Forbes put out their list of “Highest Paid Coaches in U.S. Sports” on Wednesday, and the Patriots head coach is now tied for second, making $7.5 million annually, along with new Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

“Belichick is arguably the NFL’s best tactician, evidenced by the fact that the Patriots have won 72.6% of their games and made five trips to the Super Bowl since he took over in 2000. Sean Payton’s new contract brings an end to Belichick’s two-year reign as the highest-paid coach in American sports and his three-year run as highest-paid in the NFL,” the magazine writes.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is now the highest paid coach in sports, with an annual salary of $8 million.

Belichick isn’t the only Boston sports head coach to crack the Top 10 though, with Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers tied at fourth at $7 million annually with a trio of NFL head coaches — Seattle’s Pete Carroll, St. Louis’ Jeff Fisher and Washington’s Mike Shanahan.

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin ($6.67 million), new Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly ($6.5 million), and San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich ($6 million) round out the Top 10.

Belichick also placed second in 2010, behind then-Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, before taking over the top spot in 2011 and 2012.

“It would be great. I sort of like Boston/Providence,” Kraft told reporters in Boston on Tuesday. “This is where it all started. Right here.”

Kraft said he was a big supporter of Super Bowl XLVIII being held in New York/New Jersey next year, and if all goes well it could make it easier for his pitch for a Super Bowl at Gillette.

“We would love one day to hold it here if it’s a good experience there,” Kraft said. “We’re looking forward to seeing this experience in New York and New Jersey.”

“I hope we can be in the game,” said Kraft. “We like playing in cold weather.”

Having a Super Bowl at Gillette though would require cooperation between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“Part of what it will require is political people in Boston and Providence coming together so we could really have the right number of hotel rooms and have the support,” he said. “It would require cooperation from all of the political folks who would have to gather together and want this and come together, like they do in other parts of the country.”

“I’d rather be in the game than attract it here though, that’s going to be our priority,” said Kraft.

After the New York/New Jersey Super Bowl, the game will be held in San Francisco and Houston, so the earliest New England could see a big game of their own would be in 2018.

Indianapolis, which hosted Super Bowl XLVI, has already entered the bidding process for 2018.

Third period, 11.9 seconds, 2-1 Bruins: After David Krejci ices the puck, Claude Julien calls his timeout to give his players some rest. A faceoff win and a clear is all the B’s need to win this.

Third period, 1:36, 2-1 Bruins: With a faceoff upcoming in the Rangers’ end, John Tortorella calls a timeout. Madison Square Garden has gone silent, as the prospect of a 3-0 deficit is sinking in.

Third period, 3:31, 2-1 Bruins: Against the best goalie in the world, just leave it to the checking line to get all the goals.

That’s worked for the Bruins thus far, as a wild bouncing puck gets behind Lundqvist. He lost sight of the puck as it kicked out to the right of the net. Paille came flying from around the net and banged home the loose puck to give the B’s a 2-1 lead. Just a few minutes away from a 3-0 series lead.

Third period, 5:28, 1-1: Tyler Seguin has been snakebitten all postseason long, and the trend continues as Lundqvist makes a snazzy glove save just now to get us to the final TV timeout of regulation.

Back on the other end, Tuukka Rask came up huge with a right pad save to stop Rick Nash on a one-timed shot from the slot on a 4-on-2 Rangers rush. Like I just said in the last post, his work has gone unheralded for the most part tonight, but the only goal he allowed came with Chara standing right in front of him. Other than that, he’s been perfect.

Don’t expect anything short of felony assault drawing a penalty for the rest of this one, and for the Rangers, it might actually take murder to draw a two-minute minor.

Third period, 9:37, 1-1: The Bruins’ goal has seemingly awoken the Rangers, who realized if they want to win, they’re going to have to put in some work.

Rask, the unheralded goaltender in this one, has been in good position, and the two teams play on. The next goal will most likely win, with the way this game is going. Whether that comes in the upcoming 9:37, or in overtime, or double overtime … that’s anyone’s guess.

They’ve had two long possessions in the Bruins end in the past couple of minutes, with only the Bruins’ fourth line able to get the puck deep into New York’s zone.

Third period, 13:56, 1-1: Another missed call goes in the Rangers’ favor, though this one was a bit unique. Tyler Seguin, rushing 1-on-3 across the New York blue line, tried to send a shot on net. As he did, Steve Eminger caught Seguin with a high stick right in the kisser. At the same time, Seguin caught Chris Kreider right in the face with the follow-through of his shot.

Now, that should not be a penalty on Seguin, by rule, but it should definitely have been a penalty on Eminger. Alas, the Rangers are getting away with just about everything tonight.

Patrice Bergeron also got stitched up pretty good after getting gashed next to his right eye after a high hit from Eminger. It looked like the two might have gone face shield-to-face shield at center ice, leading to the cut. It’s going to take a lot more than that, though, to keep Bergeron off the ice in the playoffs.

Third period, 16:50, 1-1: And that’s exactly why Julien rolls out his fourth line in big spots with confidence.

The fourth line of Paille, Campbell and Thornton simply outworked all five Rangers on the ice, with Paille eventually cycling the puck out to Boychuk at the top of the circle. Boychuk sent a hard shot, with Thornton and Campbell screening Lundqvist. The shot hit the twine, and the B’s have tied it up.

Third period, 20:00, 1-0 Rangers: Third period under way at MSG.

End of second period, 1-0 Rangers: So far, this one’s been all about Lundqvist.

The Rangers haven’t really played that great a game. The Bruins have outshot them 23-16 and have definitely had the better chances, but a great goaltender is often the greatest equalizer.

There should be some gripes from Boston regarding the officiating, as the Rangers have committed three clear penalties and have been called for zero of them, but that’s no matter if they’re not able to solve Lundqvist.

Second period, 1:56, 1-0 Rangers: The Bruins continue to pile on the chances, but Lundqvist has stopped them all, including a glove save and a flourish on a Gregory Campbell slap shot.

Lundqvist got some help, too. First, he was aided by his left post when Nathan Horton tried to bury a rebound from in close. He also got some help from referee Kevin Pollack, who blew a play dead when the puck was sitting precariously right in the blue paint.

Lundqvist has 22 saves already and has kept the Bruins offense — led by Torey Krug, mostly — off the board.

Second period, 9:52, 1-0 Rangers: The New York goal was originally credited to McDonagh, but it’s since been changed to Pyatt, who was locked up with Chara in front of the net, screening Rask. Replay must have shown Pyatt get a piece of the puck on its way toward the cage.

Second period, 12:45, 1-0 Rangers: It took the Bruins 6:30 to get their first shot of the period. Granted, they spent two minutes shorthanded, but that’s not how they likely planned on coming out of intermission.

Second period, 16:07, 1-0 Rangers: The Rangers get on the board first. Patrice Bergeron failed to clear the puck out of the zone, and Ryan McDonagh sent a soft wrister through traffic, and Rask couldn’t see through Chara’s body. The puck made its way past Rask, and the Rangers lead 1-0. It’s the first time the Rangers have scored first in the series.

Second period, 16:15, 0-0: The Rangers’ power play may break the slump. It just might not happen until next year. That power play was just horrific, and they’re now 2-for-38 this postseason.

Second period, 18:29, 0-0: Nathan Horton, two minutes for hooking Rick Nash. Rangers’ power play, back to work. It’s bound to score eventually, right?

Second period, 20:00, 0-0: With 20 minutes of the feeling-out period in the books, let’s see what the second period brings.

End of first period, 0-0: The refs look like they missed another one late in the period, after Dan Girardi swung his stick and knocked David Krejci down to the ice as he carried the puck on a 2-on-2 rush. So that’s six penalty minutes that should have been assessed to New York thus far, if you’re keeping track at home.

Overall, the Bruins have worked to create better scoring chances, though the Rangers do have an 11-9 advantage in shots. The Bruins have definitely had higher quality shots, including the Kelly and Seguin breakaways and point-blank shot from Jagr, all of which Lundqvist turned away. Jagr and Bergeron nearly connected for a beauty, too, but Bergeron didn’t get much on the one-time shot attempt, which went wide.

Overall, it was a pretty even period, but as I mentioned earlier, the Rangers don’t look like a desperate team playing as though their season is on the line. If not for Lundqvist, it very well could be 2-0 Bruins right now. The Rangers are going to need to wake up soon.

First period, 1:21, 0-0: Back-and-forth play, with the Bruins getting the better of the chances, but still no score. The Rangers are very much in this, but it’s hardly the desperate energy we expected to see from them so far.

First period, 8:20, 0-0: Already, Henrik Lundqvist has been tasked with stopping Chris Kelly on a semi-breakaway and Tyler Seguin on a complete breakaway, and he’s stood up to both.

Lundqvist made right pad saves on both attempts, keeping this game scoreless. Lundqvist then had to stop a point-blank shot from Jagr in the slot. Jagr aimed five-hole, and Lundqvist made the save. The puck squirted to Lundqvist’s left, and Jagr tried to jam it inside the post, but he wasn’t able to, instead missing just wide.

First period, 13:41, 0-0: The Rangers fail to score on the power play and, well, that’s no surprise. They’re now 2-for-37 on the man advantage this postseason (5.4 percent) and were so bad on that power play that some early boo birds came out.

Just before the whistle, Ryan Callahan went after Zdeno Chara with a clean body check, but Callahan’s stick ended up catching Chara in the face. It might be the first high-stick on Chara that’s ever gone uncalled, because generally refs can see when sticks go 7 feet high. Chara was cut, but no call this time though.

First period, 15:52, 0-0: Jaromir Jagr is almost always doing something with his off hand. Just now, he used it to hold Anton Stralman, the puck carrier, which is frowned upon in the NHL. Jagr will spend some time in the penalty box, and the zombie-like power play for the Rangers will try to get something going.

First period, 20:00: John Tortorella is going with Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett up front to begin this one, while Julien is going with Marchand-Bergeron-Jagr. Michael Del Zotto and Anton Stralman will start on defense for New York, while Zdeno Chara is matched up with Johnny Boychuk. It might be safe to assume Julien will lean heavily on his top four guys on D, so the pairings may be a bit of a mix and match to try to prevent Rick Nash from getting too many shifts against a McQuaid-Krug combo.

7:34 p.m.: As we near puck drop in New York, fans in attendance are being treated to highlights of New York teams beating Boston teams over the years. The current players on the Bruins roster, most of whom grew up in Canada or Europe, won’t be affected by that, but it ought to get the New York crowd all riled up for the start of this one. Though, if we’re going to be honest, fans shouldn’t be all too pumped to see footage of the Knicks beating the Celtics a couple of weeks ago, considering the Knicks’ season just ended over the weekend.

7:09 p.m.: Well, about those possible lineup changes … they’re not happening.

Wade Redden isn’t on the ice for warmups, and therefore won’t be on the ice for the game. That means the Bruins’ lines and D pairings will be the same:

Lucic-Krejci-Horton

Marchand-Bergeron-Jagr

Peverley-Kelly-Seguin

Paille-Campbell-Thornton

Chara-Hamilton

Bartkowski-Boychuk

Krug-McQuaid

6:30 p.m.: It’s all on the line tonight … sort of.

Nothing is technically on the line, but with the Bruins leading 2-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals and the Rangers on the ropes, tonight certainly feels like a breaking point. If the Bruins can win and stretch that series lead to a dominating 3-0 lead, they may have done enough to crush the wills of the Rangers, who just endured a grinding seven-game series and may not want to put up an even greater fight this time around.

Of course, the Rangers are not going to quit just yet, and it should be safe to expect their very best tonight. Things unraveled almost comically for New York on Sunday afternoon in Boston, a 60-minute or so stretch that changed the whole feeling of this series. However, it only counted as one loss, and the Rangers have had ample time to regroup and rededicate themselves to their principle.

So, as is the case with most great sporting events, anything can happen, and we’re ready for it.

If you’re looking for some pregame reading to help get you to puck drop (shortly after 7:30 p.m.), well here you go:

Rangers’ Recent History Says Bruins Can’t Get Ahead Of Themselves

Bruins Expecting Desperate Rangers In Game 3

Neely Backs Julien, Chiarelli On Felger & Mazz

Tortorella Calls Marchand ‘Best Player In Series’

As for lineups, Dennis Seidenberg won’t play, and Wade Redden is a game-time decision. Redden’s entry into the lineup would likely mean the exit of Torey Krug, who has two goals and an assist in two games this series, so the changes could be major in that sense. (If, in January, you said a Redden-for-Krug switch in the playoffs would be crucial, then you ought to move to Vegas.)

Check back with the live blog leading up to the start of the game with any and all roster updates, and stick with it throughout the game for live updates from Game 3.

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

The first thing that struck me was how great shape Tom Brady appeared to be in. Now only was he his usual fired-up self, the QB looked slimmer and was throwing the ball extremely well.

The Pats offense did mostly passing drills, and Brady threw quite a bit to newcomers Danny Amendola and Michael Jenkins. It was strange not to see Brady throwing to Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowskior or Aaron Hernandez, as Welker is in Denver while Gronk and Hernandez are sidelined with injuries. Hernandez was at least out on the field though, but didn’t take part in drills.

Read: Amendola Impressed With Brady’s Arm Strength

As for Amendola, he looked was sharp on the field. He runs low to the ground and has solid speed.

Afterwards, the new receiver spoke to the media about getting drilled in the chest by Brady pass, which showed him how great of a passer Brady is. The two worked out earlier this off-season at USC, and Amendola is trying to do everything he can to build a relationship with his new quarterback.

He also got the standard replacing Welker question — which he will get all year — and handled it with ease.

“That’s not something I need to worry about,” said Amendola. “I’m worried about the playbook and getting the routes down and getting on the same page with my teammates. The good thing is, I don’t have to worry about that stuff.”

Vince Wilfork also spoke to the media, and the thing I took away is that he still has that passion and drive as his rookie year. As he said, when that gives away it’s time to retire.

Aquib Talib was the final member of the Pats to talked, and he is happy to have an off-season and full training camp with the Patriots. That’s something the cornerback didn’t have last season after being acquired at the NFL trade deadline from Tampa.

The team will get tomorrow off before returning on Thursday. They’ll have seven more days of OTAs over the next two weeks, and then a mandatory minicamp from June 11-13.

We’re still about two months away from training camp, but it’s great to have football back in the New England.

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

Bruschi received the news from Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Monday night.

“Mr. Kraft called me on the phone last night and let me know, gave me the news,” Bruschi told reporters on a conference call Tuesday morning. “He told me he was very proud of me to be inducted in the Patriots Hall of Fame, and I told him how much it meant to me.”

Bruschi, who retired in 2009 after spending all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Patriots, will become the 19th player to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Read: Bruschi Elected to Patriots Hall of Fame

The undersized linebacker, drafted by New England in the third round of the 1996 draft, won three Super Bowls and five conference titles with the Patriots. Bruschi said he wasn’t sure where his NFL career would begin, but as soon as he arrived in New England he knew where he wanted it to end.

“I’m very proud to have only played for one organization my entire career, and I worked very hard to make sure that happened,” he said. “I remember getting drafted in my apartment in Tuscon, Arizona and my girlfriend, who is now my wife, I told her that I was going to stay with the New England Patriots my entire career. That was after being drafted and within 10 or 15 minutes. And to be able to look back and say I did that and stay with an organization and build something special is something I’m very proud of. I don’t know if it’s — in my mind I was finished, but to have this — winning championships is better, but this is cool.”

“Being here in New England my entire career, my kids being raised here, I sort of feel like I’m a transplanted New Englander. “

Bruschi said he had a special relationship with New England fans, which is one of the reasons he spent his entire career in one uniform.

“I always felt like I was one of them. I never felt like I was any type of a special person or that I was any different than any of the people that were up there cheering on the Patriots,” said Bruschi. “I always felt the New England Patriots fans did their work, got their work done, they liked to come home and spend time with their families and when they had free time, they liked to cheer on their favorite team. That’s who I am also. If I wasn’t fortunate enough to play professional football, that’s who I would have been: a good family man to my wife and kids and then cheering on my local team. I think that’s who I would be. I think that’s why I related so much to them. “

Gallery: Bruschi Through The Years

So it should come as no surprise that Bruschi’s favorite memory during his career was one he shared with the fans. During a 2003 game in Foxboro against the Miami Dolphins, just a day after a pretty hefty snowstorm, Bruschi picked off Jay Fiedler and returned it for a touchdown. The fans reacted by throwing snow in the air, making Gillette Stadium look like a snow globe.

Tedy Bruschi celebrates with the fans after the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 12-0 on December 7, 2003 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

“I don’t delay when I answer that question. I think that maybe that speaks to my connection with the fans we were talking about,” he explained. “When I intercepted Jay Fiedler’s pass and took it into the end zone, slid into the end zone, was on my knees and the ball was in my arms, spread out with the ball. Matt Chatham came and smacked me on the back of the helmet and that ignited some celebration of some snow being thrown up in the air. I had a helmet and I had a facemask on and I remember [Mike] Vrabel coming up to me before we went back out on defense and he looked at me very closely and he said, ‘Look what you started.’ The crowd was still going and the snow was going up in the air. That has to be the favorite home memory for me. I’ll never forget that play.”

Bruschi will be enshrined on Sunday August 11, along with longtime radio play-by-play announcer Gil Santos.

1. Tedy Bruschi was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame this morning. He’ll be inducted in August with Gil Santos. How many Pro Football Hall of Famers will there be from the Belichick era Patriots?

2. Kyle Love spoke to the Jacksonville media for the first time since being claimed off waivers from the Patriots. When asked about the Patriots he said, “That’s how they run their business up there; veteran guys who have been there for years and put in a lot of work get treated like rookies.”

3. Brandon Spikes is not at Patriots OTA’s this week, but the Herald says it has nothing to do with his contract status. Does Spikes get a second deal with the Pats?

4. Robert Griffin III is catching heat for allowing fans to buy items on his wedding registry. The guys give their thoughts on the situation, but first they listened to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless break it down on First Take.

5. The guys also stumbled on some audio from last March on Wes Welker and Zo might need to pay up on a bet he made.

Amendola worked with Brady in the offseason, and the two were back together this week for the first organized team activities of the year. The 27-year-old receiver said he came away from Tuesday’s practice session yet again impressed by Brady.

“He darted me in the chest with one ball,” Amendola said, “and inside my head I was just like, ‘Wow, this guy can really wing it.’ And that’s why he’s Tom Brady.”

How well the chemistry between Brady and Amendola works will go a long way in determining just how successful the Patriots’ offense is in 2013, and the receiver said that work has already begun.

“It’s very important. It’s something that you work on every day, in the meeting rooms, outside of the building, forming relationships. You play better on the field that way,” Amendola said. “The more work is best going into the season. Any time you get a jump and you get to work with each other is good, so we’re getting a lot of good work in right now.”

Amendola said he’s familiar with a lot of the New England playbook, which is similar to what Josh McDaniels ran in St. Louis in 2011, but he still has a lot to learn before the season begins.

“It’s a little more intricate out here, and it’s something to grasp,” Amendola said. “I’m learning every day.”

Considering everything Amendola accomplishes (or doesn’t accomplish) in a Patriots uniform will be compared with what Wes Welker did with the Patriots and continues to do with the Broncos, it was only appropriate for Amendola to be asked about the inevitable Welker comparisons.

“It’s not something I need to worry about,” Amendola said. “I’m worried about the playbook and getting the routes down and getting on the same page with my teammates. The good thing is I don’t have to worry about that stuff.”

Bruschi was elected the 19th player and 21st member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, the team announced on Tuesday.

Bruschi will join Gil Santos, the Voice of the New England Patriots for 37 years, at an induction ceremony on Sunday, August 11. The induction ceremony is open to the public and Patriots fans are encouraged to attend.

Bruschi, once dubbed “the perfect Patriot” by head coach Bill Belichick, will also be honored during a halftime ceremony at the 2013 home opener when the Patriots host the New York Jets on Thursday, September 12.

“We knew when we drafted him in 1996 that ‘Bruschi’ was going to be a fan favorite in New England,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “But, he was so much more than that. During the most successful era in the history of the franchise, Tedy was the heart and soul of the defense and proved to be a champion, both on and off the field. He was a high-energy, tenacious defender whose playmaking abilities helped propel the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships in four years. His remarkable and courageous return to the field following a stroke only added to his legend and solidified his place among the most iconic Patriots in franchise history. We look forward to celebrating his induction with our fans.”

Bruschi was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft. Bruschi helped propel the Patriots to 11 winning records, nine playoff seasons, including eight as division champions, five conference crowns and three Super Bowl titles. In Bruschi’s 211 career games (including regular-season and playoffs), the Patriots had a 144-67 (.682) record, including a 16-6 (.727) playoff mark.

Bruschi joins Drew Bledsoe (2011) and Troy Brown (2012) as the only players to be selected by the fans into the Patriots Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

The Patriots tight end underwent another procedure on his broken left forearm on Monday afternoon to remove a plate that had been installed to help the healing process. Pro Football talk is reporting an infection in the arm is gone, and a new plate was installed.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Gronkowski will not need a fifth surgery on the arm.

Read: Owners To Decide Super Bowl 50 Site At Meetings In Boston

This could put an end to a roller coaster ride for Gronkowski and the Patriots. He originally broke the forearm back in November in a Week 11 win over the Indianapolis Colts, and rebroke it during New England’s playoff win over the Houston Texans.

Had the infection still been present on Monday, the Patriots tight end would have likely faced a fifth surgery on his arm.

Read: Brady Has ‘Never Felt Better Throwing The Football’

Though his arm appears to be healthy, Gronkowski could face minor back surgery for a disc issue that began to bother him last season. A decision on that is expected to come in the next few weeks.

Gronkowski led the Patriots in 2012 with 11 touchdowns to go with 55 receptions and 790 yards.

The Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe reports that Spikes has been working out on his own this off-season — his preference — and the absence from the voluntary OTAs has nothing to do with his contract — which is up after the 2013 season.

Read: Brady Has ‘Never Felt Better Throwing The Football’

Howe also notes that Spikes is healthy, so the absence doesn’t appear to be injury related.

Read: Surgery Day For Gronkowski

Spikes had a breakout year in 2012, his third season in the NFL, setting new career highs with 92 tackles, five forced fumbles and his first career sack. He stayed relatively healthy, seeing action in 15 games,

The work this offseason the two have been doing is giving the 35-year-old QB a new found confidence.

Gresh and Zo discuss this new found confidence and what the QB could be working on.

Broadcast reports say a Broward County judge ordered Johnson jailed until he posts a $1,000 bond. Another hearing was set for June 3.

An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month when Johnson failed to meet his probation officer.

The six-time Pro Bowl player formerly known as Chad Ochocinco is serving a year’s probation for head-butting Lozada during an argument last August. She quickly filed for divorce. They had only been married since July 4.

Johnson was released by the Miami Dolphins following the incident. He spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the New England Patriots for the 2011 season. He had just 15 receptions for one touchdown and 276 yards that season and was released in the off-season.

Lozada is on the TV Show “Basketball Wives.”

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

That’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFL.

“Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football. I’ve never felt better throwing the football,” Brady told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King for his Monday Morning Quarterback column this week.

Brady spoke to King about work he has done this offseason with former major-league pitcher Tom House — who now tutors quarterbacks — and how the two have fine-tuned his throwing technique.

Read: Gronk Set For 4th Surgery On Forearm; No Plans To Operate On Back

“The same way Tom Martinez was always there to watch and give me corrections, Tom House has told me why certain corrections need to be made. Look at a baseball swing and a golf swing. It’s all mechanics. Look at how Barry Bonds swings. Look at how Floyd Mayweather punches. Mechanics. When you’ve got to fit it into the tightest windows, mechanics are crucial. And to me, the offseason is crucial. If you make a throw within four feet, that’s not going to be good enough. You have to make the throw within four inches of your target. That’s good enough. And that’s why the mechanics you adjust and learn in the offseason are important. You’re going to keep them during the season.”

Brady said his work with House started right after the Patriots’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

“Tom House, pretty soon after the season, said basically, ‘All right, Tommy. Get to work.’ That’s the one thing that helps me move forward. There’s nothing we can do about losing the championship game to the Ravens. It sucks. You move on. But, with Tom, I think I’ve learned some things this offseason that are really going to help me.”

Toucher & Rich: Shalise Manza Young On Gronk

Brady wouldn’t go into detail what changes he has made to his mechanics, but is hoping people will notice throughout the season.

“Well done is better than well said. I’d rather not say,” he replied to King when asked to be specific about the changes. “I want people to watch and see if they notice.”

To read King’s entire interview with Tom Brady in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, click here.

Gronkowski will have a fourth surgery performed on his forearm on Monday to remove a plate, and doctors are hopeful there is no lingering infection. But they won’t know for sure if the infection is completely gone until test results come back a week or so after the surgery is performed.

If that wasn’t enough surgery for the tight end though, USA Today reported last week that Gronkowski may need surgery to repair a damaged disc in his back.

The Boston Globe’s Shalise Manza Young joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich on Monday to discuss Grokn’s impending forearm surgery, andwhat she knows of this new back issue.

If the infection in Gronk’s forearm is gone, will the tight end finally be done with surgeries on his arm?

They discussed Gronk’s back issues during his college days and the surgery he underwent in 2009, and though it seems to be an issue with a different disc this time whether there any parallels between what he went through in 2009 and this new problem.

Also, how much longer do the Patriots wait to cover themselves with Gronk?

The hopes are doctors will not find any lingering infection from a plate they inserted to help it heal, but won’t know if there is any infection until test results come back a week or so after the surgery is performed.

Also, there are currently no plans to perform any back surgery or procedure, the source said. USA Today reported this weekend that Gronkowski may need surgery to repair a damaged disc in his back.

There won’t be any timetable for Gronkowski’s return until after the forearm surgery. Initial hopes were that even if Gronkowski was to miss any time during training camp that he would be fine to start the regular season.

The Patriots begin OTAs (organized team activities) on Monday.

According to USA Today, Gronkowski recently underwent an MRI on his back to check a disc issues from last season that has recently flared up again, which may require surgery.

Gronkowski had a disc in his back shaved down in 2009, but this issue is reportedly with a different disc. A final decision on surgery has not been made, though USA Today reports the Patriots tight end will see spine specialist Robert Watkins after he undergoes another surgery on his forearm next week.

Read: Kraft To Receive Carnegie Hall Medal Of Excellence

USA Today’s source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said if surgery is required on Gronk’s back, the hopes are his recovery period would coincide with the recovery of his arm. That is expected to take roughly 10 weeks, bringing Gronkowski right up to the start of Patriots training camp.

View: Patriots 2013 Schedule

The Patriots drafted Gronkowski in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and many feel his draft stock took a hit after a series of back ailments plagued his college days at Arizona.

According to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, the surgery will be performed by Dr. Jesse Jupiter at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

If there is no infection in Gronkowski’s arm, the procedure next week will replace the plate in his forearm. The recovery time from that is expected to last 10 weeks, which would take Gronkowski up until the approximate start of training camp in July.

However, if the infection hasn’t cleared Gronkowski could face a potential fifth surgery — according to the NFL Network — which could interfere with the start of the regular season.

Gronkowski originally broke his forearm in Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts. He returned for the regular-season finale against Miami and played two weeks later against the Houston Texans in the playoffs, but re-broke his arm early in the game.

Gronkowski led the Patriots with 11 touchdowns and ranked third with 55 receptions for 790 yards during the regular season.

The state attorney’s office confirmed Thursday that a Broward circuit judge issued a warrant May 7 against Johnson for failing to report to his probation officer.

Johnson received a year of probation last September after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge involving his former wife, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada.

The six-time Pro Bowl player was arrested in August after Lozada said he head-butted her during an argument. She quickly filed for divorce, which was finalized days before his conviction. They had only been married since July 4.

Johnson was cut by the Miami Dolphins shortly after the incident. He previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.

Lozada is on the “Basketball Wives” TV show.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

Carnegie Hall announced on Thursday that Kraft — also the founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Kraft Group –will receive the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence at a gala benefit on Thursday, June 13 at The Waldorf Astoria’s Grand Ballroom.

“We’re delighted to honor my great friend, Bob Kraft by presenting him with Carnegie Hall’s Medal of Excellence,” Sanford I. Weill, chairman of Carnegia Hall’s Board of Trustees, said in a release.  “Bob has made such a remarkable impact on the lives of so many, complementing his great success in business with a strong commitment to giving back to the community.  This is exemplified by Bob’s fortitude in having a designated member of the New England Patriots football staff to work with each of his football players on the importance of philanthropy and giving back to society.  Now that is leadership and that is vision.  We’re proud to recognize Bob for his great spirit of generosity and his friendship to the Hall.”

View: Patriots 2013 Schedule

“I have such respect and admiration for Carnegie Hall,” Kraft said. “The venue is one of the preeminent concert halls in the world and their board of trustees continues to show great leadership and vision with their wide support of community programs. Their programs are giving people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly children, exposure to the arts and new opportunities to explore their potential as musicians.  It is an honor to receive this award and I look forward to a very entertaining night.”

Watch: Patriots WR Danny Amendola Tries Hand At Acting

The award, recognizing Mr. Kraft’s outstanding leadership in business and philanthropy, will be presented by Weill, with CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley serving as the Master of Ceremonies.

The Patriots announced that they released defensive tackle Kyle Love, after the 26-year-old was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes.

“Naturally, we are disappointed that the Patriots decided to part ways with Kyle, especially in light of the fact that a number of elite, professional athletes with diabetes — both Type 1, which is known to be far more difficult to manage than Type 2 diabetes — have had very successful careers in professional football, hockey, baseball, and basketball,” Love’s agent, Richard Kopelman, told ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss.

The agent said that Love lost 20 pounds this offseason prior to the diagnosis, but has since regained “most” of the weight.

The 6-foot-1, 315-pound lineman out of Mississippi State was in on 25 tackles last season and he registered 1.5 sacks. In 2011, he recorded 33 tackles and three sacks.

The Love move comes one day after the team released defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick.

It's been real NEW ENGLAND!!! Thanks for everything!!!—
Kyle Love (@KyleLove74) May 15, 2013

Love tweeted a farewell to New England, thanking the fans for his three years with the Patriots.

FOXBORO (CBS) – It looks like the New England Patriots’ new wide receiver Danny Amendola found a side job this off-season.

It may even get him recognized in his new town.

Amendola appears in a new Foot Locker commercial for ASICS, and tells a jogging buddy that he doesn’t need the attention that comes with a new pair sneakers because he’s “kind of a big deal in New England right now.”

The ad takes a humorous twist when he asks a woman jogging by if she knows who he is and she responds awkwardly.

Amendola’s contract with the Patriots is reportedly worth $31 million over five years.

The 27-year-old Amendola is a veteran of four NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams. He has played in 42 NFL games with 17 starts and has accumulated 196 receptions for 1,726 yards and seven touchdowns, returned 89 punts for 934 yards and returned 188 kickoffs for 2,776 yards.

Amendola led the NFL in all-purpose yards in 2010 with 2,364 yards with 689 receiving yards, 81 rushing yards, 452 punt return yards and 1,142 kickoff return yards.

Amendola was brought in essentially to replace Wes Welker, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos this offseason.

The former fourth-round pick out of Auburn spent the first four seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers, starting 28 of the 41 games he’s played in. He was the Chargers’ starting left guard last season, but after a rough year was not re-signed after his rookie contract was up.

The 6-2, 316-pound Green gives New England some depth at guard — as well as other areas on the line — should Dan Connolly not be ready for OTA’s after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery.

Green figures to be a depth player behind Logan Mankins and Connolly, though is noted as a versatile lineman that can play either guard position and center.

According to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean, the Patriots have agreed to a two-year contract with free-agent receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who spent all five of his previous NFL seasons with the Titans.

The 5-11, 194-lb Hawkins was a fourth-round pick out of California in 2008, and has 71 career receptions for 771 yards and a touchdown over 52 games.

Read: Brady: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25′

An ankle injury limited Hawkins to seven games last season, and he had just five catches for 62 yards. This came after a career-year in 2011 when he set a career-high with 47 receptions, 470 yards and his lone touchdown.

Report: Gronk Needs 4th, Possibly 5th, Surgery On Forearm

Known for his speed, Hawkins also has experience in the return game. He returned seven kickoffs in 2012, including a career-high 71-yarder.

Hawkins was released by the Titans last week, and there is no guarantee he’ll earn a roster spot with 11 other receivers battling for a job.

The Patriots’ star tight end needs a surgery, his fourth, to repair his forearm, according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.

The surgery, according to the report, will be to change the plate in Gronkowski’s forearm. And, Guregian reported, it may not even be Gronkowski’s final surgery.

“The plate has to be switched, no matter what, and the surrounding tissue tested,” the report said. “The real question is if Gronkowski, who has been taking part in the team’s offseason program, will need a fifth operation.”

The fourth surgery cannot take place until doctors deem his current infection to be cleared up. Given that the recovery time for the plate surgery is 11 weeks, any delay to having that surgery will start to interfere with Gronkowski being ready for the start of the season.

Gronkowski, who turns 24 on May 14, caught 55 passes and 11 touchdowns in just 11 games last season. Despite missing five games, he still ranked fourth in the NFL in receiving touchdowns. He returned for the Patriots’ playoff game against Houston but left after reinjuring his broken left forearm.

Jeff Howe with Toucher & Rich on what this means moving forward.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Blount has agreed to take a $1.07 million pay cut.

Blount agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Buccaneers in March, but restructured that deal to decrease that cap hit down to $680,000 for New England.

Blount was due to receive a $150,000 workout bonus and a $350,000 bonus for showing up to training camp, but the workout bonus has been reduced to $50,000, and the $350,000  is off the books all together. In addition to that, Blount’s base salary has been reduced to $630,000 from $1.25 million — none of which is guaranteed.

Read: Brady As Driven As Ever: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25′

The Patriots acquired Blount in a draft weekend trade with Tampa Bay, sending kick returning Jeff Demps and a seventh round selection to the Buccaneers. He is expected to compete in a crowded Patriots backfield that includes running backs Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Leon Washington and Brandon Bolden.

Watch: Rookies Talk About Patriots Minicamp

Earlier this off-season, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signed a new three-year extension to give the team cap relief over the next two seasons.

Turns out, the Patriots quarterback made a pretty penny thanks to the horse.

According to the Boston Herald, Brady put a $4,700 bet on Orb to win it all — which paid out nearly $25,000 when the colt won the race.

Read: Brady As Driven As Ever: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25′

Brady wasn’t alone in his celebration, which can seen here on Business First. Former teammates Wes Welker, fittingly now a Bronco, Tedy Bruschi and Patriots center Dan Koppen were with Brady for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.

Watch: Rookies Talk About Patriots Minicamp

The group was seen jumping around in excitement, and Brady also shared a hub with Orb’s owners Stuart S. Janney III and Phipps Stable. But, according to Business First, Brady declined an invite to the winner’s circle.

It’s hard to blame Brady for declining that invite; he had a bet to collect.

So you wouldn’t be crazy to have some doubts about the upcoming season … but you would be crazy if you think Brady has any doubts of his own.

“I feel like I’m 25,” Brady said in an extensive feature story in ESPN The Magazine.

The story captures Brady, his mind-set, his goals, his challenges raising children in a celebrity-obsessed culture and his never-ending quest for perfection, which we’ve all gotten familiar with over the past dozen years.

“Could we win the Super Bowl every year? Of course — and that’s the goal,” Brady said in the magazine. “But the reality is based on injuries and different margins for error. In certain games, you have to be perfect, and if you’re less than perfect, you’re gonna get beat.”

Brady’s learned that, of course, on some grand stages over the years — the AFC Championship Games in 2006 and 2012, the Super Bowls in 2007 and 2011, most notably. He said that he still regrets a bad throw to Laurence Maroney in Super Bowl XLII, one that could have changed the entire game, and also the slightly off-target pass that Wes Welker could not hold onto in Super Bowl XLVI.

“I’ve learned that it’s hard to close it out,” he admitted. “In 2001, it was miraculous for us to win. In 2007, it was miraculous for the Giants to win. But no one remembers that. They remember who got the trophy.”

Still, past missteps serve only as motivation for Brady, and when he takes the field in September, he’ll be wholly focused on the task at hand. That’s due mostly to Brady’s inner drive, but he said that his determination was aided by — of all things — a documentary on an 85-year-old chef’s quest to improve upon his sushi.

“It smacked me in the face as a reaffirmation,” Brady said in the feature. “Just be in the moment. What’s better than what you’re doing? Nothing.”

Belichick said Jamie Collins, who the Patriots selected 52nd overall last Friday, will begin his work at linebacker.

“I’d say he’ll work primarily at linebacker but we’ll see how that goes,” said Belichick. “Again, he’s done different things and eventually as we go through the spring, we’ll look at him in different spots and see how it goes with him and also see how it goes with him relative to other players we have and what kind of groupings, just how the team breaks up, maybe where he might be able to help us or where things come together the best for him. We’ll have to put all that together as we go.”

Collins On Minicamp: 

Read: Who Are The Patriots Draft Picks?

Collins, who will sport #91 for New England, played both linebacker and defensive end for Southern Mississippi.

In addition to their draft class, the Patriots signed 19 rookie free agents on Friday to participate in the weekend minicamp.

And wouldn’t you know, Bill Belichick has inked another Rutgers defensive back.

Rutgers corner Brandon Jones is the fourth Scarlet Knight to join the Patriots since last week, joining draft picks Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon and Steve Beauharnais. Jones will join Ryan and Harmon in competing for a spot in the Patriot secondary, which is anchored by another Rutgers alum in Devin McCourty.

Another interesting signing is Missouri wide receiver TJ Moe, who is seen as a prototypical slot receiver.

Belichick spoke to the media on Friday morning, breaking down what he and the team hopes to accomplish during the camp.

“We’re looking forward to getting out on the field over the next three days and working with a lot of new guys, new faces. Obviously we have a lot of information to give them in every area, not just football, but the whole transition in becoming a professional athlete and in most cases for these guys, relocating to a part of the country they’re not too familiar with,” said Belichick. “We have a lot of ground to cover but I think it’s a group that so far seems attentive and eager. Like a lot of groups at this time of year, this group of guys is a similar group to many that we’ve had in the past. We’ll take it day by day and one step at a time with a lot of ground to cover and hopefully we can catch them up as soon as possible so they can compete with some of the other guys that are on our team as we move into the spring and eventually get ready for training camp.”

Read: Who Are The Patriots Draft Picks?

Here is the full list of players signed and their bios — courtesy of the New England Patriots:

P Ryan Allen (Louisiana Tech), FB Ben Bartholomew (Tennessee), DL Dewayne Cherrington (Mississippi State), S Kanorris Davis (Troy), OL Elvis Fisher (Missouri), TE Brandon Ford (Clemson), DL Cory Grissom (South Florida), RB Quentin Hines (Akron), CB Brandon Jones (Rutgers), OL Josh Kline (Kent State), OL Chris McDonald (Michigan State), WR TJ Moe (Missouri), CB Stephon Morris (Penn State), LB Ian Sluss (Portland State), OL Matt Stankiewitch (Penn State), TE Zach Sudfeld (Nevada), WR Kenbrell Thompkins (Cincinnati), DL Joe Vellano (Maryland) and LS Mike Zupancic (Eastern Michigan).

Allen, 23, began his career at Oregon State before transferring to Louisiana Tech. The 6-2, 215-pounder, was named the Ray Guy Award winner in 2011 and 2012, becoming the first player to claim the award in back-to-back seasons.

Bartholomew, 23, played in 31 games with 13 starts during his career at Tennessee. The 6-2, 252-pounder, also participated in shot put for the Tennessee track and field team.

Cherrington, 22, began his college career at Holmes (Miss.) Community College where he was a two-way standout before walking on at Mississippi State. The 6-3, 335-pounder earned a scholarship in his final year in 2012.

Davis, 23, played as a linebacker in college where he helped Troy win the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2011 and 2012. The 5-10, 203-pounder, finished his college career with 207 tackles and 10 forced fumbles.

Fisher, 24, returned to the field in 2012 at Missouri after being awarded a hardship by the NCAA after being forced to miss the 2011 season with an injury. The 6-5, 300-pounder, was a starter at left tackle during his college career and was named a team captain in 2011 and 2012.

Ford, 23, served as a backup tight end in 2010 and 2011 before earning a starting position in 2012 where he finished with 40 receptions for 480 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-3, 240-pounder finished his college career with 12 touchdowns, which tied a school record for most receiving touchdowns by a tight end.

Grissom, 22, appeared in 46 games with 40 starts at South Florida and posted 105 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The 6-2, 316-pounder, was named second-team All-Big East as a senior in 2012.

Hines, 22, began his college career at Cincinnati in 2008 and appeared in one game in 2009 after redshirting in 2008. The 5-11, 190-pounder missed the 2010 and 2011 seasons before finishing his career in 2012 at Akron.

Jones, 23, played in 13 games with 12 starts as a senior, posting 31 tackles, nine passes defensed and a team-leading five interceptions. The 6-1, 187-pounder was also a standout special teams player during his time at Rutgers.

Kline, 23, saw action at right guard, right tackle and on special teams during his college career at Kent State. The 6-3, 310-pounder earned second-team All-MAC honors as a senior in 2012.

McDonald, 23, was a four-year letterman at Michigan State, who played in 43 games with 39 starts at right guard. The 6-5, 298-pounder, was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection after being the only Michigan State player to start in every game in 2012 on the offensive line. He is the younger brother of Patriots OL Nick McDonald.

Moe, 22, played in 48 games over his four seasons at Missouri, totaling 188 receptions for 2,101 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 6-0, 200-pounder, also had 12 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown and 34 kick returns for 793 yards. He was named a team captain in 2012 and posted 40 receptions for 399 yards and one touchdown.

Morris, 22, played in 49 games with 24 starts over his college career at Penn State and finished with 148 tackles, one interception and 13 passes defensed. The 5-8, 186-pounder was named honorable mention All-Big Ten as a senior.

Sluss, 23, earned All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2012 and was also selected as the Portland State team MVP after leading the team with 104 tackles, with four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. The 6-foot, 225-pounder, played two seasons at the University of Redlands before transferring to Portland State and redshirting in 2010.

Stankiewitch, 23, started all 25 games at center as a junior and senior at Penn State. The 6-4, 290-pounder was named a team captain for the East in the East-West Shrine game.

Sudfeld, 23, received a medical redshirt in 2012 at Nevada after an injury in the 2011 opener. The 6-7, 225-pounder caught a career-high 45 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns for Nevada in 2012.

Thompkins, 24, played two seasons at Cincinnati after transferring from El Camino Community College. The 6-1, 190-pounder, caught 78 passes for 1,077 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Vellano, 24, played defensive tackle as a sophomore and junior before being moved to end as a senior at Maryland. The 6-2, 285-pounder, was elected as a team captain in 2011 and 2012 and was All-ACC First-Team as a senior in 2012 after finishing with 61 total tackles and six sacks.

Zupancic, 23, earned three letters as the long snapper for Eastern Michigan. The 6-5, 240-pounder, never missed a game in his four-year career, playing in all 48 games.

The 36-year-old Waters was placed on the reserve/did not report list prior to the 2012 season when he did not report to the team. Waters was signed through last season with New England, but is now a free agent and can sign with any team should he choose to play a 13th NFL season.

Waters was very effective on the Patriots offensive line in his only season in New England, but did not report to any of the team’s OTAs during the offseason or the team’s mandatory mini-camp.

Waters spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011 for the sixth time in his career.

After trading out of the first round, the Patriots selected linebacker/defensive end Jamie Collins and wide receiver Aaron Dobson in the second round,  Rutgers defensive backs Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon in the third round, receiver Josh Boyce in the fourth, and defensive end Michael Buchanan and linebacker Steve Beauharnais in the seventh round.

98.5 The Sports Hub’s Gresh and Zo broke down the selections on Monday, discussing which players have the best chance at making an impact this season.

“I think they added good depth,” said Zo. “This was a flat, nasty first round and they didn’t want to pick anywhere near the bottom of it. They backed up and got four players for the price of one, and I think they got four guys that can contribute.”

“There is a chance one, two or even three of these kids do not make the football team. Why is that? I’m sure there will be those that say ‘it was a poor draft.’ This roster is loaded and what they did was created more depth and created more competition,” said Gresh. “Let’s make no mistake about it; Collins, Dobson and Boyce are on the team. I think Logan Ryan is going to be around, and Duron Harmon is up in the air.”

Listen: Logan Ryan On Gresh & Zo

“However it can be spun negatively – and expect it to be in the sports world – but (the Patriots) created competition,” Gresh continued. “Let the best man win. It’s one of those ‘I don’t care how you get there,’ it’s ‘are you good enough to make the team?’”

The Patriots also picked up running back LeGarrette Blount from the Buccaneers for kick returned Jeff Demps and a seventh round pick on Saturday.

“I have to see him in training camp, I can’t say (if he makes the team) right now,” Zolak said of Blount. “I think it’s fascinating they can get this type of player at the end of the draft.”

Read: Meet The Newest Patriots

“I think it’s great because we don’t even know if he’s going to make the football team, but what happens in camp? Tempers flare. There’s a potential helmets will fly and this guy is going to throw down,” added Zo. “Hopefully it’s a defensive player, like Spikes. That would be a hell of a fight to see, get everyone fired up.”

“It’s a guy who had issues coming into the league, late for meetings and other issues. The thing that intrigues me the most, he’s the polar opposite of everyone they have on the roster at running back,” said Gresh. “He’s the prototypical, old-school short yardage/goal line back… Blount is a powerful, big guy to bring down.”

With the 226th overall pick, the Patriots took defensive end/outside linebacker Michael Buchanan out of Illinois. Buchanan could have been an early round pick but was involved in a fight prior to his senior year that left him with a broken jaw. He had to have the jaw wired shut for a week, and lost twenty pounds before the season began.

After recording 64 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2011, Buchanan’s production dropped to 57 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2012. At 6-5, 255-lbs, scouts say he has to get bigger to play in the NFL. While he is praised for having an explosive first step, scouts also say he does not recover quick enough from cut blocks.

With the 235th overall selection the Patriots drafted linebacker Steve Beauharnais  out of Rutgers — the third Scarlet Knight Bill Belichick selected in the draft. The 6-0, 240-lbs Beauharnais was a team captain and semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2012 after starting all 13 games and registering 83 tackles and an interception. His most productive overall year came as a junior, when he racked up 77 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, five sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble.

The Patriots also selected Rutgers cornerback Logan Ryan and safety Duron Harmon, both in the third round.

Read: Meet The Patriots 2013 Draft Picks

The Patriots had three seventh round selections entering Saturday, but traded one to Tampa Bay along with kick returner Jeff Demps for running back LeGarrette Blount.

Demps made it clear this off-season he wanted to remain a two-sport athlete with football and track and field, with track currently his priority. He had two years remaining on the three-year, $1.451 million contract he signed with the Patriots last August.

Just wanna thank the pats organization for everything over the past year, and for the opportunity.—
Jeff Demps (@jeffdemps7) April 27, 2013

Read: Meet Friday Night’s Picks

In Blount, the Patriots get a talented but trouble running back. After going undrafted out of Oregon in 2010, he rushed for 1,007 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie in Tampa. He ran for 781 yards and five touchdowns in 2011, but had just 41 carries in 13 games in 2012 as the Bucs turned to rookie back Doug Martin.

LeGarrette Blount ran for nearly 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in 40 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

If he makes the roster, Blount could give the Patriots a solid goal-line and short distance back.

The 23-year-old Demps was a running back at Florida from 2008-11, but told teams prior to the 2012 NFL Draft he was instead choosing to pursue a track career. At the 2012 Olympic games in London, he ran for the U.S. in the qualifying heat for the 4×100-meter relay, earning  a silver medal.

Listen: Pats 3rd Rd Pick Logan Ryan On Gresh & Zo

Demps averaged 6.7 yards per carry while scoring 23 rushing touchdowns at Florida. He suffered a leg injury in New England’s final preseason game last year, and spent the entire 2012 season on injured reserve.

“I’m a student of the game; a perfect fit for the Patriots,” Ryan, the 83rd overall pick in the draft, told Gresh & Zo. “I’m a guy who is going to go out there and do what I need to do to win games. I’m a corner who is physical; I’m able to tackle in space and play press man-to-man in zone coverage. I love the game of football and have great expectations for myself and the team. I just want to come in and help contribute; be a part of this great organization.”

“At Rutgers there was one thing about me and a lot of the players; you have to love football to play there and you have to love football to be a New England Patriot. I love football and I want to be the best player to play,” he said confidently. “If you love something you’re going to sacrifice for it, and that’s something we’ve done. We learned how to sacrifice and take time away to study film, how to come early to practice and stay late, get those extra lifts in and do all those extra things people aren’t willing to do to win championships and win games. That’s something we were taught at Rutgers and something I took into my own hands, not just on the football field but in life; how to be a constant professional and do what it takes to be special. That’s something that, I feel, a lot of Rutgers people possess.”

Read: Meet Friday Night’s Picks

“I just want to do my job,” he said. “I told the coaching staff that I’m a guy who knows what my job is, whatever that may be. Whatever they ask me to do, I’m going to prepare for and do my job. That’s going to help my team win.”

Ryan shares a special relationship with Patriots safety Devin McCourty, also a Rutgers alum, who mentored him in his freshman year.

“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Ryan said of McCourty. “He’s been great to the organization so a lot people know about him, but me and Devin have a very personal relationship. I came in as a highly recruited corner, and Devin was the man. He accepted me, and we were roommates in camp. We would room together and he would teach me the defense and I would just watch him in practice. I ended up red-shirting but I learned so much; he taught me how to watch film and how to be a dominant player.”

Read: Patriots Draft TCU WR Josh Boyce In 4th Round

“I kind of followed in his footsteps playing that boundary corner spot that he played and got to do a lot of great things there. I have to give so much credit to Devin and how he matured me at the age of 18. Now I’m, grown up and a man on my own and I look forward to playing alongside Devin. Just having him there as a support system and as a friend, and still a role model to this day, I can’t think of anyone better I want to play with than Devin McCourty.”

The Patriots also selected Rutgers safety Duron Harmon on Friday night, and while there isn’t much known about the 91st pick in the draft, Ryan says New England got a solid defender.

“I think it’s a great situation for both of us,” said Ryan “He’s a great player that is always going to get better. You see him and he’s a physical freak. He’s great in the weight room, but he’s a smart player that will always have your back. He’s not going to leave you hanging out there.  I think he’s going to be a great Patriot also.”

As a junior for Texas Christian in 2012, Boyce led the team in every receiving category with 66 catches for 891 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished his career at TCU with 161 receptions for 2, 535 yards (an average of 15.7 yards per reception) and 22 touchdowns. He was named to the All-Mountain West first team as a sophomore after leading the Horned Frogs with 61 receptions, 998 yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

Read: Meet Friday Night’s Picks

At 5-11 and 206-lbs, Scouts say Boyce will almost exclusively be a slot receiver in the NFL but has a strong upper body and legs to potentially strive at the position (especially catching passes from Tom Brady). Some of his knocks are he has trouble making difficult catches away from his body, but the selection gives the Patriots more depth at the wide receiver position — something they had hoped to address over the weekend.

Boyce turned a lot of heads at the NFL Combine and was one of the more impressive receivers to attend. He ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, and was commended for having a high football IQ.

Boyce is the second receiver drafted by the Patriots this year. They also selected Marshall receiver Aaron Dobson in the second round, 52nd overall.

The Patriots acquired the pick used to draft Boyce from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Aqib Talib trade at the 2012 trade deadline.

Read: Belichick Sports Watertown PD Hoodie At Draft

Boyce  has some experience with a couple of current NFL quarterbacks. He was a teammate with 2011 Heisman Trophy winner the second overall pick in the 2012 draft, Robert Griffin III, at Copperas Cove High School. He also caught passes from current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton while at TCU.

Now, he might get the chance to catch passed from Tom Brady.

The Patriots are scheduled to make three selections in the seventh round: 226th, 229th and 235th overall.

Whether they used those picks wisely will be up for debate for the next few years, but the Patriots filled their roster needs while prompting a few head scratches in the process.

So who are these guys? Here’s a look at the Patriots 2013 Draft picks:

Jamie Collins, Linebacker

Selection: 2nd Round, 52nd overall

School: Southern Mississippi

Patriots second round pick Jamie Collins had 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in his senior year with Southern Mississippi. (Photo courtesy Southern Mississippi)

With the 52^nd overall pick (acquired in Thursday’s trade with the Vikings) the Patriots added a versatile pass-rusher to their front seven in Southern Mississippi’s Jamie Collins. Though he played for an 0-12 team last year Collins was able to put up some numbers for the Golden Eagles, recording 10 sacks and 92 tackles (20 for a loss).

The word versatile was made for a player like Collins, or at least it appears that way on paper. He was a quarterback in high school, switched to safety to start his college career, and ended as a defensive end. 20.5 sacks later, he is now a member of the New England Patriots.

“Jamie is an interesting guy that came into college as a safety, played inside linebacker, played outside linebacker in a 3-4 and then played defensive end last year. He’s been a very productive player in the kicking game. He’s got a lot of versatility, solid player, hard worker, great kid,” Belichick said Friday night of his first selection in the 2013 draft.

There are some questions about his motor and drive on the field, which isn’t hard to imagine when playing for an 0-12 team. But Belichick personally scouted him prior to the draft, so any of those concerns should be alleviated by the coach’s pre-draft presence with Collins.

Collins is seen as a pass-rusher that can also drop back into coverage – thanks to his time as safety – and could give New Engalnd another player to line up with either Chandler Jones or Rob Ninkovich. And with Ninkovich and Brandon Spikes heading into contract years, Collins could be a key piece for the Pats should either veterans leave town.

Aaron Dobson, Wide Receiver

Selection: Second Round, 59th Overall

School: Marshall

Just a few picks after selecting Collins, the Patriots addressed perhaps their most glaring need heading into the draft: a target for Tom Brady. Brady has had plenty of success throwing to Marshall products Randy Moss and Troy Brown, so the Patriots are giving him another in Dobson.

“He’s big, he’s fast, he’s got good hands, he’s a strong player; smart, very smart,” said Belichick. “He has some position flexibility and versatility. Catches the ball very well. We’ll see how it goes.”

Dobson reportedly didn’t drop a pass his senior year, and his 6-3 frame gives Brady a big receiver with stellar hands to throw the ball to. The down-field threat says he is ready for the NFL, and a complex offense like the Patriots, and his new head coach agrees.

Read: Belichick Sports Watertown PD Hoodie At Draft

“He’s a pretty intelligent guy. He has good recall of what [Marshall] did. He had a good understanding and grasp of learning, taking new information, processing that and being able to understand it and apply it,” said Belichick. “Tell him something and then see a play a few plays later and say, ‘What would you do on this play if they did this, they did that’? There’s different ways to measure all that, but he’s a pretty impressive kid. He’s a mature kid. He’s pretty smart.”

Also, he made this catch. It’s just one catch, but that’s a pretty darn good one.

 Logan Ryan, Cornerback

Selection: Third Round, 83rd Overall

School: Rutgers

As a junior in 2012, Logan Ryan had 4 interceptions and 17 pass breakups in 13 games for Rutgers. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

The Patriots needed to add some depth at corner, and they addressed that need with their third round selection of Logan Ryan of Rutgers. While the Patriots are set with Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington atop their depth chart, Ryan could compete for the fourth or fifth corner spot on the team.

“He’s a good football player in a good program,” Belichick said of Ryan. “He’s been very productive. He’s one of the most productive corners in the draft. Smart; been productive. He’s been in a very good system. He’s been well coached, knows his techniques well, he’s an instinctive player. He’s had a lot of production. He’s tough, he’s a good tackler.”

Listen: Pats 3rd Rd Pick Logan Ryan On Gresh & Zo

At 5-11 Ryan has good size, and along with the praise of being a solid tackler (he had 93 of those as a senior), he also had four interceptions last season. If he can’t crack the team as a corner, he’ll likely end up as a special teams contributor.

Duron Harmon, Safety

Selection: Third Round, 91st Overall

School: Rutgers

Rutgers safety Duron Harmon (#32) was a two-time All Big East First-Team selection at Rutgers. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

This one has everyone scratching their heads. Harmon wasn’t invited to the NFL combine, and most draft sites don’t even have a player profile on the Rutgers safety. Chances are he would have been around after all 254 picks in the draft, but the Patriots went ahead and took him 91st overall.

When the pick was made, NFL Network and ESPN were left scrambling; no one had any footage of Harmon.

“My mother, she was very excited. She was like ‘Oh my baby. Where’s your clips at?’ I was like, ‘Mommy, I don’t think they knew I was going today, so I don’t think they had any clips ready for me,’” Harmon joked on his conference call with the New England media. “She was a little upset about me not having clips, but I think me getting drafted just overtook her sadness about my clips.”

So with little known about Harmon, his pick became a big topic in Logan Ryan’s conference call. His Rutgers teammate tried to shed some light on the man he shared the Scarlet Knights defensive backfield with, and someone he called his best friend at college.

“It didn’t surprise me one bit,” Ryan said of the selection. “He is a great football player and I’m with him and he’s my workout partner. He works extremely hard and he believes in himself, and I believe in him. He has all of the measurables and the speed and anything that you look for. He was a two-time All Big East defender and I think if you were best in the conference two straight years then you’re worthy of being a third-round pick.”

While the pick itself is surprising, it should be no surprise that Belichick is tapping into the Rutgers talent pool. Both Ryan and Harmon know Patriots safety Devin McCourty and defensive end Justin Francis — both Rutgers alum — and the two veterans have spoken very highly of their new teammates.

Read: Pats Trade Demps, 7th Rd Pick To Tampa For RB LeGarrette Blount

The fact Ryan and Harmon played together, very successfully, while at Rutgers was also something that intrigued the Patriots.

“They communicated well, played well. Both were very productive, both defensively and in the kicking game, solid guys,” said Belichick. “We’ve had a number of our players here comment on their personal characteristics, so I think we’re getting some high quality guys there as well as good football players.”

While either could be tagged a “reach” pick — especially Harmon — as a third rounder, the Patriots addressed a need in both the secondary and on special teams with the two picks.

Josh Boyce, Wide Receiver

Selection: Fourth Round, 102nd Overall

School: TCU

Receiver Josh Boyce had 66 receptions and seven touchdowns for TCU in 2012. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The Patriots went back to offense with their first pick on Saturday, selecting Texas Christian junior wide receiver Josh Boyce early in the fourth round. He led the Horned Frogs in every receiving category in 2012, hauling in 66 receptions for 891 yards and seven touchdowns.

Boyce was one of the more impressive players at the NFL Combine this year, running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash with a broken bone in his foot (already in Patriots form, he called the injury “day-to-day”), and he’s been applauded for having a high football IQ — something he’ll need entering a complex Patriots offense.

Read: Patriots Draft DE Buchanan, LB Beauharnais In 7th Round

Boyce, who has already received a degree in sociology, has experience catching passes from two NFL quarterbacks — though he had yet to reach the highest level at the time. He was Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III’s wide out in High School and played with Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton at TCU.

Now, it’s looking like Boyce will be able to add Tom Brady to that quarterback list. He’s a versatile receiver that can play inside or out, and many think he can be groomed into a solid number-two option.

“That was an unbelievable job they did,” Belichick said of the Watertown Police Department’s role in last Friday’s manhunt of the two suspected Boston Marathon bombers. “I’m sure we all followed it, followed as closely as we could. Just supporting people that protect our safety and our freedom – the police, the military. That’s what makes it all possible to do what we do. [I’m] behind them all the way.”

As is the case with most — if not all  – of Belichick’s hoodies, the sleeves were cut off at the elbow.

The Patriots made four selections on Friday night: Southern Mississippi linebacker Jamie Collins, Marhsall wide receiver Aaron Dobson, and Rutgers defensive backs Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon. They have four selections remaining on Saturday.