The New England Patriots have signed Matthew Slater to a one-year deal that will keep him with the team through 2017.

The deal is worth $1.8 million for the wide receiver/special teams ace.

Slater has been named to five Pro Bowls as a special teams player.

Tom Brady said he will aim to stay sharp during his four-game suspension to begin the 2016 season.

"I have ideas of what I need to do based on all the practices we've had and the limited playing time I've had," Brady said Tuesday. "My goal is to come back and be the best I can be, just like every other year and every other offseason. I'm going to do the best I can do over these next however many days, 30 days or so, to do the same thing.

"I think I still have a good day of practice [Tuesday]; I've tried to look at all these days of practice as ways to get better. I have access to the fields [until the suspension], throwing to my receivers, trying to use those days as best I could as I always would. Hopefully I have another opportunity to play Thursday night [in the preseason finale], be with the team Friday and then try to do the best I can over the next month to stay sharp. ... That part, I think will be very challenging, watching those games in September, but I'll find ways to preoccupy my mind."

Brady said he has "tried to just find different ways to be positive," before adding, "it is what it is at this point; we'll do the best we can do."

Brady also discussed his relationship with backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

"I love being with Jimmy. I've enjoyed every day that we've spent with him," Brady said. "I wish him the very best, obviously, for our team, for him personally.

"When you see people that it means a lot to, you always want them to succeed as well. It will be tough to watch, but I'll be excited to watch and excited to learn and hopefully when I come back in October I'll be a better player than I am today."

Barkevious Mingo has already found some significant differences between the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland traded Mingo to New England late last week.

"It's a huge culture shock," he said. "I felt like the winning spirit was making its way into Cleveland with those new coaches, but it's definitely been established here for a long time, and I'm excited to be a part of it."

The Cleveland Browns have traded Barkevious Mingo to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round draft pick in 2017.

Mingo was the sixth overall pick three years ago.

He appeared in at least 15 games in each of his first three NFL seasons, but made just 16 total starts.

Tom Brady will play in the New England Patriots' third preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, according to a report.

Brady is traveling to Carolina with the team. He didn't play in either of New England's first two preseason games.

It is unknown if Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo will start the game at this point.

Brady will serve a four-game suspension to begin the regular season as the team turns to Garoppolo as its starter. This will mark the first season since 2001 that a quarterback other than Brady starts the regular-season opener for the Patriots.

The New England Patriots registered for three trademarks around the time of the 2014 Super Bowl, when Bill Belichick often used the phrase "Do Your Job."

However, the Dallas Cowboys have been using the refrain lately, going as far as to have the phrase printed on a wall at their practice facility.

Rob Gronkowski, or someone running his Gronk Nation website, noticed a picture of the phrase posted on social media and penned a response to something they believe will have them "facing the wrath of Patriots fans."

"While we all know that the Pats thrashed the Cowboys 30-6 last October and Dallas hasn't been to the Super Bowl since the 1995 season, so they need all the motivation they can get -- but can't America's Team come up with their own slogan instead of stealing ours?"

The New England Patriots have traded Bryan Stork to Washington in exchange for a conditional pick.

Stork started 17 games at center for the Patriots over the past two seasons.

Stork was in the process of losing the starting job to 2015 undrafted free agent David Andrews, also got himself booted from a joint practice with the Chicago Bears last week for mixing it up with Bears linebacker Sam Acho.

Tom Brady returned to the team Tuesday from an excused personal absence, telling reporters he "had to take care of something" without divulging what it was.

Brady also discussed how he sliced his right thumb on a pair of scissors shortly before last Thursday's preseason game.

"I was ready to go, had everything on, and I was just trying to get something out of my shoe," he said. "The scissors slipped. Just a silly accident.

"It's a crappy way to not be out there, because it's a silly mistake," he added. "I'm glad it wasn't in the regular season. I learned from it and hopefully won't be operating any more scissors for a while."

Dion Lewis needs to undergo a second surgery on his knee. Lewis' timetable for a return is uncertain.

Lewis tore his ACL last Nov. 8th. 

Lewis rushed for 234 yards on 49 carries along with 36 catches for 388 yards last season with the New England Patriots.

Tom Brady didn't play for the New England Patriots in Thursday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears after he sliced the thumb on his right throwing hand with a pair of scissors trying to pry something from his cleats before taking the field.

It is not known if Brady required stitches.

A source confirmed the report and said that Brady "will be OK in time."

The Patriots had planned to play Brady, who is suspended for the first four regular season games, in the game.

Brady did not play in the team's preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints after being excused to attend the memorial service of a family member.