Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen are on Forbes’ “World’s Most Powerful Couples” list for 2013, and they’re in good company. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are just a few of the other big names to make the ranking.

Forbes points out the power couples not only for their pizzazz but also for another feature of power — their money. With Bundchen bringing in $45 million in the past year and Brady collecting a bevy of endorsements as well as his contract with the Patriots, these two aren’t just a pretty pair.

See who else joins Brady and Bundchen among the power couples of the world.

Click here to see Forbes’ most powerful couples for 2013 >>

Former Patriots offensive coordinator and current Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien was at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, at least according to one of his former players and rookie cornerback Stephon Morris.

Great seeing coach O'brien at practice today. Well respected man in the @Patriots organization. Love coach #WeAre

—
Stephon Morris (@_Lova12) May 23, 2013

Morris and rookie center Matt Stankiewitch both played for O’Brien at Penn State in 2012, and the two had great things to say about him during rookie minicamp. O’Brien probably checked in with his former players at the practice, but it’s likely his purpose was more to meet and discuss strategy with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels.

O’Brien had a major impact on the Patriots’ offensive scheme during his five-year stint in New England, so his input on the future of the offense would be understandable. Also, with Greg Schiano no longer at Rutgers, Belichick may be looking to O’Brien as the source of the Patriots next college pipeline.

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The team agreed to a deal with rookie wide receiver Josh Boyce on Friday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The contract is reportedly for four years and worth up to $2.6 million with a $477,000 signing  bonus.

Boyce was the Patriots’ fourth-round pick in this year’s draft and the second wide receiver they selected. Fellow rookie wideout Aaron Dobson (second round) and defensive end Michael Buchanan (seventh) are the only two rookies that remain unsigned.

Boyce has yet to practice with the Patriots, neither at rookie minicamp or organized team activities, while he recovers from surgery on his fractured right foot. He did ride the exercise bike during OTAs earlier in the week and should be ready to participate in team drills by mandatory minicamp June 11-13

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

Entering just his third NFL season, Patriots cornerback Ras-I Dowling has already been branded with the unfortunate and well-deserved tag. But, as he enters something of a make-or-break year in New England, the oft-injured cornerback might also be the Patriots’ best hope at improving their pass defense.

Dowling, 25, entered his rookie season as a starter on the outside and was expected to bolster the Patriots’ suspect secondary. He lasted just two games before rupturing a tendon in his leg and finding his way onto the injured reserved list. It was more of the same in Year 2. Just as he finagled a bigger role in the defensive rotation, he suffered a torn quadriceps, yet again ending his season.

Two seasons in and Dowling has missed more than twice as many games (23) as he has played in (nine) for the Patriots. That might be commonplace for most young players, considering it takes time to work their way into the lineup, but not for a second-round pick and definitely not for one with as much skill and promise as Dowling.

An impact player and four-year starter at Virginia, Dowling has the ideal size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), speed (4.46-second 40-yard dash at the 2011 combine) and ball skills to be a shutdown corner in the NFL. Even with an abundance of talent in the secondary already, the Patriots’ best cornerback tandem (granted, at this far-too-early juncture) would seem to be Aqib Talib and Dowling, from a purely technical standpoint.

Kyle Arrington manned the first team with Talib to open OTAs while Alfonzo Dennard and Dowling manned the second unit — take that as you will. They all looked terrific — add as much salt as necessary, given the lack of pads and contact — in their first run-through of the offseason, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dowling and Dennard get some first-team reps of their own in the weeks to come.

From a pure spectator standpoint, Dowling looked like the best of the bunch. He appeared crisp in his backpedal, changed direction with supreme fluidity and even broke up a few of Tom Brady‘s passes along the sideline. Talib was working hard out on the corner, and both Dennard and Arrington looked solid in their reps, but, for my money at least, Dowling appeared to be the best player out on the corner.

Now, that’s not to say he will be a starter come Week 1, but, aside from Talib manning up on one side, nothing is firmly set in the Patriots’ secondary, especially at cornerback. So, there’s no counting him out either.

Sure, Arrington was the one lining up opposite Talib during the first few days of OTAs, and his fat new contract might stake him at least a claim in the starting job, but he still seems better suited in the slot. Dennard also has a viable claim to the job, considering the secondary seemed to excel during the six games he started at the end of 2012, but the second-year slump might be lurking around the corner. There’s always the outside chance that Devin McCourty moves back to the corner — unlikely — or that rookie Logan Ryan establishes himself as a starter during camp, but really anything could happen between now and then.

It’s way too early to start predicting starting lineups, but, for now at least, Dowling seems like the right choice on the outside. That is, if he can stay healthy. And that’s a big “if.”

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

Photo via Facebook/Ras-I Dowling

Chandler Jones

Jones, who played at 260 pounds as a rookie, revealed that he added 10 pounds during the offseason, mostly in muscle. He says the weight is only going to help him get more physical on the outside, and he doesn’t expect it to slow him down at all.

“I had a great offseason. I put on a lot of weight, a lot of muscle actually,” Jones said during an interview with Patriots Football Weekly. “My biggest thing wasn’t just putting on weight. Some guys will put on weight and they’ll run slower. I feel like I really haven’t missed a step with the 10 pounds added. The weight was good. It’s muscle mass.”

The extra weight, as well as some boxing training, should help him get better leverage in the trenches and get after the quarterback more consistently. Adding strength isn’t the only factor in Jones’ offseason program, though. He’s spent much more time focusing on the mental aspects of the game and becoming better acquainted with the playbook.

“Being more familiar with the calls. For a call to be called and me to know it like the back of my hand,” Jones said. “So, if I was to hear a call, boom I’d be right there — be ready. Not just on the field, but off the field. Just having the film study and things of that nature.”

He says all of that work should help him make an even bigger impact on the field this season. In fact, he’s not ruling out a J.J. Watt-type jump in production.

“I feel like a lot of that production comes from guys being more familiar with the game,” Jones said. “You go into your rookie year, and your rookie year you get those pregame jitters. Now, I’m going into sophomore, you’re more fluid and more comfortable even communicating with guys next to you. Less thinking and more just green light — going. So, I’m excited to attack this Year 2.”

When asked if the Watt comparison meant fans could expect 19 sacks from him in 2013, Jones replied with a laugh, “Every Pats fan should accept that.”

While 19 sacks might be a bit of a lofty goal, Jones’ confidence and demeanor entering this season are at least enough to give fans pause.

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Wes Welker

Danny Amendola has been charged with replacing Welker in the Patriots’ offense, taking his position in the slot. Many people try to draw similarities between Welker and Amendola, but quarterback Tom Brady says they can’t be compared.

“[They play] similar positions. They’re about the same height. They’ve both got very good ability,” Brady said on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan on Thursday. “It’s hard. Wes was so productive for so long. I think it’s unfair to compare anyone to Wes and what he was able to accomplish in his time here.”

Brady talked about his feelings on Welker’s departure during the interview, but he also addressed his budding relationship with Amendola, praising him for his talent and attitude.

“Danny is really — he’s just been fun to work with. I think he’s come in with an open mind and an understanding of the way that we as Patriots, the way we need to play,” Brady said. “Danny, he’s always had a lot of talent. To watch him out there and play against him — when he was at the Rams, he was very productive. It’s been fun to work with him. He’s got the tenacity to him and the drive and the determination and the work ethic. In a short period of time, it’s really easy to see.”

Amendola worked with Brady in California earlier this offseason, and the two already seemed to have a good connection during the first few practices in Patriots OTAs.

Brady spent some quality alone time with Amendola and veteran Michael Jenkins during OTAs on Tuesday. The extra time seemed to help already, and Brady says the connection will only get better with time.

“Like I said, he’s one of those guys where the more we throw, the better we’re going to be,” Brady said. “So, we’re trying to always kind of talk and communicate through practice, through OTAs. We threw in the spring a lot, and hopefully as the summer continues leading up to training camp, we’ll get as many reps as we can together so we’re on the same page.”

The Patriots have more OTAs set up later this month and in the early part of June ahead of minicamp, giving Brady and Amendola plenty of time to get their chemistry down before training camp. But, with the way they’re connecting already, it might not even take that long.

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Brady went on Dennis & Callahan Thursday morning and talked about how the Patriots are doing as the players put in time at organized team activities. One big area of curiosity continues to be the departure of Welker.

While Welker leaving may have blindsided some people, Brady sounded prepared for the turn of events.

“I used to get caught up in anger and frustration and disappointment,” he said of watching the Patriots make personnel moves. “But I don’t make the decisions. These things aren’t up to me. At some point you’ve got to realize the things that are out of your control.”

Brady has had experience leading the team as the front office changes the pieces around him.

“I don’t think anything surprises me any more in the NFL,” he said. “I’ve been around long enough to see things happen at different times with the greatest players of all, whether that’s Wes, or Randy Moss being traded from the Raiders, or Brett Favre playing for the Jets and the Vikings. That’s what happens. Like I said, it’s a very tough, competitive business.

“Nobody appreciated Wes more than I did and what he was able to accomplish for our team. But he’s moved on. He’s in a good situation with another great team and a great quarterback. We’ve always kind of kept in touch. We always will. He’s one of my best friends. I certainly wish him the best.”

One of the major undercurrents as Welker left was that it appeared the Patriots had cleared space to keep him — and specifically that Brady had been part of clearing that space. After Brady restructured his contract, many assumed it was so his pal would return to New England.

Brady denied any “demands” Thursday, saying he restructured his deal for the good of the entire team.

“I have all the trust in the world that Mr. [Robert] Kraft and Jonathan [Kraft] and coach [Bill] Belichick will do that,” he said. “… That was kind of a value proposition for me, wanting to be in this system with coach Belichick and the other players that I’ve been able to play with. I think we are going to field a competitive team. It’s competitive thus far through the offseason conditioning program and through the OTAs thus far.

“We’ve been close. We were in the Super Bowl two years ago. We were in the AFC championship last year. I know we have a good team.”

Kraft has denied that Brady asked for anything in return for the contract restructuring, and Brady reiterated Thursday that his personal feelings are separate from the management of the team, of which he says he wants no part.

“Of course I have feelings. But those feelings are very personal to me,” he said. “… You’ve just got to let go and focus on my job and what I need to do. Because the game moves on, the team moves on. There’s only so long you can dwell on the past. At some point you’ve got to move forward.

“Like I said, my job for my team is to be the best quarterback, and not the general manager and not the coach and not the owner. It’s to try to go out there and bring my own competitiveness to the field so that those guys that I’m playing with this year can really rely on me and count on me to be the best I can be.”

No matter who’s catching his passes underneath.

All the while, Vince Wilfork must have been on the top of Belichick’s mind.

Entering his 10th season with the Patriots, Wilfork took the practice field for organized team activities on Tuesday with the same level of excitement and anticipation as one of the team’s many rookies. His dark blue jersey was covered in sweat stains by the end of the session, but the enthusiasm in Wilfork’s voice and strewn across his face wouldn’t be washed away.

“You know when you lose that feeling it’s time to give it up,” Wilfork said. “And you know what, I’ve been having this feeling for 10 years now. It’s an exciting feeling to have, trust me. It’s awesome when you can come out here with your teammates and coaches and everyone is smiling.”

It’s that enthusiasm and will to work that has seen Wilfork develop into one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL over the past decade. His monstrous size and brute strength make him difficult to block, even for double teams, and almost impossible to contain. That sort of impact is what any defensive coordinator looks for in a player, but it’s his passion for the game that separates him from other players.

Wilfork, 31, showed off that intensity and excitement on Tuesday — just the second day of voluntary OTAs. Working out without pads or contact didn’t keep Wilfork from treating the practice in mid-May as if it were the middle of training camp. That sort of effort sets a precedent for other players, especially his new teammates along the defensive line.

Nine-year veteran Tommy Kelly and former USC and CFL star Armond Armstead headline that group of newcomers, and both are expected to play a major role along the defensive line this season. They will be relied upon even more heavily now that big-time contributors Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick have relocated to Jacksonville. Wilfork knows that might mean more work on his end, but he’s willing to cooperate if it leads to more wins.

“It’s always tough,” Wilfork said of losing teammates. “I’m dead set and focused on what I can do to get better as a teammate and a person. That’s where I’m at right now. I can’t focus on who has came and who has gone. It’s 10 years. Everyone has made a lot of changes on their rosters.”

His purpose isn’t to evaluate talent or make roster decisions. Instead, Wilfork’s job is to go out and make as big an impact as possible down in the trenches, and he prefers it that way.

“It’s a business. You have to come to work. And that’s what I do,”  Wilfork said. “I come to work every day with my hard hat and work my tail off. I won’t stop doing it. I’m going to continue doing that until I’m finished.”

It’s that attitude that makes Wilfork not only one of the best players in the game, but also a leader for the Patriots both on and off the field. His focus has been contagious for players like Love, Deaderick and others in the past, and the Patriots are hoping it is yet again with a new crop of linemen this season.

To replicate Wilfork’s size and strength is a difficult task for even the most skilled lineman, but to match his passion for the game is an entirely different mission. Belichick knows that better than anyone.

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

Bill Belichick

Despite being suspended for the entirety of the 2012 season in the wake of the “Bountygate” scandal, Payton signed a five-year contract extension in December that will pay him $8 million per year — the highest yearly salary of any coach in the four major sports.

Belichick, who makes an estimated $7.5 million per year coaching the Patriots, had topped Forbes’ list of the highest-paid coaches in America in each of the last two years, but he dropped into a tie for second in the 2013 edition released Wednesday. Matching Belichick is new Chiefs boss Andy Reid, whose five-year deal in Kansas City is also worth a reported $7.5 million annually.

As expected, the vast majority of Forbes’ list is populated by NFL coaches, who occupy eight of the top 10 spots.

One of the two outliers also operates in Massachusetts, though, as Celtics head coach Doc Rivers comes in at No. 7. That Rivers, who pulls in $7 million a year, would return to the Boston bench this fall was somewhat of an uncertainty entering the offseason, but Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge indicated last week that the 2008 championship-winning coach will indeed return for the 2013-14 season.

The Patriots signed another Rutgers grad on Wednesday, bringing in veteran offensive tackle Kevin Haslam. To make room for Haslam on the 90-man roster, the Patriots also waived undrafted rookie R.J. Mattes, who they signed just last week.

Haslam, 26, went undrafted and was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010, playing in five games before being put on injured reserve. After missing the entire 2011 season, Haslam played in five games, starting three, for the San Diego Chargers in 2012.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman has played both tackle and guard, adding even more depth to the Patriots’ offensive line. He becomes the eighth Rutgers player on the Patriots’ 90-man roster, including the sixth Scarlet Knight to join the team this offseason.

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After San Francisco (Super Bowl L) and Houston (Super Bowl LI) were selected as the sites for the 2016 and 2017 games on Tuesday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft made his pitch for the game to be played in Foxboro, Mass.

“We would love one day to hold it here if it’s a good experience there,” Kraft told reporters at the owners meetings on Tuesday. “We’re looking forward to seeing this experience in New York and New Jersey.”

If the outdoor Super Bowl in New York/New Jersey turns out to be a big success, then the NFL would be inclined to make cold-weather Super Bowls a more common occurrence in the future. Kraft is eyeing the Boston-Providence area as the primary location, highlighting two of New England best geographical assets.

“It would be great. I sort of like Boston/Providence,” Kraft said. “This is where it all started. Right here.”

Kraft understands there could be some hurdles to get past before the game actually is awarded to the region, but he believes they can be easily overcome.

“Part of what it will require is political people in Boston and Providence coming together so we could really have the right number of hotel rooms and have the support,” he said. “It would require cooperation from all of the political folks who would have to gather together and want this and come together, like they do in other parts of the country.”

The NFL owners might feel compelled to lend Kraft their support in the venture, especially given how integral he was in resolving the lockout between the league and its players in 2011. Although, they might not like it so much if the ever-dominant Patriots are playing in the very game they host. That’s something Kraft would like to see but isn’t going to prioritize.

“I hope we can be in the game. We like playing in cold weather.” Kraft added. “I’d rather be in the game than attract it here though, that’s going to be our priority.”

The earliest the Patriots would be able to host the Super Bowl would be in 2018, the same season Tom Brady is expected to retire. What a sendoff that would be.

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

Brady was throwing to Danny Amendola and Michael Jenkins on the near side of the field the majority of the time. Amendola was expected, but it was surprising to see Jenkins on the other side.

The Patriots have plenty of options to start at the X wide receiver between Jenkins, Donald Jones, Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. Jenkins has the most experience of that group at the position, so that may be the reason he was getting the most work early in the offseason.

On this week’s Gunslingers Podcast, NESN.com NFL writers Doug Kyed and Luke Hughes discuss what they saw at Patriots OTAs. They also talk about Brian Urlacher‘s retirement and the possible partnership between the WWE and NFL.

Listen in below or download the podcast on iTunes for all the latest on the Patriots and the NFL.

“Mr. Kraft called me on the phone last night and let me know, gave me the news,” Bruschi said. “He told me he was very proud of me to be inducted in the Patriots Hall of Fame, and I told him how much it meant to me.”

Patriots owner Robert Kraft indicated Bruschi received about 75 percent of the vote. Bruschi was also elected to the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this month.

Bruschi will be the 19th player in the Hall, joining 2012 inductee Troy Brown. Bruschi was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL draft, spending 13 seasons with New England. He won three Super Bowls and was a two-time Pro Bowler during his time with the team. Bruschi won the 2005 Comeback Player of the Year Award, returning to the football field just eight months after suffering a stroke.

Bruschi and Santos will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony on August 11, and Bruschi will be honored on the field before the Patriots’ Sept. 12 matchup against the Jets at Gillette Stadium.

Tom Brady, Danny Amendola and most other players wore their short-sleeved practice jerseys and shorts as they worked in the 84-degree heat, but not Talib. The veteran cornerback stuck out like a sore thumb as long, white sleeves covered his arms and two undershirts (red and white) poked out from under the neck of his blank blue jersey.

The only other player seen wearing such unusual attire in the sweltering heat was fellow defensive back Devin McCourty, who sported red sleeves but only a single undershirt. When asked about the interesting wardrobe choice after Tuesday’s organized team activities, Talib was quick to explain that it was all in a day’s work.

“Double shirts, you know,” Talib said. “Out here trying to get hot as possible, get in some good shape.”

Talib is back in New England on a one-year deal after an offseason of uncertainty, including a spell on the free-agent market. In the end, a $5 million offer and the Patriots’ interest were just too tempting for Talib, who said that he was happy with the resolution.

“It’s a great organization, great team. This is where I wanted to be,” Talib added. “I’m happy I’m here. Ready to get to work.”

Now, entering his second season with the Patriots, Talib is much more comfortable with the way things work in New England. Most of all, he’s excited to spend an entire offseason fully acclimating to the defense and entire philosophy of the franchise.

“It’s always good to, you know, have the whole offseason, the whole training camp and everything with the same group,” Talib said. “You know, build that camaraderie. You know how each other speak on the field, learn the terminology. So, that’s all good.”

After a few months away from the field, Talib seemed excited to put the pads back on and he was impressive in his first action of the offseason.

Talib lined up on the left side of the defense, opposite fellow cornerback Kyle Arrington, who got the reps on the outside with the first-team defense. Second-year corner Alfonzo Dennard and the talented but injury-prone Ras-I Dowling were the pairing on the outside with the second team.

All four of them were impressive in their own rights, but Talib’s effort and focus were difficult to ignore. He stuck with his man in stride nearly every time down the field and even had a few nice pass breakups.

One practice in the middle of May won’t tell how a player is going to play come Week 17 or even Week 1, but Talib understands that and is embracing the opportunity to get back to the fundamentals.

“It’s a new year,” Talib said. “Every year, you start from scratch, learn the playbook from scratch, get in shape from scratch. You start the whole process over, so that’s what we are doing now.

“Like I said, you get in good shape and you get the basics of the defense down. Before you start game planning for anybody, you gotta have the basics of your defense down and that’s what we’re getting down right now.”

The Patriots still have three weeks of OTAs remaining before minicamp, two months before training camp and three-and-a-half months until their regular season opener. That may seem like a long time, but Talib knows how important this time can be and he’s using every opportunity to get better — even if it means suffering from the heat.

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The rookie wideout made a nice catch in traffic down the sidelines as the Patriots were going through their drills without pads and at three-quarters speed. Dobson was known for making spectacular catches in college at Marshall. It seems as though that part of his game as carried over to the pros.

It was tough to gather much from watching OTAs on Tuesday as the players were wearing jerseys without numbers, but Dobson, Jenkins and Amendola all looked comfortable early with Tom Brady.

At cornerback, Kyle Arrington and Aqib Talib were getting the most action at the position outside. Ras-I Dowling looked healthy and smooth out on the far practice field. As long as Dowling can stay healthy, he could be a contributor on defense for the Patriots. The trouble for the Virginia product throughout his short two-year career has been injuries, though.

Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Bolden, Brandon Spikes and Julian Edelman were among those not spotted during the second OTA of the season. T.J. Moe, Mark Harrison, Sebastian Vollmer, Josh Boyce and Kamar Aiken all spent some time on the stationary bikes and doing some light jogging around the field. Harrison signed with the Patriots on Monday, but had an existing foot injury. Boyce was drafted with a foot injury.

Have a question for Doug Kyed? Send it to him via Twitter at @DougKyedNESN or send it here.

The Patriots are three days into their first voluntary workouts of 2013, and one of the biggest storylines has been quarterback Tom Brady‘s chemistry with his receivers. Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd were the team’s two most productive wideouts in 2012, and both have found roster spots on other teams.

The gaps have been filled, though, with the Pats signing Danny Amendola and drafting a number of other receivers. Amendola has already shown some initiative, spending some time in the offseason getting reps in with his new QB.

Rob Gronkowski underwent a successful surgery on his forearm on Monday and he could be ready for training camp in June, but the horizon may not be so sunny for veteran receiver Aaron Hernandez, who could miss playing time in 2013 recovering from shoulder surgery.

Based on the Patriots’ receiving corps, Brady will have a number of options when it comes to the passing game, but who will lead the pack in receptions?

“How [did] I end up back here?” Talib responded to a question after OTAs at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday. “I signed a contract, came back.”

The veteran cornerback, even if a little vague in his explanation, re-signed with the Patriots during the offseason, returning to New England for a second go around after a midseason trade brought him over in 2012. The first sting went so well that Bill Belichick wanted to bring him back for another, and Talib is glad that he did.

“It’s a great organization, great team,” Talib said. “This is where I wanted to be.”

His contract is a one-year, $5 million deal, which could see him back on the free-agent market at this time again next offseason. That might bother some players, but not Talib. Forget a full year, he’s so focused on football that he’s even having trouble keeping track of his calendar.

“It’s just a time right now in — what’s this month? May? June? Or May? It’ time to get in shape, man.,” Talib said. “That’s all we are worried about right now. That’s all I’m worried about right now, just getting in good shape. The best shape I can be in.”

As for getting back with Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington and the rest of his Patriots teammates, Talib couldn’t be much happier.

“Yeah, definitely,” Talib added when asked if it was good to be back in the mix. “I feel like I fit in pretty good.”

Talib will finally have a full offseason to spend with his teammates, which should benefit both he and the team come time for the regular season.

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

Love had some parting shots for the Patriots after he was suddenly released last week. But Wilfork has seen plenty of teammates come and go.

“It’s always tough,” Wilfork said. “I’m dead set and focused on what I can do to get better as a teammates and a person. That’s where I’m at right now. I can’t focus on who has came and who has gone. It’s 10 years. Everyone has made a lot of changes on their rosters.”

Love was released after being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. He and Deaderick quickly signed on with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“It’s a business. You have to come to work. And that’s what I do,” Wilfork said. “I come to work every day with my hardhat and work my tail off. I won’t stop doing it. I’m going to continue doing that until I’m finished.”

Wilfork was out at practice on Tuesday with new line mates Armond Armstead and Tommy Kelly. He hasn’t learned all his new teammate’s names yet, though.

“I think I got them down pat just a little bit. Not all of them,” Wilfork said. “That’s why you have these days, to get in and get acquainted with one another and prepare as a team.”

Wilfork earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod in 2012. He had been named a second-team All Pro four times, but 2012 marked the first time he was named a first-team All Pro.

Newcomer Danny Amendola may have a step on the rest of the new wideouts in New England, though. Amendola spent a year with Josh McDaniels in St. Louis, although he only played one game after sustaining an injury.

“It’s familiar,” Amendola said of the Patriots’ playbook. “When Josh was in St. Louis I got to know it pretty good. It’s a little more intricate out here. It’s something to grasp. I’m learning it every day.”

The wide receivers are taking a group approach to learning the complex New England playbook. That’s something Donald Jones spoke about last week during his first meeting with the media.

“Everybody’s new, so everybody’s working together so that we can learn the playbook together,” Jones said. “It’s not like one guy is coming in and every guy is above him in terms of the playbook and things like that. Everybody’s coming in at the same level.”

Amendola seconded that notion after the Patriots’ second OTAs practice.

“You’ve got questions in meetings,” Amendola said. “You kind of thrive off each other. It’s definitely a group atmosphere. It’s a group effort. It’s the way it goes.”

The Patriots’ free agent signings and rookies are depending on Edelman, Aiken and Slater to show them the ropes around Foxboro. That doesn’t just mean learning the playbook, but knowing what to expect in practice.

“There’s a couple guys here that have been here for a while. But we’re really leaning on them to show us the ropes in the drills and in practice,” Amendola said. “We had a really good group I feel like. We have some guys coming from other teams with a lot of experience. It’s exciting to see what we’re going to be able to do.”

Amendola doesn’t just feel like the new kid in school at practice. He joked that he’s getting lost walking around the Gillette Stadium facility, as well.

Amendola took a lot of reps at OTAs on Tuesday. He and Michael Jenkins took the most targets from Tom Brady out of any of the wide receivers.

Many veteran wide receivers have had a difficult time grasping the offense in New England, but Amendola seems to be taking the right approach. His time with McDaniels in St. Louis can only help him. Still, it’s different with the Patriots. Nothing seems to come easy for wide receivers in Foxboro.

“It’s the verbage that makes everything,” Amendola said of the Patriots’ offense. “That’s the most important thing. The vocabulary of the offense. I’m learning day in and day out and studying at night and everything. It’s a process.”

It seems that every new Patriots wide receiver knows what they’re getting into in New England, and none of them think it will be simple to pick up the offense. Amendola isn’t letting distractions get in his way, either, like comparisons to Wes Welker.

“It’s not something I need to worry about,” Amendola said about Welker. “I’m worried about the playbook and getting the routes down and getting on the same page with my teammates. The good thing is I don’t have to worry about that stuff.”

Amendola may be under 6 feet, white and a slot receiver, but that doesn’t mean he has to be Welker. As long as he picks up the playbook quicker than guys like Chad Johnson and Joey Galloway, he’ll have no problem fitting in with the Patriots.

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That’s why high-profile free agent Danny Amendola is trying to get acquainted with the superstar quarterback as quickly as possible. That included meeting up with Brady in Southern California to run some routes and catch some passes in the spring sunshine.

“The more work is best going into the season,” Amendola said. “Anytime you get a jump and you get to work with each other is good.”

Amendola has spent five years in the league after going undrafted coming out of Texas Tech in 2008. He caught passes from Sam Bradford, Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller and Keith Null with the Rams during regular season games. Perhaps it’s obvious, but none of those players are the same caliber as Brady.

“He’s a really good quarterback,” Amendola said about getting on the field with Brady. “Everybody knows that. Just trying to get on the same page. So far so good.”

Amendola took the majority of snaps at wide receiver with Michael Jenkins on the other side. Those two seemed to be working closely with Brady in the Patriots’ second OTAs practice. The new slot receiver noticed how good Brady was right away.

“He darted me in the chest with one ball and it’s just inside my head it’s like, ‘This guy can really wing it.’ That’s why he’s Tom Brady,” Amendola said.

With so much turnover at wide receiver, someone will have to pick up Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd’s production from last season. Amendola is a step ahead of the rest of the pack from working with Brady during the offseason and having experience working with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in St. Louis.

The next step is staying healthy.

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