Rob Gronkowski

Gronk will likely need about 12 weeks of recovery time before he’s ready to rejoin the Patriots on the field. So, with that in mind, the All-Pro tight end will start the preseason on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The preseason PUP list has no bearing on Gronk’s availability to start the season. It does open up an extra roster spot for the Patriots until Gronk is ready to retake the practice field. He can be removed from the preseason PUP at any time during training camp.

The Patriots won’t have to make a decision about whether to put Gronk on the regular season PUP list until Sept. 1. The normal recovery period would put Gronk’s return right around the regular season opener on Sept. 7, but, considering his long string of surgeries this offseason, he will likely need more than the typical recovery timeline to get ready for game action.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Arian Foster

After signing his five-year, $43 million contract in 2012, securing his football future, Foster decided to try his hand in the music industry. So, he partnered up with Houston-based rapper and friend Bun B, formerly of the group UGK, to get in the studio and start recording music.

“After he got his extension, he was like, ‘Man, I got some things — I just want to finally take a deep breath,’” Bun B said on the Texans’ “Off the Turf with Scurf” podcast. “He doesn’t really make music that he feels like he needs to put out a mix tape or make an album or feel like he needs to share or any of that kind of thing. It’s kind of more of a release for him because he does rapping as well as spoken word, as well as poetry. He’s very well-read, and he’s very well-written, as well. We just get together and just make music, not for commercial release but just for cultural expression.”

Unlike so many athletes before him, Foster’s rap career is strictly for his own personal enjoyment rather than the potential riches that the likes of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and even Deion Sanders pursued in the past. The other thing that sets Foster apart from his athlete-turned-rapper predecessors? He’s apparently “”really good,” according to Bun B.

“I remember we were at Connor [Barwin's] going-away party, and he and Andre [Johnson] were talking about him rapping and he’s like, ‘Bun, tell this man I can rap, yo. Tell this dude I can rap.’ I’m telling him like, ‘Dre, he can go.’ Dre’s like, ‘Alright,’ I’m like, ‘No, he’s actually really good, ‘Dre. You’ll have to come check him out.’ So ‘Dre was like, ‘Alright, I’m going to check him out.’ Now, I don’t know how much rapping he does in the locker room. I don’t know if those guys are even listening to him doing any of that. It’s just funny, man. He’s really proud of what he can do, and he should be.”

So, Foster might not be planning to drop his debut album anytime soon, but you can be sure when he does it will be a must-listen.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers signed a five-year, $110 million contract extension in the offseason, making him a very rich man and keeping him in Green Bay through at least the 2019 season. Some of his former Packers teammates weren’t so lucky, as the team went through something of a roster overhaul this spring, which gave Rodgers a bit of a reality check.

“When they’re cutting guys like Charles Woodson, and not bringing back Greg [Jennings], who’s played a long time here, guys who had big roles for us, it has to be a wake-up call to some of our guys that this is about, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ and ‘What can you do for me?’” Rodgers said in an interview with ESPN Wisconsin. “That’s the type of league that we’re in. That’s how our team looks at us. So you better perform, or you’re going to be looking for a job elsewhere.”

Losing leaders like Woodson and Jennings will be tough on the Pack as they look to contend for another Super Bowl, but understanding the rough road ahead may motivate Rodgers to take an even more active role as the team’s go-to leader going forward.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

The vacation time doesn’t exactly consist of lounging around on the couch and playing video games all day, at least not for the Patriots. Defensive end Chandler Jones proved that theory with an early-morning tweet about his trip to the gym on Monday.

So, while the Patriots players wind down from a busy few weeks out on the field, we figured it was about time for us to do the same.

Last week, my partner in crime on the NESN.com NFL/Patriots beat, Doug Kyed, sorted out some of the big offensive winners for the Patriots this offseason. Well, I’ve been charged with the defensive side of the ball and have a few interesting names lined up.

So, here goes.

1. Ras-I Dowling:

The curious case of Ras-I al Ghul — nerdy Batman reference, I know — continues into its third season.  There have been high hopes for Dowling in each of his first two seasons, only to have them dashed by injuries. Now, entering a make-or-break third season, he, yet again, looks like the answer the Patriots have needed on the corner.

Dowling was the corner on the field for nearly all of the offseason workouts, including organized team activities and the two-day minicamp. He stuck on receivers like glue, glided in and out of his breaks like a galloping gazelle and contested enough of Tom Brady‘s passes you might have thought Brady was Mark Sanchez — but not really.

Injuries are still the biggest concern for Dowling heading into this season, but if he can endure a full 16-game schedule, then opposing receivers are in for a real treat between him and Aqib Talib this season.

2. Adrian Wilson:

If Dowling has a chip on his shoulder heading into this season, then what Adrian Wilson is carrying around must be the size of a cinder block. After an up-and-down season in Arizona, Wilson was said to be “washed up” and to have “lost a step.” A bit of advice: don’t tell Adrian that.

First off, Wilson is a physical specimen. He’s 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds of pure muscle and aggression. He more closely resembles a linebacker or tight end than a safety, but he still has — notice the present tense — the speed to cover, and effectively, I might add, out in space.

Wilson was something of a highlight reel during offseason workouts at Gillette Stadium. He helped out consistently over the top of the defense, deflected some passes and intercepted a few more, looking a lot closer to an All-Pro than over-the-hill. He even played some middle linebacker, which could be a solid move for both the Patriots’ defense and his own career longevity.

His contract may not be indicative of a starter, but everything he’s shown so far would indicate otherwise.

3. Dane Fletcher:

Fletcher missed the entire 2012 season with a torn ACL, but he’s already back in the fold at linebacker for the Patriots.

With Brandon Spikes skipping OTAs, Fletcher was given a chance to reclaim the spotlight in the middle, and he did quite well. He moved around well on the surgically repaired knee and seemed to gel nicely with the first-team defense when he got reps there.

It might be a very different story when he slaps the pads on, but he did good work during the offseason practices and the Patriots should feel confident about trotting him out there on passing downs — or anytime, really.

4. Kyle Arrington:

Arrington’s offseason started with a brand new four-year, $16 million contract — that seems like a good start. It continued on with the birth of his son, Kyle Jr. Then, back on the field, he continued to enjoy success.

He started on the outside during OTAs, working opposite Aqib Talib during the first of practices. Since, he’s shifted back to the interior — where he excelled toward the end of last season — and picked up right where he left off with solid play in the slot.

Arrington didn’t have quite the notable success that Dowling and Wilson enjoyed, but he was good and his offseason as a whole seems to be an overwhelming success.

5. Vince Wilfork:

It’s nearly impossible to judge linemen when there’s no contact involved in spring practices, but Wilfork still looked like the supremely talented leader that the Patriots have depended on for a decade now. He’s said all the right things, too — as if that’s a shock to anyone.

Wilfork looked well-conditioned — at least, as well as a 325-pound man can — and seemed as determined as ever when talking about developing a young Patriots defense. Wilfork, now 31, also finally has some dominant pieces alongside him to help make his life a lot easier.

The additions of veteran Tommy Kelly and former USC and CFL star Armond Armstead should help ease Wilfork’s workload and maybe add a few more quality seasons onto Wilfork’s NFL lifespan.

Wilfork will surely be grateful to play alongside some quality talent again, but the combination should also give the Patriots an even more dominant and intimidating presence along the defensive line this season.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Jay-Z was celebrating the 10th anniversary of his popular 40/40 club on Monday night, and Kraft just so happened to be one his guests at the event. Kraft seemed to spend some time chatting with the acclaimed rapper on the red carpet, and he, along with actress Ricki Noel, also shared a drink with Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce at the event.

Check out photos of Kraft and Z — can we call him Z? — below.

Photos via Twitter/@Rand_Getlin and Tumblr/MrMrsCarter

The Patriots signed rookie running back George Winn on Monday. The Houston Texans, who signed Winn after the draft, released him late last month during organized team activities.

Winn, who went undrafted out of Cincinnati, ran for 1,334 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012 — his only full season as the starting tailback. He was also recruited to Cincinnati by now-Notre Dame coach and Bill Belichick‘s close companion Brian Kelly, who just so happened to be at Patriots minicamp last week.

It would also appear that Winn was the mysterious No. 35 who was spotted working out for the Patriots during the minicamp as well. He will compete with Brandon Bolden, LeGarrett Blount and Leon Washington for a spot on the Patriots’ final 53-man roster in training camp.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Aside from the dismal 6-10 season, complete front office revamp and utter destruction of what little confidence Mark Sanchez had left already — not to mention Tebow is currently on the arch-rival New England Patriots’ roster — the Jets still have more to pay for their failed investment.

The Jets won’t be paying Tebow any money directly this season, but they still owe the Denver Broncos, who dealt him to New York last offseason, upwards of $1.53 million — money advanced to Tebow from the Broncos in 2011 — to complete the deal.

What’s more, the Patriots will pay less than that for Tebow’s services, if he makes the final roster of course, over two seasons than the Jets will this year alone. The Patriots signed Tebow to a two-year deal worth a total of $1.36 million, with zero guaranteed money, last week.

So, he could feasibly make the final roster and sit on the Patriots’ bench for the next two seasons, wearing a headset and helping Tom Brady stay loose, and Bill Belichick can smile a big hoodie smile at Rex Ryan knowing he’s beaten the Jets yet again.

And, for Belichick, that might be reason enough to keep Tebow around.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Alright, alright, I’ll stop with the circus talk. But, the Tebow talk? I can’t make any promises.

Tebow’s signing was the hot topic this week, and his first few days with the Patriots seemed to go over quite well. He didn’t exactly have a groundbreaking performance on the field — he was mediocre, at best — but he kept a low profile with the media and Bill Belichick did his best to, well, Bill Belichick any Tebow-related questions.

Even though he’s merely a third-string quarterback, Tebow is still the talk of the town — and the league, for that matter — so I’ll gladly engage in a little Tebow talk. All that being said, I tried to limit the Tebowmania in this week’s mailbag, meaning I took the two best questions from the week rather than all 4,000-plus Tebow inquiries.

Alright, enough of the run around. Mail time!

What is your forecast for the output of the Patriots secondary, and what are their plans to improve it from previous seasons?
– Twitter/@Bovinitiation

This process actually started in 2012 by drafting Alfonzo Dennard, trading for Aqib Talib and moving Devin McCourty over to safety. Kyle Arrington‘s move into the slot was also a great success, which played a big role in the defensive turnaround near the end of last season.

Add veteran safety Adrian Wilson, 2013 draftee Logan Ryan, oh, and — knock on wood — a healthy Ras-I Dowling to that mix and suddenly the Patriots have what looks like one of the deepest secondaries in the NFL.

The big keys now lie in Tavon Wilson‘s development at safety and just staying healthy, an issue Dennard, Dowling and Talib have all struggled with historically. Either way, I’d expect a significant turnaround in the secondary this season.

Is it possible Bill wants to showcase Tebow during the preseason then trade him to Jacksonville for a draft pick #fatheroftightend
– Twitter/ @lloydmeetsworld

Great Twitter handle, by the way. Boy Meets World was a cult classic growing up.

As to the question, the Patriots may stir up some interest for Tebow if he plays well during the preseason, but he would have to be pretty darn good for anyone to trade for him that soon. He sat on the free-agent market without any offers for over five weeks, so no one is overly interested as is and the Jaguars, surprisingly, seem to have far less interest than other teams out there.

Then again, the Jags have made a habit of scooping up former Patriots of late. First it was receiver Jeremy Ebert, followed by Brandon Deaderick, Kyle Love and now even Mike Kafka. It seems like Jacksonville is quickly becoming Foxboro South. That being said, maybe Tebow’s stay here has them salivating over him once more.

Either way, he’ll need to show significant improvement before any teams come calling. And I’d bet on Ryan Mallett getting a look or two before anyone comes calling about Tebow, too.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Tim Tebow

In New York, Tebow’s arrival meant controversy and chaos, but the Patriots, and Bill Belichick‘s mundane style, tamed that beast before it was even unleashed from its cage. Now, the biggest question for the cult hero is whether he can actually play.

Tebow looked pretty raw during his first few practices with the Patriots, but two days in a new system won’t yield impressive results from any player, nevermind one with such clear mechanical issues. Tebow at least deserves a chance to change perceptions and maybe make the roster, but he is by no means guaranteed a roster spot — nor should he be.

The Patriots only get 53 guys to work on their roster and even fewer on game days. So, while Tebow may be an intriguing project, he shouldn’t take a spot away from someone like rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld or maybe even a veteran like Jeff Tarpinian.

NESN.com’s NFL writers Luke Hughes and Doug Kyed jumped on the podcast to hash out some thoughts on Tebow’s first few days in New England and consider his chances at making the final roster. They also discussed the development of the reworked receiving corps, Brandon Spikes‘ potential future with the team and some other leftover nuggets from the week that was.

So, turn up the volume, kick up your feet and enjoy this week’s Patriots podcast.

The Patriots finished up their offseason schedule on Thursday with a satisfied Bill Belichick cancelling the third day of the three-day minicamp. Now, Tom Brady and his teammates will have about six weeks to relax and rest up before reporting back to Gillette Stadium at the end of July for the start of training camp.

The Patriots’ offseason program left NESN.com NFL writers Luke Hughes and  Doug Kyed with plenty of leftover thoughts and opinions on key position battles and players. So, they decided this was as good a time as any to take another stab at an early projection of the 53-man roster.

There were some tough cuts, a few disagreements, including the future of Tim Tebow, and even an undrafted rookie on the roster. So, take a stroll through and see what the eventual 53-man roster could look like.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

Kyed: Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett (2)

That’s right, Tim Tebow is not making the squad. I think the Patriots value the extra spot on the roster too much for Tebow to squeak in there. He likely won’t impress enough at quarterback during training camp to force the Patriots to keep him around.

Hughes: Brady, Mallett, Tim Tebow (3)

Brady and Mallett, enough said. Tebow, though? I’m not so certain. I jostled back and forth on him, but I think he can earn himself a spot. Bill Belichick knew the media storm Tebow would cause and he signed him anyway. Mallett could be on his way out after 2013, and the Patriots may be looking for Brady’s backup for the future. A year with Josh McDaniels and behind Brady could give Tebow just the time and resources he needs to figure things out.

RUNNING BACK

Kyed: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Leon Washington, Brandon Bolden (4)

LaGarrette Blount was the tough cut. Bolden is recovering from a foot ailment, but should prove to be the better player when he can get on the field and carry the ball again. I could see another running back brought in before training camp to give both players a run for their spot. It could also be a smaller, shiftier back to compete with Washington

Hughes: Ridley, Vereen, Washington, LeGarrette Blount (4)

I think Bolden still has a great chance to make the team, but his injury has him behind the eight ball thus far. Blount has been something of a roller coaster with the Patriots so far, making really nice plays and some bonehead mistakes. He’s got the upper hand, for now, but Bolden could easily turn the tables in camp.

WIDE RECEIVER

Kyed: Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Josh Boyce, Michael Jenkins, Matthew Slater (6)

Jenkins is in and Donald Jones is out. This could very well change before the season starts, but for now, the healthy player who has been hooking up with Brady has a better shot than Jones, who missed time during minicamp.

Hughes: Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Jenkins, Slater, Lavelle Hawkins, Donald Jones (7)

Seven is a little heavy at the receiver position, but with so many young receivers it makes sense to carry an extra. Plus, Slater is really more of a specialist who provides added depth at the position. Edelman was my toughest cut, but, just like with Bolden, until he shows he’s healthy and capable, I’m going with the guys who have done it. Hawkins has been impressive and Jones has seemed to pick up the offense pretty quick so far.

TIGHT END

Kyed: Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Jake Ballard, Zach Sudfeld (4)

If Gronkowski starts the season on the PUP, then Michael Hoomanawanui gets in. But for now, until we know the extent of Gronkowski’s recovery, the All-Pro stays in.

Hughes: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Ballard, Sudfeld (4)

Echo! Echo! I like Hooman, a lot in fact, but I see the Patriots settling with four tight ends this time around and Sudfeld gets the finals spot over both he and Daniel Fells. But, if Gronk hits the PUP, which is likely, then Hooman should make the team.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Kyed: Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, Sebastian Vollmer, Will Svitek, Marcus Cannon, Markus Zusevics, Nick McDonald (9)

Not much changes here from the last 53-man roster projection except that McDonald is in and Matt Stankiewitch is out. I’m just going more chalk here than I had in the past.

Hughes: Solder, Vollmer, Mankins, Connolly, Wendell, Zusevics, Cannon, Kevin Haslam (8)

They kept Zusevics around for a reason last season and he seems like the better option over Svitek at this point. Haslam gets the nod over Svitek and McDonald, too, because of his athleticism. He can be a solid interior backup for Mankins and Connolly.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE END

Kyed: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Justin Francis, Michael Buchanan, Jermaine Cunningham (5)

After seeing some of what the Patriots were running in OTAs and minicamp, it makes sense to keep Cunningham over Jake Bequette, who I had making the team before. Cunningham looks bigger this offseason, which means he could serve a very versatile role.

Hughes: Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Cunningham, Francis, Jake Bequette (6)

It may seem there’s a bit of an overload at defensive end, but the versatility of Cunning ham and Francis to move inside makes that decision easier. Bequette was one of the final few in, just barely eking out CFL-exile Jason Vega. Ninkovich has been mentoring Bequette throughout the offseason and I think that makes the difference.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Kyed: Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Armond Armstead, Marcus Forston (4)

Kelly was plugged in next to Wilfork as the starter during the Patriots’ offseason workouts. Armstead has a ton of promise and could be just what the team needs to get some pressure from the inside on passing downs.

Hughes: Wilfork, Kelly, Armstead (3)

Cunningham’s ability to play on the interior allows the Patriots to go thinner at defensive tackle. Kelly and Armstead should give the pass rush a significant boost, all which could make Forston a goner.

LINEBACKER

Kyed: Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Dane Fletcher, Steve Beauharnais (6)

The Patriots found some nice depth at linebacker this year. Mayo, Spikes and Hightower will likely be starters, but Collins could push for a big role this year if he can translate his athleticism into production on the field. Having Fletcher back is a plus, since he has the versatility to play inside or outside in either a 3-4 or 4-3.

Hughes: Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Collins, Fletcher (5)

Spikes may not be high on Belichick’s list right now, but he’s just too talented to do without. Fletcher’s return adds depth to the group, and Adrian Wilson‘s ability to fill in at linebacker makes Beauharnais expendable.

CORNERBACK

Kyed: Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling (5)

Dowling looks impressive while healthy, but we’ll see how long that lasts. As long as he stays healthy, he should make the team as great depth outside.

Hughes: Talib, Arrington, Dowling, Dennard, Ryan (5)

Dennard’s injury doesn’t seem too serious after all, and Dowling has looked terrific so far. Marquice Cole was a tough cut, but Ryan is more than capable on the corner and safety Duron Harmon can fill his role on special teams.

SAFETY

Kyed: Devin McCourty, Tavon Wilson, Adrian Wilson, Steve Gregory, Duron Harmon (5)

The Patriots have some nice depth at safety this year, too. Nate Ebner or Marquice Cole, who spent some time at safety, could push to make the roster in special teams roles.

Hughes: McCourty, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Gregory, Harmon (5)

Gregory could be hard-pressed for a spot, especially if Ebner improves in year two. But with the way things look now, Gregory should find his way onto the roster pretty easily.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kyed: Steve Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken (3)

For now, the incumbents are making the team.

Hughes: Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken (3)

They’re all pretty safe, but Mesko better not sleep on Ryan Allen.

FINAL SELECTIONS

LAST THREE IN

Kyed: Jermaine Cunningham, Nick McDonald, Steve Beauharnais

Hughes: Donald Jones, Jake Bequette, Kevin Haslam                                          

LAST THREE OUT

Kyed: Jake Bequette, Tim Tebow, Michael Hoomanawanui

Hughes: Julian Edelman, Marquice Cole, Marcus Forston

Tim Tebow

While the media circus circled around Foxboro earlier this week for Tebow time, the Patriots brushed aside all the extra media members and ignored the added attention, which included a classic Bill Belichick news conference. Now, it appears the Patriots might be buying into the hype.

The Patriots announced on Wednesday that Tebow, along with Brady, would be their “star” players for the 2013 season. That might seem like a pretty lofty title for a third-string quarterback, but it might actually be the smartest course of action for the Patriots.

The NFL allows each team to have two “star” players, per league rules, each season. Those two players are only required to meet with the media once per week, meaning Belichick will be able to at least limit, if not eliminate altogether, the media frenzy that New England experienced on Tuesday.

The label itself may stir up some slight controversy, though not one of the quarterback persuasion, but the limited media access should benefit the Patriots during the season. And now that he’s been labeled a star maybe the Patriots can actually get Tebow to play like one.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Before landing Kelly as their head man, the Eagles apparently took a run at Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, offering him the job, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Sumlin, who is entering his second season at A&M, wouldn’t discuss the specifics of his NFL suitors, but he did confirm that he was offered an NFL job during the offseason.

“I don’t have to say anything,” Sumlin said. “Everybody knows what I do [now]. I’ve never coached in the NFL. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do that, both as an assistant coach and even as a head coach.”

Sumlin’s name has been tied into NFL circles for a few years now, and it would be no surprise if he eventually lands a job in the NFL. But after a successful first season with the Aggies, which included an 11-2 record and the NCAA’s first freshman Heisman Trophy winner in Johnny Manziel, it’s no surprise he decided to go back.

He does see the NFL in his future, though.

“Maybe later — some time later,” Sumlin said. “But it won’t be anytime soon.”

Sumlin’s name will probably be hot on the NFL circuit again next offseason, and, who knows, if he lands a job maybe he’ll take Manziel along with him.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Photo via Facebook/Kevin Sumlin

Danny Amendola got his first real dose of that side of Brady on Tuesday after making a nice catch during the first day of Patriots minicamp. He seemed to enjoy it, too.

“We got open and made a play,” Amendola said, smiling about the connection. “It was only one play, and we’re trying to stack as many of those up as we can.”

Amendola made a quick route adjustment during an 11-on-11 scrimmage, tipping Brady off to the coverage and then making a nice play on a ball over the middle. The result energized Brady, but it seemed to be Amendola’s smarts and recognition that really got the quarterback hyped up.

Brady threw his hands in the air and began shouting like an excited schoolboy in praise of Amendola as he trotted back to the line of scrimmage. That sort of praise would help motivate any receiver, especially one new to the Patriots’ complex offense. But, for Amendola, it’s Brady’s fire and passion that’s really inspiring him.

“Watching Tom and being on the outside, you see that fire and you see him get amped up in games,” Amendola said after practice on Wednesday. “That’s the type of guy you want to play for. For him to do that in practice, in OTAs, when we’re going against each other — our own team — to have that fire and that desire to win is really uplifting. He does a good job of lifting up the whole team and getting everybody to play really hard. He’s one of the best.”

There’s been plenty of Brady excitement to go around so far in minicamp, too. After one completion to Lavelle Hawkins in the back of the end zone on Tuesday, Brady turned to the defensive sideline and celebrated in their direction before finding his receiver to celebrating again. Nothing quite topped that moment on Wednesday, but Brady kept the enthusiasm up and continued to shout out praise to get his teammates going.

Amendola has been feeding off that enthusiasm throughout his few weeks in Foxboro, but he’s also been absorbing as much of Brady’s fountain of knowledge as he can to better acclimate to the Patriots’ system.

“He’s been in the system for about 11 years, I think. I’ve been in here for about three weeks,” Amendola said with a clever smirk. “He knows every route inside and out — just as well as the coaches. It’s really good to have a leader like Tom, and a leader like coach [Josh] McDaniels and coach [Chad] O’Shea and Bill Belichick to lead us in the right direction. We’re all trying to play hard for them.”

Brady, meanwhile, has kept a keen eye on Amendola since he’s come to New England. He’s taken notice of his physical skill set, which is pretty evident on first glance, but it’s Amendola’s commitment and tenacity that have impressed Brady most.

“We talk about a lot of things,” Brady said on Wednesday. “So it’s when you can take something from the film room or correction the previous day and actually apply it on the field, in maybe a little bit of a different looks and a little bit of a different play,  but he can pick it up it’s fun. That’s how you make improvements. That’s how you exceed expectations is to continue to do the right thing over and over.

“We talked about something and the first time he didn’t quite get it, and the second time we talked he got it a little bit more but not quite. Finally we nailed it. Hopefully, once you get that feeling of nailing it, you can understand it.”

Brady and Amendola have seemed to “nail it,” so far. Their chemistry seems to be growing by the day, so much so that even Brady compared it to that of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. That’s some big praise for a receiver who’s been here for no longer than a few cups of coffee.

Amendola has impressed so far, but he knows he still has a way to go in this offense. Luckily for him, he’ll have Brady pushing him to be better every step of the way.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Brady has developed chemistry with a bevy of receivers during his 13-year NFL career, including the likes of Deion Branch, Randy Moss and Wes Welker. He always seems to easily transition from one receiver to another, and it appears things with Danny Amendola are no different.

Amendola has only been with the Patriots for a few weeks now, but he and Brady are already building some impressive chemistry out on the field. Brady even dared compare it to the connection he shares with tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

“I’ve developed some good chemistry with receivers over the years that body language is really important — when to sit, when to move, when to give me your eyes, when to give me your hands,” Brady said on Wednesday. “All those little cues that you’re using to try to anticipate things as a player [is] very important. That’s why some guys really pick things up and why you develop a chemistry with certain players. Like Aaron and Rob, they got it so quickly and they were very talented players. Danny’s come in and done [it].”

Brady has been visibly excited by Amendola’s play during Patriots minicamp so far, even shouting out in excitement to his new receiver after making a last-second route adjustment. Having a receiver with Amendola’s capability seems to have excited Brady, and he admitted as much.

“He’s fun to play with,” Brady said. “He works so hard. He’s out diving out there for catches. He’s really done everything that we’ve asked him to do. So it’s been a lot of fun.”

Brady’s hoping that fun lasts all the way through the upcoming season.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Spikes chose to skip voluntary organized team activities this offseason, deciding instead to work out on his own at a Florida facility rather than in Foxboro with his teammates. So, when he arrived at Gillette Stadium on Monday, making his first appearance of the offseason, he was welcomed into a different environment, which included second-team reps, than the one he left in January.

He rejoined his teammates on the practice field for the first time on Tuesday. His return was a welcome sight for his defensive mates, as they seek to build some cohesion heading toward training camp, but his absence up to this point is what Bill Belichick seemed to notice most.

In the midst of the Tim Tebow lovefest that took place at Gillette on Tuesday, Belichick slipped in what appeared to be a subtle slight at Spikes for ditching out on the voluntary OTAs.

“All of our players, except one, have been here regularly through the offseason up until this week,” Belichick said during a pre-practice news conference on Tuesday.

The jab went overlooked at first, especially considering all the attention on Tebow, but it was said with some intent. Spikes’ absence gave off a me-first impression, which goes directly against the Patriots team-first mentality, and appears to have gotten under Belichick’s skin.

Spikes, 25, who’s in the final year of his rookie contract, doesn’t view his time away in quite the same vein. The move makes him seem selfish, as he looks to land a big-money deal — can you blame him? — next offseason. But Spikes says his motivation was mainly to get in better shape and become a better linebacker.

“I just felt like I was just [trying] to put myself in the best position to compete for a spot on the team and also help this team win a championship,” Spikes said. “You guys know me. I do things a little different from anybody else. I don’t think that’s bad or a shocker. Honestly, if everyone in this world was a conformist it would be a boring place.”

He’s right about conformity, too. It is boring. But Belichick likes boring, and that’s a big part of the Patriots’ program.

Originality and individuality are fun and entertaining, but the Patriots are all about football. There’s no room for fun and games inside the Patriots’ locker room, and Spikes doesn’t seem to like that.

Spikes is an affable, gregarious character with a big mouth and an even bigger imagination. His personality has created some hilarious candid moments inside the locker room, including his retelling of some old basketball memories, as well as some controversial ones off the field — ahem, Chatroulette. But those qualities don’t exactly tie into the Patriot way.

Belichick wants all of his players to be focused on football first and to buy into the no-nonsense, business first system that he’s built. That’s why guys like Tom Brady, Jerod Mayo, Vince Wilfork and Devin McCourty are leaders on this team. All of them are passionate about the game of football, and none of them put their own goals ahead of that of the team.

It’s not to say that Spikes isn’t passionate, or that he’s not putting the team first, but his head just doesn’t seem to be in the place where Belichick wants it to be.

“I stayed in contact with some guys, making sure things weren’t changing in the meeting rooms and things like that,” Spikes said of his offseason. “I just wanted to stay on top of my game and I felt like being somewhere else, being on my own I normally do better and be productive that way.”

He believed that working on his own would put him in a better position to succeed, and it might. But even if he’s in the best shape of his life and finally becomes serviceable in coverage, that lack of “team” commitment could make him expendable.

Belichick wants 53 leaders on his football team and 53 guys who are going to work to make the Patriots, as a whole, better. Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick apparently weren’t taking on enough of a leadership role, and look where they ended up — Jacksonville. Yikes. Maybe Spikes will be the next ex-Patriot to end up in Northern Florida. He did spend four years in college down there, and the Jaguars are treating the Patriots’ junk yard like their own gold mine — six former Patriots are currently on their roster.

None of this means that Spikes won’t be back in New England in 2014. Nothing the Patriots do is much of surprise anymore, and signing Tim Tebow only confirmed that. So, there is a chance Spikes could stick around, although all indications, including drafting linebacker Jamie Collins in the second round, would point otherwise.

Spikes is still one of the most dominant run defenders in the NFL, and the Patriots’ defense is better because of him. But between Mayo, Dont’a Hightower and now Collins, there may be no place for Spikes soon enough. Plus, he’ll be looking for a major pay raise, something Belichick isn’t quick to hand out to just anyone.

There is still a minicamp and an entire season to finish before that question even becomes viable, but Spikes’ actions this offseason may have him on the outs in New England. He has plenty of time to recoup his losses. Now, it’s just a matter of if he wants to.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

The Patriots had former New York Jets wide receiver Chaz Schilens in for a tryout on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com, closing our search for the elusive 84.

Schilens, 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, was initially mistaken for popular veteran and former Patriots receiver Jabar Gaffney, who checks in at 6-foot-2 and better than 200 pounds himself. So, it’s a pretty reasonable mistake, which befell most of us on Tuesday.

Schilens, 27, was a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2008. He spent his first four seasons with the Raiders before joining the Jets last season. He caught 28 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games with the Jets, which just so happens to be where new Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow played last season.

The Patriots also hosted former Colts wide receiver Austin Collie on Tuesday, though he did not practice with the team.

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Photo via Facebook/Chaz Schilens

Brandon Spikes and Aaron Hernandez played with Tebow in college at Florida, and now they’re being reunited with him in New England. Both players spoke glowingly about their newest teammate, and even mentioned that they didn’t see him being any type of distraction for the Patriots.

Spikes, who returned to the Patriots after an offseason away, was quick to note how glad he was to have his old friend back around.

“I was happy for him,” Spikes said of Tebow. “He got his job back or whatever and he come out here [to] compete. That’s good to see him smile – that big smile I’m used to seeing the last few years down in Florida.”

Hernandez, who was limited yet again at Tuesday’s practice, echoed some of Spikes sentiments about Tebow during his first meeting with the media this offseason. He admitted feeling a bit shocked when he first heard the news, but he sounded as happy as anyone to have the quarterback on his side again.

“Definitely it was a surprise for most of us,” Hernandez said. “Once I heard the information I was a little shocked and I was happy beause we had a long relationship in college. And it’s good to play with a college teammate again.

“He’s a football player. He knows how to make plays. I’m lucky to have him on my team again.”

Hernandez and Spikes won a national championship with Tebow during their 2008 season at Florida — the season after Tebow won his Heisman Trophy. Tebow received tons of media coverage then, and the polarizing quarterback gets even more now in the NFL.

There were more than 50 reporters and dozens of both local and national news outlets at Gillette Stadium for Tebow’s debut on Tuesday, but neither Spikes nor Hernandez sees the attention being a distraction for him or the team this season.

“He handled it well,” Spikes said of the media blitz at Florida. “I think he’s a great guy. He’s a winner. That’s all I pay attention to — the outside distraction stuff is not for me to decide.”

As for Hernandez, he’s been around the Patriots long enough at this point to know that even a polarizing figure like Tebow won’t alter the team’s focus.

“No, the media’s gonna be around,” Hernandez said. “If you let the media become a distraction, then that’s your fault. But having seen this program, we don’t let that happen. We just worry about playing football and take care of ourselves.”

Tebow seemed prepared to do just that already on his first day in New England, choosing not to answer questions from the media and instead giving a quick 32-second statement and getting out of dodge. That’s probably the last we’ll hear from Tebow until training camp, which should keep the media militia from invading Foxboro again for some time.

Now, it’s time for Tebow to focus on football, which is exactly what his teammates know he’s here to do.

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Edelman, who re-injured his right foot this offseason, was out of his walking boot and doing some short, slow routes on the filed at Gillette Stadium after practice on Tuesday afternoon. He caught passes from a member of the Patriots’ training staff while another staffer swatted a towel at him as he attempted to catch the ball.

He did a good job concentrating on the passes and even gave a slight jog to catch up to a few balls that were thrown out a little wide. Just being out of the protective boot and doing some short routes is a positive sign for Edelman and the Patriots offense, even if it’s only a small step in his recovery process.

The 27-year-old is now the Patriots’ most veteran receiver and will likely rely on his skills and chemistry with Tom Brady as they enter this season with an entirely new receiving corps. He caught 21 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns in nine games in 2012. He was also the Patriots’ best punt returner, averaging more than 15 yards and scoring a 68-yard touchdown on 17 punt returns last season.

Given the progress to this point and his expected recovery timetable, Edelman should be back to full health and with the Patriots at the start of training camp.

Here’s a distant shot of Edelman out on the field, catching passes.

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Tebow didn’t take any questions after his first practice in a Patriots uniform, but he did offer the following statement before jogging off with the rest of his new teammates.

“First and foremost, I just want to thank the Patriots for giving me an opportunity,” Tebow said. “I’m very thankful. It’s such an honor to be a Patriot and play for coach [Bill] Belichick and for coach [Josh] McDaniels and learn under Tom [Brady] and to be a part of this great franchise, a very successful franchise – I learned that firsthand, we lost to them several times. So it’s going to be a lot of fun.

“I’m looking forward to working hard every single day and getting a lot better and learning under some great people. That’s all I got. Thank y’all so much. God bless.”

Tebow took reps as the third-string quarterback during the first day of Patriots minicamp, but he did spend some time running the offense during 11-on-11 drills.

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The Patriots will open their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, including an appearance from Brandon Spikes, and it should give us a much clearer picture of just how this team is coming together.

Spikes’ presence may be the biggest story for the Patriots, as he wasn’t present for any OTAs over the past three weeks. Bigger still, they finally have their starting linebackers back together and can actually get a jump on improving one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses from a season ago.

Aside from the Spikes melodrama, there are plenty of storylines to continue to monitor. So, with that in mind, here are five things to keep an eye on as we tour minicamp over the next three days.

1. Return of the Spikes: We mentioned it already, but getting Spikes back is the most important part of this minicamp. He chose to train on his own in Florida, in hopes of becoming a more versatile, three-down linebacker. If he succeeded in that quest, then the Patriots’ defense will be better off for it. The first thing I’ll be looking for is what kind of shape Spikes is in physically and how he’s moving around, especially in coverage.

He still hasn’t returned to Twitter just yet, so I’ll hold onto the #Pow for another time.

2. Tom Brady’s comfort level with veteran wide receivers: Nine of the 12 Patriots receivers are new to the team this year, and most of them will need much more time to get fully acclimated to the offense. Danny Amendola has already developed some good chemistry with Brady, but, aside from him and third-year receiver Kamar Aiken, no one has really stood out. Donald Jones and Lavelle Hawkins have made some noteworthy plays, and Michael Jenkins has spent a lot of time with the first-team offense, but none of them have made a consistent impact just yet. We’ll see if any of them have gotten the system down by now.

3. Rookie wide receivers catching on: Speaking of receivers, there are a few young guys on the roster with tons of potential. Aaron Dobson is catching on slowly, but he hasn’t established himself as consistent or reliable just yet. It will be interesting to see if injured rookies Josh Boyce (foot) or Mark Harrison (foot) participate at all, too. Both players have only been spotted riding the exercise bike during OTAs.

4. Alfonzo Dennard’s injury update -- The last we saw of the second-year cornerback, he was being carted off the field with what looked like a left shoulder injury. Since, the Patriots have kept radio silent about his status, so his presence or absence will be of high priority on what I’ll be looking for. If not, it will be interesting to see who replaces him opposite Aqib Talib as the starting cornerback. Ras-I Dowling has been very impressive so far, but Kyle Arrington was working on the outside with the first team during the first week of OTAs.

5. Offensive line health – There has been at least one member of the offensive line missing at each of the three OTA practices available to the media — Will Svitek (once) and Nick McDonald (twice). Sebastian Vollmer was limited in all three of them, too. So, we’ll see how the O-Line is holding up with another week behind them and if all five of the starters can get down in front of Brady at some point before training camp.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.