Ty Law hasn't played in an NFL game since 2009 and won't appear in another, but he wants to retire as a member of the Patriots. Law hasn't turned in his retirement papers. "Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to officially retire as a Patriot," Law said. "That's my ultimate goal right now. I would like to say the last contract I signed was with New England. If Mr. (Robert) Kraft was to bless me with something like that, that would be the icing on the cake for a 15-year career."

Deion Branch is very confident that there will be a football season this fall. "Just sit back," he told the Albany Herald, "and I promise you there will be football." The Patriots wide receiver spoke to the newspaper while at his annual football camp in New York. "The fans are sad, we are sad and the owners are sad," he said, while discussing what he believes is the most important issue of the negotiations. "It's not just about the players who are there today. It's about making sure the future is laid out and making sure we go back and take care of the people who came before us and laid the foundation for us to play the game of football," Branch said. "They are the Refrigerator Perrys [William Perry], the Earl Campbells who are struggling now. There are things we are trying to do now to make sure we compensate these guys who really aren’t getting compensated right now."

Former Patriots linebacker Tom Addison, one of the franchise's original members, died Tuesday at his home in Bluffton, S.C. at age 75. Addison was selected to the Patriots' first all-decade team by a fan ballot in 1971. He played for the franchise from 1960-1967.

Keith Bulluck, who signed with the Giants as a free agent last summer, has revealed the teams he's interested in joining. The linebacker will hit the market once the NFL lockout is resolved. Bulluck is interested in the Giants, Lions and Patriots.

Kevin Faulk hasn't thought about retirement and he plans to return to the Patriots for yet another season. Faulk, 35, believes he has a place on the team despite the fact that New England drafted two running backs and saw Danny Woodhead emerge last season. "That word is not in my vocabulary right now," Faulk said of retirement. "If it's possible, if (the Patriots [team stats]) allow me to, I'd like to play another season. "People are telling me they drafted two running backs, but hey, I've never questioned anything the Patriots have done. That's why they're who they are."

Patriots owner Robert Kraft says recent secret negotiations between the NFL's owners and players are "a very positive sign." "We're talking now, we're making progress, but there's a lot of work to be done," Kraft said. "This is a very hard deal, with all the different variables. In the end, the fact that principles -- who are going to be sitting down across from one another five years, 10 years from now -- are sitting down and talking about the problems is a positive thing. There's a lot of hard work to be done, but the good news is we're talking." Kraft has had a consistent presence throughout the labor negotiations, taking part in portions of the federal mediation in Washington, D.C. that ran up to the start of the lockout, as well as the court-ordered mediation in April and May in Minneapolis.

Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski on Thursday gave a positive report on his rehab from a torn right quad that sidelined him for half of the 2010 season. "Each week is better and better and better," Gostkowski, who kicks with his right leg, said at the team's "Community MVP" event at Gillette Stadium. "It's very encouraging and I feel very happy with where I'm at right now. I'm just going to work hard to be ready by camp."

Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo was pleased with the workouts the players conducted last week as the NFL lockout drags on. New England's players held three workouts at Boston College last week, well-organized sessions that did not include coaches or playbooks. "Hey, the Patriot Way still lives on," said a laughing Mayo, who helped spread the word for the defensive players. "You know (reporters) weren't allowed in, so we're still doing it the Patriot Way. Working hard behind the scenes." In all seriousness, Mayo was even surprised by how fruitful the workouts were. "But it exceeded my expectations," he said. "Guys were out there competing and did a good job. For the most part, guys have been in shape. They came in in shape, everyone's working hard."

At a feel-good event for charity on Friday night, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady offered a feel-good perspective for fans on the NFL's labor battle. "There has been a lot of positive news from both sides," Brady said. "Everyone is working hard for a great outcome. I'm confident that a lot of reasonable people will come to a very reasonable agreement. ... Hopefully there is a great outcome. I'm relatively confident that there will be." Brady, one of New England's assistant player representatives, was in town for his annual charity event with Best Buddies International. "The players, we all stick together," he said, when asked about having his name on the lawsuit against the NFL. "We realize how important each one of us are to each other. A lot of guys really care about the game. The guys that have been around for a while understand what it takes for us to grow the league, to be a part of the business of the NFL, to be great representatives for the NFL, and to leave the NFL in better shape than when we came into it. "I think that's the responsibility of all players -- young or old. A lot of guys really do a great job of that. I've seen a lot of things, I'm not as young as I used to be, but I also feel like the veteran players are really the ones that need to support what's going on right now. Everyone does a great job of that."

Patriots QB Tom Brady dropped back to pass and fired to receiver Wes Welker on Thursday morning at Boston College's Alumni Stadium. The pass was complete, and after two-plus hours, Brady, Welker and about 40 other teammates had completed their second team offseason workout of the week. It is the largest team-based workout the Patriots have had during the lockout, according to an ESPN.com report.