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 Tuesday.

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.

The 6-0, 196-pound Harmon is the second Rutgers player to be drafted by the Patriots in the draft, with corner Logan Ryan being selected 83rd overall earlier on Friday.

Read: Patriots Draft WR Aaron Dobson

There isn’t much about Harmon out there (his draft page on CBSSports.com is somewhat depressing), with many pundits predicting he would be an un-drafted free agent. This pick is similar to when Bill Belichick drafted Tavon Wilson in the second round of the 2012 draft, who was also projected to go much later than he was actually selected, if at all.

Harmon was the first player drafted who did not attend the NFL combine this season.

Read: Patriots Draft LB Jamie Collins 52nd Overall

The Patriots have four selections remaining in the 2013 NFL Draft on Saturday: one in the fourth round (102nd overall) and three in the seventh round (226th, 229th and 235th).

Scouts say the 5-11, 191-pound Ryan has good size and strength for the position and is strong at man coverage. While he can get physical at the line of scrimmage, one of the knocks on Ryan is he can be a little too over-aggressive in the open field.

Read: Patriots Draft LB Jamie Collins 52nd Overall

Ryan had four picks for the Scarlet Knights as a junior in 2012 before deciding to forgo his senior year to enter the NFL draft.

Read: Patriots Draft WR Aaron Dobson

While likely a project pick, Ryan could find his way onto the Patriots special teams next season.

The Patriots also drafted Rutgers safety Duron Harmon with the 91st overall pick in the draft.

With their second pick of the evening the Patriots selected wide receiver Aaron Dobson out of Marshall, who says he’s prepared to hit the ground running in a complex New England offense.

“I think I’m ready,” Dobson said in a conference call shortly after being drafted. “It’s definitely something that I’ve been getting prepared for just going through this whole process, doing what everyone tells me with the pressure of going into the league. I’m just going in focused and ready to start my new life with the Patriots and my new life in the NFL.”

Dobson is especially excited at the prospect of catching passes from Brady.

“That right there, you can’t beat that,” he said. “Brady is the best quarterback in the league. It’s amazing because I’ve been watching him for so long and now that I get the chance to go play with him, it’s a blessing.”

Scouts say Dobson, who stands at 6-2, 210 pounds, is a solid route-runner with good hands. He can jump in traffic, which allows him to make difficult catches look easy (take a look at this one-handed grab from last season). He will give Brady an outside target — something the Patriots have lacked in recent years.

Proud to be a patriot!! Time to work!!!—
Aaron Dobson 3 (@AyE_DeE_3) April 27, 2013

Read: Patriots Draft LB Jamie Collins 52nd Overall

Dobson finished with a career-high 57 receptions for 679 yards and three touchdowns in 2012. He ended his Marshall career with 165 receptions for 2,398 yards and 24 touchdowns over 47 games. His 24 touchdowns are tied with Patriots receiving great Troy Brown for fourth in the school’s all-time record book.

The linebacker/defensive end, who stands at 6-4, 250 pounds, recorded 10 sacks in 2012 and 20.5 over his four-year career at Southern Mississippi. He began his career as a defensive back, and was seen as one of the better cover-linebackers in the draft.

The Golden Eagles went 0-12 in 2012, but Collins had a solid season on the field. He recorded 92 tackles for the year, including 20 for a loss, and forced four fumbles.

“It’s motivation and adversity – everybody has to deal with adversity,” Collins said of what drove him during a winless season. “It’s not just about losing every game and not being able to play hard. I felt like I had to play hard every game just because we were losing. I felt like it was going to draw a lot of attention to me to see how I played despite the fact that we were 0-12.”

More: Collins’ Draft Profile On CBSSports.com

It’s unclear if Collins will be able to make an immediate impact, but he could give the Patriots a situational pass-rusher to play alongside Chandler Jones or Rob Ninkovich.

The Notre Dame All-America linebacker was chosen sixth in the second round by the Chargers, drawing a loud roar from the fans at Radio City Music Hall. Te’o, who led the Fighting Irish to the national championship game, was projected as a first-rounder last year. But his poor performance in a rout at the hands of Alabama, some slow workouts, and a hoax involving a fake girlfriend dropped his stock.

When former Chargers defensive back Jim Hill was handed the card to make the announcement by Commissioner Roger Goodell, he was told, “You’re going to get a big cheer when you announce this pick.”

It was more a mix of surprise and recognition of the most talked-about player in the draft finally finding a landing spot at No. 38 overall.

The Chargers traded up with Arizona to grab Te’o, whose tabloid-ready story of the woman who supposedly died during the season — only for the Heisman Trophy runner-up to acknowledge in January that he had been a victim of a hoax — made for a national soap opera.

Te’o ran a 4.82-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, slow for a linebacker. He did better at Notre Dame’s pro day, but NFL teams already had plenty of football reasons to doubt his worthiness as a first-round pick.

The regular-season dominance by the 6-foot-1, 240-pound All-American now seems so long ago. He led one of the top defenses in the country for an undefeated team. His seven interceptions were more than any other linebacker in 2012, and he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

He was the third linebacker chosen in this draft.

___

AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen contributed to this story.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

1. They started with the opening of the Draft when commissioner Roger Goodell brought Phil Simms and Joe Namath to the podium.

2. Chris Berman and John Gruden each had comments when Barkevius Mingo was selected.

3. The guys got a tweet during the show comparing Jets pick Dee Milliner to Bobby Boucher from The Waterboy. Decide for yourself as the guy play his interview with Deion Sanders.

4. Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix held a press conference after drafting quarterback EJ Manuel.

5. Just before the Patriots were about to select commissioner Goodell called Joe Andruzzi to the podium to talk about the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Andruzzi delivered an emotional message.

The Patriots traded the 29th pick of the draft to the Minnesota Vikings in return for four picks — a second (52nd overall), third (83rd overall), fourth (102nd overall) and seventh (229). The Vikings used the Patriots’ pick to draft Cordarrelle Patterson, a wide receiver out of Tennessee.

Do you agree with the decision the Patriots made to trade down?

NFL Network’s Bert Breer joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich to discuss teams trading picks due to the quality of the draft, players that dropped and Manti Te’o.

Were there any players that the Patriots would have drafted if they fell and were available or was the Vikings offer just too good to pass up no matter what?

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o went undrafted in the first round, which surprised some. Did the scandal hurt his draft stock? How long will he go until he’s drafted?

Andruzzi, who carried an injured female runner to safety after the explosions, displayed a jersey with the city’s 617 area code and “Boston Strong” written on the front. He was supposed to announce New England’s pick, but the Patriots dealt the 29th selection to Minnesota for four picks in later rounds.

“There’s a new saying in Boston: Boston Strong,” Andruzzi, a native New Yorker, told the crowd.

Andruzzi then revealed the jersey as “Sweet Caroline” played on the loudspeakers. The crowd, which consisted of a mix of NFL fans, broke into a “Boston Strong” chant.

Andruzzi’s brothers were first responders for 9/11 in New York City.

(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.)

The Patriots received four picks — a second (52nd overall), third (83rd overall), fourth (102nd overall) and seventh (229).

The Vikings used the Patriots’ pick to draft Cordarrelle Patterson, a wide receiver out of Tennessee.

The second and third rounds of the draft will take place Friday night, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Rounds four through seven will take place Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.

Last year, New England made two first-round selections — Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower –by trading their first- and third-round pick to move up to get Cincinnati’s pick at No. 21 and trading another first- and a fourth-round pick to Denver for the 25th pick.

The Patriots entered the night owning one pick in each of the first three rounds (Nos. 29, 59 and 91 overall) and a pair of picks in the seventh round (No2. 226, 235).

FOXBORO (CBS) – The Patriots honored first responders at their annual draft party and made a big announcement about their donation to the One Fund.

“There are some other heroes that we want to recognize tonight,” said Patriots owner Robert Kraft at the beginning of the party.

Then 25 members of the Boston Police Department made their way to the stage. On a night to celebrate football heroes the crowd gave a standing ovation for the heroes of the Marathon bombings.

“Ordinarily I would say that Bob Kraft and the coach have the best team in the country. But I have to tell you Mr. Kraft, I’m privileged to be involved with the best team in the country,” said Superintendent In Chief Daniel Linsky.

The officers were honored with jerseys emblazoned with the number one and “Boston” on the back, the same way a first round pick would be.

It was a moment of pride for men and women who’ve spent a week and a half immersed in tragedy. Officer Peter Cazeau spent a week combing through evidence. He said it felt good to be recognized.

“I think I’ll go find a frame for it. Definitely frame it. This is not going to be a jersey that I wear, I’m going to hold it for more sentimental value,” he said as he held up his jersey.

Kraft also announced a major contribution to the victims. Last week, the Kraft family pledged to match up to $100,000 in donations to the One Fund. Because of the huge amount of support and money raised, he upped that pledge to $617,000.

“617 there isn’t a better area code in the country and thank all of you for helping that happen,” he said as the audience cheered.

The moment was another step in the healing for the community, for the victims and for the men and women in blue who ran toward the bombs as others ran away.

“These men and women may not have actual shrapnel embedded in them but their souls their hearts have been ripped apart by this,” said Linsky. “It’s a symbol to our cops of the community support and it’ll help them heal.”

Last Tuesday, the day after the Boston Marathon bombings, the Kraft family pledged to match the first $100,000 donated to the victims through their charitable foundation. The Krafts say fans exceeded that total in less than three days.

Additional donations from the National Football League Foundation, Major League Soccer, the Major League Soccer Players Union, tenants of Patriot Place, and donations from Kraft family friends Roger Stone and Ron Perelman brought the total up to $617,000.

“I am so proud to see how this region has responded to last week’s tragedies in Boston,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “We have witnessed heroism in its purest form and have seen an outpouring of community support.”

The Patriots and Revolution Charitable foundations will continue to collect donations online. Donations can be made at Patriots.com/donate or RevolutionSoccer.net/donate (note “Boston Marathon” in the field provided).

As of Thursday night, The One Fund Boston has raised over $24 million for victims affected by the bombings.

Currently the voice of the Pawtucket Red Sox, Socci has some big shoes to fill in replacing the great Gil Santos. But on a bigger scale, does Socci know what he’s getting into with his color man, Scott Zolak?

“I did a little scouting; I’m good friends with a couple of guys that did work with Zolak in the past and we both have connections to the Naval Academy, so I have a bit of a report on him. He’s been great with me so far. I met him when I went into the station and had a great feeling with him. He’s an energetic guy, and I’m going to try to match that energy.”

As for Zolak’s hygiene, which Felger and Mazz constantly bring up as the show following Gresh & Zo each day, Socci said “I’ll find out for myself soon enough.”

Socci was the play-by-play voice for Navy football the last 16 years, and got to know Bill Belichick’s late father, Steve.

“Not very well, but well enough to hear a lot of stories and get my broadcasts critiqued and get a football lesson now and then,” said Socci. “But I had a total appreciation for how knowledgeable he had for the game, and the kind of upbringing Bill had around football.”

What does Socci think the Patriots will do this weekend at the NFL Draft, and which member of the PawSox is destined for Fenway? Find out more with the new voice of the New England Patriots!