Former Patriots safety James Sanders and the Falcons agreed to terms on a one-year contract Tuesday, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The Patriots released the six-year veteran, who was tied for second on the team with three interceptions last season. He was due to make a base salary of $2.8M in 2011.

The Patriots informed veteran safety James Sanders that they are releasing him Monday. The decision caught him off guard. "It was a shock. It wasn't one of the things I was expecting to hear today. It didn't cross my mind," Sanders said. Sanders wasn't given a reason for the team's decision, and said he was disappointed in not having a chance to compete for a roster spot.

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, who injured his neck while making a tackle during the team's preseason game against the Lions on Saturday night, says he will be fine. Welker made the tackle after Tom Brady threw an interception. After the game, Walker told The Boston Herald that his neck was "OK." "He's a tough guy," Brady said. "There's nobody tougher than Wes Welker. He's mentally, physically, he's as good as there is. He's a huge part of our offense."

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker suffered a neck injury while making a tackle following an interception on Saturday night against the Lions. The team announced the injury in the third quarter and listed his return as questionable, but he didn't return.

Albert Haynesworth pleaded no contest to a charge of simple assault on Monday. He was accused of touching a waitress' breast while having drinks with friends at a Washington hotel. If he stays out of trouble over the next 18 months and completes 160 hours of community service, prosecutors have agreed to drop the charge entirely.

The Patriots had free-agent running back Clinton Portis in for a workout on Friday, according to a source. Portis has six 1,000-yard-plus seasons under his belt, but none since 2008. He gained just 227 yards on 54 carries last year, generating little free agent interest.

Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has offered to reimburse Buccaneers linebacker Mason Foster if he's fined for an incident on Thursday night. Foster was called for unnecessary roughness in the first quarter of the preseason game for a shot to Ochocinco's head. Ochocinco doesn't think any fine should come. And he feels so strongly about it that he's offering to pay the fine himself. In a message on Twitter directed to Foster, Ochocinco wrote, "Great hit last night,if u're fined I'll reimburse u boss. That's the way the game should b played." Foster replied, "thanks Bruh I appreciate it, good luck to you too."

Giants quarterback Eli Manning remains confident about his ability after more than seven years of listening to people debate about it. Manning said in an interview with ESPN New York's Michael Kay earlier this week that he believed he was a "Top Five" quarterback in the same class as Tom Brady. "It got stirred up and all of a sudden people ran with it a little bit and started saying different things," Manning said. "I thought I gave a truthful answer and gave my opinion. When I got done with the interview, I thought we had a nice little interview and nothing will come out of it and everything will be quiet. In training camp we don't get to watch much TV or read the papers, and my dad told me that a bunch was being stirred about this and so just be prepared if someone asks you. "But I'm not bothered by it. I thought I said the right things and I'll just move on."

The Patriots cruised to an easy 31-14 win over the Buccaneers in the team's second preseason game on Thursday night. Brady was surprised when New England coach Bill Belichick didn't play him in the team's first exhibition last week. He said his first outing was "fun." "After sitting last week, I think a lot of the guys were antsy to be out there," Brady said. "I'm glad we put some points on the board, but obviously a lot of things we can do better, too."

Albert Haynesworth's lawyer has repeatedly offered money to a waitress so she would help convince the government to drop her sexual abuse case against the defensive lineman, prosecutors said Thursday. Haynesworth is accused of sliding his credit card into the waitress' bra and touching her breast at the W Hotel where he was having drinks with friends in February. Prosecutors wrote in a court document filed Thursday that on "numerous occasions" after the allegations, Haynesworth's lawyer approached the waitress' attorney and offered money. Haynesworth's attorney, A. Scott Bolden, denies the money offer. "Just not true," he said in a telephone interview Thursday.