New England Patriots Links 5/19/10 - Springs Released, Larsen Signed, Specter Finished, McKenzie Ready

Albert Breer reports 2nd-year LB Tyrone McKenzie is ready to go after an ACL tear cost him his rookie year.

"Right after it happened I was like, 'I made it here, I'm excited to play, excited to learn after the Combine and all that other stuff and this happens'," he said this morning at the stadium. "It's huge but it helps you get stronger and to the point where I am now. You just have to be strong and keep bouncing back. "That's what I've done my entire life. Now I'm just excited to play."

"Nothing is mandatory," he said [when asked if he was required to rehab in Foxboro]. "They can encourage what they want. They wanted me to be around for the surgery and so forth. I decided to stay up here. Me going away, I'm not going to learn anything. I could have took my playbook, and tried to learn as much as I can, but there's no coach around for me to ask questions. The coaches are busy throughout the season. So every chance you have to grab them, when you're in the linebacker meeting room, that's your chance to ask a question real quick, and so it was best for me to stay up here."

"I sat in on all the meetings. I learned everything that I could. That was the goal, learn everything I could. And when they went to go practice, I did my rehab."

Chris Gasper writes CB Shawn Springs said he and Belichick parted ways in amicable fashion with a handshake and that he wouldn't rule out a return to Foxborough.

"It didn't go bad at all," said Springs of his release meeting with Belichick. "I could see myself working for Bill. I have a lot of respect for Bill. It wasn't bad at all. It's almost like he cut me, and he wants to see what he's got without distractions. He wants to give them a shot. It's hard to give them a shot when you have the presence of a guy like me around. He's going to give you all the chances not to mess it up. It helps your psyche. You don't have to compete. Just do your job.

"Now, you don't have to worry about the pressure of guys competing with me and messing up your confidence as a young guy, feeling like, 'How am I going to compete with this guy?' "

"I would come back to New England. I wish them the best. I'm going to miss those guys."

TEAM TALK

• Andy Hart says a healthy Tyrone McKenzie is ready to roll.
• The New England Patriots announced the signing of 6th-round draft choice OL Ted Larsen and the release of veteran CB Shawn Springs.
• Ask PFW, Part I and Part II: Reader questions all over the map this week.
• Patriots Today - Tyrone McKenzie Interview.  (12.23 min. video.)
• Patriots Today - Science and Sports converge at Gillette Stadium. (3.16 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Albert Breer reports the Patriots announced the first of their draft-pick signings with sixth-round C/G Ted Larsen agreeing to terms.  It's a 4-year deal with a max value of $1.87 million and an $80,000 signing bonus.
• Albert Breer breaks down the Larsen deal.
• Mike Reiss offers a breakdown of the four-year deal for Ted Larsen.
• Karen Guregian explains why getting a deal done in May can be beneficial to a rookie.
• Mike Reiss notes two things that stood out from Tuesday's media chat with Patriots LB Tyrone McKenzie: McKenzie's neck is Ted Johnson-like thick and he has a competitor's attitude.
• Karen Guregian reports LB Tyrone McKenzie keeps his focus.
• Mike Reiss analyzes the Shawn Springs release, noting the depth chart now is headed by Bodden, Butler and McCourty.
• Albert Breer examines the serious infusion of youth at linebacker that has come about over the last 27 months.
• Ian Rapoport notes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell preps for his upcoming commencement address at UMass-Lowell.
• Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag. Lots of good insight here so check it out.
• Mike Reiss notes that with NFL assistant coaches considering forming a union, Dante Scarnecchia is taking a leadership role in representing the interest of Pats assistants.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Thomas Fitzgerald and Derrick Nunnally (Philadelphia Inquirer) Sen. Arlen Specter ousted in Democratic primary. Maybe that spygate investigation wasn't so important after all.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots take wire cutters to Shawn Springs.
• Peter King (SI) MMQB Mailbag: Readers share their reactions to early 2010 rankings.
• Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Family guy: Brady's absence no laughing matter for Pats fans.
• Ann Killion (SI) Broncos vets are ready for first look at Tebow, the Mile-High Messiah. Wow, could she be any more mocking and derisive? Sheesh.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Breaking down the OTA practice. An inside look at the NFL's "voluntary" sessions.
• Pat Kirwan (NFL.com) Voluntary workouts? Must be 'protest season' around the league.
• Mike Chappell (Indy Star) Manning likely to become the highest-paid player in NFL history.