Former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi admitted recently that he still has the itch to play football. "I guess, I'm describing the itch," Bruschi told the Boston Herald. "I guess, I still am describing the itch that is ingrained in my persona. Last year, around the Colts game. Last year during the playoffs is when I felt it the most, about, 'I should still be out there.' Changed my mind a little bit after seeing Ray Rice go 83. (Laughs). But it's still there, it's going to take a little while for it to go away."

The Patriots have agreed to a two-year contract extension with linebacker Gary Guyton. "We're absolutely thrilled that the Patriots have done this for him," agent Richard Kopelman told the Boston Herald. "... We had some discussions with them a while back. 'Hey, if you could, it'd be great if you could step up and do a little something for Gary this year.' And they told us they would. They were true to their word, which was fantastic." Guyton was scheduled to earn the minimum of $470,000 next season.

Former NFL running back Corey Dillon has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor DUI charges stemming from his April arrest in California. The former Bengals and Patriots running back was arrested early April 21 in Calabasas in northwestern Los Angeles County.

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker has participated in individual drills lately, but Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes that it's still optimistic to think he'll be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. "If I had to make an educated guess, Welker will open training camp on the physically unable to perform list, and will remain there through at least the first six weeks of the regular season," Reiss writes. Welker is recovering from a major knee injury.

Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins said Monday that he does not plan to sign his restricted free agent tender and wants to be traded. "At this point, I'm pretty frustrated, from everything that's happened and the way negotiations have gone," Mankins said. "I want to be traded. I don't need to be here any more." Mankins has until 11:59 p.m. ET to sign his $3.26 million tender. Asked his plans in regard to signing the tender, Mankins said: "There is no way that I'm signing that thing."

The Patriots sent guard Logan Mankins a letter informing him that they'll cut his salary if he doesn't sign his restricted free agent tender offer by Monday's deadline. By rule, the team can pay him 110 percent of his 2009 salary, which equals $1.54 million. If he signs his first- and third-round level tender, he'd make $3.16 million in a one-year deal.

Robert Kraft reiterated his desire to have all players working out in Foxborough for as much of the offseason as possible, even though Tom Brady spent much of the winter and spring on the West Coast with his older son and traveling the world with his wife and infant son. But as a father and family man, Kraft understands Brady?s need to spend time with his young family. He added that it is difficult to judge what is right or wrong, noting that Brady?s life has changed greatly in the 10-plus years since he was drafted. ?Look, we are so lucky to have Tom Brady,?? Kraft said when asked about negotiations. ?He?s under contract. He?s here. I?m privileged to have a pretty special relationship with him. And I think he knows how I feel about him. I think we both want to solve the problem, or the issue. I don?t know that it?s a problem . . . it?s complicated. ?We basically have had a policy that we keep all those conversations between the principals, so it?s not something we?re going to discuss or do in the media.??

The Patriots have agreed to terms with fourth-round draft pick Aaron Hernandez, a source told The Herald. Hernandez was the 113th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. This makes him the fourth Patriots draftee to agree to terms, joining OT Thomas Welch, OT Ted Larsen, and WR Taylor Price.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady isn't sweating the fact that he hasn't reached an agreement on a contract extension with the team. "Things happen. Some are out of your control," Brady said Friday. "You just have to go with the flow." A Yahoo! Sports report on Wednesday claimed that Brady and the Patriots were growing apart due to the lack of an extension. "I really don't want to talk about it a whole lot, because there is nothing anybody can solve other than the team and myself," Brady responded. "There are a lot of guys in my situation. Really, I just want to focus on what's coming up this week. I'm just excited being back on the field with the guys."

Tom Brady has been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles and Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports writes that there he appears to be growing apart from the Patriots. Brady is entering the final year of the $60 million contract he signed before the 2005 season. He appears to be in line for a lucrative extension, but Brady's agents haven't had substantial talks with New England's front office. Brady declined to comment, saying he is uncomfortable discussing the subject.