The Patriots squared away one of the lingering contract issues of the preseason by signing offensive tackle Nick Kaczur to an extension, the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss reports.
"To be part of this organization, it's really something else, the way things operate here," Kaczur told the Globe. "If you have a chance to stay, you want to stay with a great organization, people that treat people well. I think it speaks well for what they do here, that the players like it here, that they want to stay."
The report says that Kaczur confirmed the signing in the locker room on Monday. Reiss reports that the deal extends Kaczur through 2012, paying him an average of $3.1 million per season.
Kaczur was criticized after last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Robert Geathers crossed the line of scrimmage untouched and put a clean hit on Tom Brady. Fellow lineman Logan Mankins told the Globe that the blame was misplaced, however, and that the play was a result of an overall communication breakdown.
“I’m obviously excited because this is one of the best, if not the best, organization in football, the way you get treated from Mr. [Robert] Kraft to everyone here,” Kaczur told the Globe. "It’s really exciting to know that they would like to continue working with you.”
The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder was taken in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft out of the University of Toledo. He was thrust into action early after Matt Light suffered a broken fibula in Week 3 in 2005, starting 11 games in his rookie season. In his four seasons with the Pats, he's made 49 starts and has appeared in 54 games.
