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Albert Breer reports newly signed rookie TE Aaron Hernandez has been pretty impressive in the team's spring camps.
If Hernandez can sort through [whatever off-field problems he had that caused him to fall in the draft], he looks like a good bet to contribute in his rookie year. He was already running with the starters in organized team activities, and seemed to be a focal point of coaches.
And he's got the versatility to line up all over the formation -- even splitting outside the numbers at times, while also getting reps at fullback and as an in-line tight end, during workouts thus far.
Tom E. Curran says Laurence Maroney isn't a lost cause. He's just off track. At some point - whether it be with the Patriots or elsewhere - the light will come on.
"Sometimes with the speed I have and my great vision, instead of taking the three-yard play that it is, I try to rely on my ability and try to make a three-yard play and make more out of it and now you got a loss," [Maroney] explained. "Every play ain't gonna be a home run and that's my mistake. I wanna make every play a home run. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. Sometimes you just gotta take what's there and hopefully it opens up the next time. In the past, I think that was one of my problems. So when I say I need to be patient, that's what I mean. Being more patient, setting my blocks up, letting things develop. If I see a hole, explode then. If I don't, just take what's given and get back to the huddle and get ready for the next play."
"It comes with the territory and it's about being a pro to endure those downs and ups and ups and downs," he said. "You'll have weeks when you're at the top. You'll have weeks where you're at the bottom. Being a professional and learning how to embrace those situations is one of the things I have to learn. I still have a ways to go [with maturing]. I'm still the youngest [back on the roster]."
TEAM TALK
- Patriots announced Tuesday the signing of fourth-round draft choice TE Aaron Hernandez.
- Ask PFW: Contract issues abound.
- Patriots Today - Breaking down OTAs. (3.32 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Albert Breer reports Ty Warren is back and will join Stephen Neal, Sebastian Vollmer and Damione Lewis at a summer reading event in Foxborough.
- Jeff Howe notes Ty Warren will return to practice on Thursday, and rookie WR Taylor Price will be able to participate in his first OTA.
- Jeff Howe writes that even though there's some pretty good competition for roster spots right now, the Pats have found a way to keep the tempo high and the camaraderie higher at OTAs.
- Albert Breer looks at Philip Rivers's return from ACL surgery two years ago, seeing remarkable similarities to Welker.
- Christopher Price focuses on two positional battles at OTAs: inside linebacker and safety.
- Mike Reiss says the Patriots need playmakers on D, and second-year S Patrick Chung could help.
- Mike Reiss weighs in on a fiery debate: Belichick or Parcells?
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag. Well worth a read as usual.
- Michael Felger advises the Patriots that he wouldn't give Brady too much time to think about life after New England -- because he actually might like what he sees.
- Ian Rapoport posted pics of Tom Brady getting a shout-out at Boston Garden last night, joining a strong contingent of Patriots there cheering on the green.
- Albert Breer reports Colts prez Bill Polian told the AP his team is not waiting for a Brady deal before signing Manning.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Anthony L. Gargano (NFL Fanhouse) Cut the bull: Brady deserves his dough.
- Stephania Bell (ESPN) Welker looking good, but lots of work left.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Jim Kelly's California QB theory debunked.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Who will be remembered as the greater coach, Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells?
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Players acutely aware of 'Madden' scores.
- Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) The fight for endorsement dollars. For most players, getting off-the-field deals requires serious effort and a customized strategy.
- Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Tomlinson one of five aging rushers that still has something left.
- Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Manning's durability key to reversing curse.
- Ed Thompson (Fox Sports) 7 Points: Reggie Wayne has no leverage.
- Danny O'Neil (Seattle Times) The great maple bar caper: Seahawks' Golden Tate caught in 3 a.m. visit to Top Pot Doughnuts.