perspective,” Light told Reiss.

“When I see myself on something, the first thing that comes to mind is awkward; extremely awkward,” he joked with WBZ-TV’s Dan Roche from Gillette Stadium on Monday.

Light officially announced his retirement from football after 11 season, all with the New England Patriots. To thank him for all that he’s done — five trips to the Super Bowl, three championships and four Pro Bowls – one of the many parting gifts the Patriots had for Light was an illustrated picture of himself in three football poses.

“They pulled out all the stops,” Light said, admiring the work of art. “It makes me look very agile; cat-like reflexes and the speed of a mongoose.”

Light Admires A Picture Of Himself, Sort Of… 

Light announced his retirement in front of family, friends, teammates and fans at the Hall at Patriot Place in Foxboro on Monday. While he certainly never turns down the opportunity to give a good sound bite, he is not one to take the spotlight. That all starts with learning the Patriot Way, something Light is very familiar with.

Gallery:  Matt Light: A Lifelong Patriot

“It’s always been awkward to hear people speak about me or things that I’ve been a part of, mainly because this organization has always stood for a team and it’s never been about one person.  Even though this wasn’t about me as far as the game goes, it is kind of difficult when you have that much attention,” Light said. “I think just being able to express in my own words what this time has meant for me, that’s what this day was about. To thank the people that have been so instrumental in my career and really my life. As an adult I’ve spent most of my time here in New England; this has been my home. For my kids and my wife, friends and family that were able to come out and take part of this, this day was for them.  To tell them how much I appreciate it.”

There were a lot of questions (and some criticism) surrounding the Patriots when they selected Light in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, but he wouldn’t change anything about his career.

“I couldn’t imagine being at a better place. It’s so community oriented here,” he said of New England. “I see it in the kids leagues, the kid soccer leagues, the softball and all the things my kids are involved with. People take a real pride in family, doing things together; the real sense of community that you have here. It extends all the way through to professional sports.  For everyone that stood behind me and just really helped me out along the way; helping me with the organization and giving me the time. I hope they know how much it’s meant to me and to my family.”

Read: Kraft, Belichick Honor Light At Retirement

When asked about his teammates, the interview was interrupted briefly when Patriots center Dan Koppen, who has share the offensive line with Light for nine years, broke in to give Light a big hug. Their days of keeping defensive lineman from getting to Tom Brady together are over, but they will remain close.

“It’s always been about those guys,” Light said. “We had a little bit of a lull in 2008/09. We had a big transition period there, and I think Bill (Belichick) recognized we needed to do some things differently. From a player perspective, that all changed for me too in the fact that it is all about the guys you’re in that locker room (with). If it’s not a great environment — if the guys aren’t respectful of each other, if guys don’t treat people the way they should be treated — it’s a very difficult place to be. For me it’s always been about having great guys that I can play with, great guys that I can count on; just being part of that process is what has driven me to keep playing this game and keep being a part of. It’s always been about these guys.”

Listen: Light Shares Locker Room Stories On Gresh & Zo

And although Light was a bit of a prankster, his teammates loved having him around.

“When there was a prank, either he was involved or blamed,” said Koppen. “He’s done so many, and most of them are on video. That’s the good thing.”

Listen: Dan Koppen Remembers Matt Light On Gresh & Zo

“Matt was good at never going too far,” said Logan Mankins. “There were a lot of funny ones and they were always enjoyed. Not by the person that was getting it, but the rest of the team we enjoyed it very much.”

Providing such a fun atmosphere, although sometimes nerve-racking for the target, let the Patriots relax during the rigors of an NFL season.

“It’s important; it keeps everything light around there,” said Mankins. “I’m 30 now but I still act like I’m 18 in the locker room and around the guys; we never grow up in there. We probably do things we probably shouldn’t be, but we enjoy the heck out of it.”

Light hung it up after 11 NFL seasons, all with the New England Patriots, with five trips to the Super Bowl and three championships on his resume. He knew midway through last season he would retire, wanting to spend more time with his family.

“I didn’t know going into it. I think it was about halfway through the season. I realized I have three kids that are incredible and they need more time, and I just didn’t have it,” said Light. “It’s a year-round commitment and I didn’t have the time to give them. I’m sitting there watching them go through things at school, my wife making decisions because I wasn’t around.”

“When it did dawn on me that this was it, it was like turning the switch on,” said Light, a four-time Pro Bowler. “I felt good and I was pretty fortunate not to have any major injuries. I never had the mindset that I was going to run this thing until the wheels fell off; I’m just not that kind of guy.  I have a lot of other interest in things that I definitely want to accomplish. You guys are ancient, but I’m getting up there in age.”

Listen: Dan Koppen Remembers Matt Light On Gresh & Zo

For Light, there a plenty of memories to take away from his career; from Super Bowl championships to on-field fun. Always entertaining to be around, Light has plenty of stories to tell of his career in New England, and he will certainly miss the camaraderie in the locker room.

“Without a doubt,” Light said. “There were things that happened that were part of the journey, but they weren’t the focus.”

“I will never forget certain moments – and this will sound horrible – in the shower. I’ve seen things in that shower that no person should ever have to witness,’ he joked. “That’s one unique aspect, but even if it goes back to the times right before the meetings on the road, in the hotel, where something happened or somebody said something. There was always a bit of levity that you could bring to a very serious moment that was always incredible when it happened.”

Gallery:  Matt Light: A Lifelong Patriot

There is also the now-Patriot tradition where if one of the lineman, offensive or defensive, can catch a punt one day at training camp, the team gets the evening off. That all began because of Light.

“I’ll never forget how it started,” Light said of the tradition. “(Belichick) is walking through the lines in 2002 or 2003. It’s in the middle of the dog days of camp, it’s a million degrees. And Bill goes to the guy in front of me ‘how’s it going?’ Like honestly you’re going to ask that question? It’s the middle of camp, how do you think it’s going?

“But this guy obviously replies with the answer that everyone does ‘It’s going great coach.’ He could pass out at any moment but ‘it’s going great coach,’” recalled Light.

“I had it my mind if he’s going to come to me and ask me how I’m doing I’m going to be real with you. He walks over and gave me that look without saying anything, where you’re not sure if you should speak or not speak — that awkward 15 second pause he gives people,” Light recalled. “After looking me up and down he goes ‘And how are you Light?’ To be honest with you Bill, I’m doing horrible; this sucks. These other guys are telling you what you want to hear, I’m gonna tell you the truth: we’ve been out here practicing too much, it’s hot, I’m miserable and I’m sore. I’d rather go in right now to be honest with you. So I told him ‘what you need to do is give the guys a night off tonight. If a fat guy can catch a punt, something totally that the athletes in this football world do, if a fat guy catches a punt we should have the night off.’”

Read: Kraft, Belichick Honor Light At Retirement

“So he mills around. I’m literally thinking of everyone as a fat guy but me. So at the end of practice he pulls everyone up and says that ‘if Light catches this punt, we have the night off. If he doesn’t catch it, there will be hell to pay.’ That was not how I intended it. But little things like that; this is why people play the game this way and why I’ve been able to enjoy it for 11-years.”

Light caught the punt, and the team got the night off.

Light couldn’t leave without reflecting on one man who made his career, and it was the one he spent most of his time protecting: Tom Brady.

“We wouldn’t be having this discussion with this feeling and the sentiment in the room without 12,” said Light. “Tom Brady to a lot of people is a lot of things, but to me he is a guy that has been there on a consistent basis day in and day out… when you get him one-on-one you see that the heart of everything he does is making himself and those around him better.”

What funny stories does Light have on Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski? And what does he think of his former teammates dancing moves? And did he and Belichick ever team up for a practical joke? Find out that and more with Matt Light on Gresh & Zo!