The Patriots would like Chad Ochocinco to redo his contract. When New England acquired the receiver via trade last year, which at the time was the final year of his contract, the two sides added two more years. Ochocinco is due a base salary of $3 million in both 2012 and 2013.

The Patriots are prepared to make significant changes along their offensive line. According to multiple sources, the team is ready to move on from left tackle Matt Light and center Dan Koppen. New England feels very good about their depth on the line and would prefer not to overpay to keep Light and Koppen.

The Patriots will likely place their franchise tag on Wes Welker, according to a league source. The team has been discussing a new deal with the wide receiver, but if one cannot be reached, New England plans to use the $9.5 million tag for the position. Welker, 30, led the NFL with 122 receptions in 2011.

Rob Gronkowski has defended his work ethic and post-Super Bowl dancing, the first time he's spoken publicly on the subject since a video of him relaxing after the game went viral. "Hard work and dedication, I always put my job first before anything, no matter what it is. I'm always just dedicating myself. Unfortunately, it just happened like that. I mean, it is what it is," Gronkowski said on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia. "I have a lot of fun with my family. It was the first time I got to see them in a while. We were just having fun with my brothers and stuff, friends I hadn't seen in a while. The chance to hang out with [the band] LMFAO, that was pretty cool, too. Unfortunately we didn't win and that was the number one goal. That's all we did, was work, for the two weeks from the Baltimore game to the Giants game, just to keep on grinding. I was in the training room 24/7 getting healthy. Same with everybody else. Fortunately we just came up short."

The Steelers are worried about losing Mike Wallace and the wide receiver appears to be flirting with other clubs. In an interview with SiriusXM Radio, Wallace, a restricted free agent, discussed the potential of joining either the Patriots or 49ers, who lack a deep threat. "Most definitely. Those are two playoff caliber teams. Super Bowl caliber teams," Wallace said. "I think that the right person or the right piece for those guys could put them over the top. All they need is one more piece ... most definitely, those are Super Bowl contending teams." Wallace later added: "I love being in a winning organization. And the quarterback. I don't care how good you are, you won't do well without a good quarterback."

Tom Brady and Wes Welker are vacationing together in Costa Rica. Brady is with his wife, model Gisele Bundchen, while Welker brought his girlfriend Anna Burns. Just a few weeks ago, following New England's Super Bowl loss to New York, Gisele blamed Brady's receivers for not being able to catch the football. Welker had a key drop in the fourth quarter that allowed the Giants to comeback and score the game-winning touchdown.

The Patriots would probably like to upgrade at wide receiver this offseason and Brandon Lloyd isn't shy about his interest in the team. Lloyd has said he'd love to reunite with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The receiver said in a recent interview with Pro Football Talk that he is open to re-signing with the Rams as well, but he pepped up when the topics of the Patriots was introduced. "Yes, I find that very interesting," Lloyd told PFT Live when asked about possibly joining the Patriots. "I would like to entertain that and see where that goes. There's no bones about that. I've been very successful in Josh McDaniels' offense, I really admire Tom Brady, I admire that organization and how they run things over there, so I'd definitely be interested in hearing how I could possibly fit into that equation."

Tom Martinez, the longtime coach and mentor of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, died Tuesday on his 66th birthday, a source confirmed to ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton. The Patriots offered their condolences to Martinez's family on Twitter on Tuesday night.

Talks between the Patriots and Wes Welker remain at a standstill with teams now able to place franchise tags on players. There has yet to be a breakthrough in negotiations between the two parties on a long-term contract, according to a source. Welker, 31, earned $2.15 million last year and caught 122 passes for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Patriots are losing tight ends coach Brian Ferentz. Ferentz will join his father's staff at Iowa as the team's offensive line coach. He spent four years on the Patriots staff, rising from a scouting assistant to offensive assistant to tight ends coach.