An apprehensive Tom Brady?

Karen Guregian, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (knee) said during a radio interview that he likely will be a little apprehensive during games early in the season when players will be falling around his legs.

'I'm sure there's some aspect of that. I couldn't imagine there wouldn't be. Obviously, in this camp here, I haven't noticed that at all. How much, and to what degree remains to be seen. I'm anticipating going out there and feeling great and trying to do my best to lead those guys without any apprehension. If you do doubt, it will have an effect, sometimes noticeable, sometimes not noticeable. I'd love to get to the point where I completely forget about it. I'm inching toward that every time I take the field either in practice or off-field conditioning. That's when you really want to move past it,' Brady said.

Brady, Maroney, and Lenon

David Lefort, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (knee) participated in practice Wednesday, May 27. Brady, who wasn't wearing pads, was throwing to new acquisition Joey Galloway and familiar target Randy Moss.

David Lefort, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots RB Laurence Maroney (shoulder) participated in practice Wednesday, May 27. Laurence Maroney is currently 4th on the depth chart behind Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk.

The Patriots have officially announced the signing of linebacker Paris Lenon. When rookie Tyrone McKenzie injured his knee in rookie mini camp, it created the need for more depth, and Lenon with potential contributions on special teams, an important part of the equation, has a chance to fill the void. -- Boston Globe

Signs point to DE Jason Taylor landing in New England

Shalise Manza Young, of The Providence Journal, reports free-agent DL Jason Taylor (Redskins) is expected to make a decision on his future by the end of May and signs point to him signing with the New England Patriots. The Patriots drafted only one linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft and there are some that believe Taylor and New England already have a handshake agreement in place. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has also allowed veterans to stay at home until training camp begins at the end of July in the past, giving them a playbook and telling them to stay in shape until camp begins. Patriots owner Robert Kraft has already said this off season that Taylor can become a Patriot if that's what he wants. Chris Mortensen of ESPN is also reporting this as well. The Patriots certainly know how to get the most out of older veterans so this move would make a lot of sense.

http://tinyurl.com/vote27 - Vote 27

Patriots Rookie LB McKensie out for season

Patriots rookie linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, who was injured during the team's rookie mini-camp last weekend, is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, according to a source close to the rookie.

The season-ending knee injury is the latest obstacle in McKenzie's hard-luck football career, which was temporarily suspended in college when a car accident involving his mother forced him to leave school and work at a hotel to take care of his family.

McKenzie was selected in the third round of this year's draft (97th overall). Prior to draft picks participating in a mini-camp, their agents receive a tender letter and an injury protection agreement from teams. Last year's 97th overall pick, Bengals receiver Andre Caldwell, received a reported four-year, $2.265 million contract with a $560,000 signing bonus. Because the Patriots agreed to negotiate in good faith, McKenzie can still expect to sign a similar contract to Caldwell's.

http://tinyurl.com/vote27 - Vote 27

Patriots like their Tight Ends

In trading for Buccaneers tight end Alex Smith, the Patriots further load up at a position in which they already had strong numbers with five players.

The 6-foot-4, 258-pound Smith is considered a combination type tight end, who is a factor as a blocker and in the passing game, although he is not overly physical at the line of scrimmage and is more of a "move" option. His versatility should help the Patriots in both the running and passing games.

Bill Belichick's view on the trade: "That's something that has kind of been, I don't want to say in the works, but has been out there for a while," he said. "We just felt like, given the player and the situation and what the compensation was, it was something that we wanted to do. I feel like Alex is a good player. He's done a lot of different things for Tampa Bay -- in the passing game, in the running game, pass protection. Smart guy. Athletic. In Coach Gruden's offense, which they ran down there, you see him doing a lot of different things, lined up in different spots -- playing on the line, playing off the line, playing in motion, playing split out, different kind of routes and so forth they run. I think you see him with a versatile set of skills. Can play in the kicking game. Athletic. We'll see how all that comes together, but we felt at this point that it gives us good depth at that position and we felt like the compensation was fair, so we went ahead and did it."

Current TEs on Roster (with year contract expires):
Alex Smith (2009)
Chris Baker (2013, option bonus after 2010)
Benjamin Watson (2009)
David Thomas (2009)
Tyson DeVree (2010)
Brad Listorti (2009)

http://tinyurl.com/vote27 - Vote #27