The Patriots have announced the release of wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. A 2007 first-round draft choice of the Colts, he was attempting to revive his career in New England after playing in only 11 games the past three seasons.

Brian Waters plans to play next season, according to The Boston Globe. Back in February, the Patriots guard said he would take a few weeks to decide whether or not he plans to play in 2012.

The Patriots have signed defensive end Chandler Jones, their first-round pick in last month's NFL Draft. New England traded up six spots to grab the No. 21 overall pick from Syracuse. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Jones had 147 tackles and 10 sacks as a three-year starter in college.

Wes Welker attended New England's OTAs on Monday after a controversial week driven by the wide receiver's desire for a long-term contract. Patriots owner Robert Kraft wants Welker to remain with the team for the long haul despite a rough offseason. "Well we'd like to see him be a Patriot for life but it takes two sides," Kraft said Tuesday. "We're just happy he's back in the system. He's a wonderful young man, and a special guy. I think both sides would like to do a deal, but it requires intelligence and putting our team first."

Wes Welker and former Patriot defender Willie McGinest have publicly sparred over the receiver's contract dispute with the team. McGinest called Welker out for his "diva" attitude, but the two have since mended fences. "I'm cool with Wes. I never had a problem with him in the beginning," McGinest said. "I was just trying to give him the blueprint of how things go down (in Foxboro). If you're franchised, and you have a chance to make $9.5 million, grab it. It's more than half of your last contract. If they want to franchise you again next year, that number goes up. That's $20 million in two years. That's quarterback money."

Wes Welker has backtracked on recent comments made to the Boston Herald that his contract negotiations had "gotten worse." "That was probably a bad choice of words, saying they've gotten worse," Welker said. "They've pretty much -- they've stayed the same. I'm franchised for the year and I'm completely happy with that. "I say the same because it's a franchise tender. It was a bad choice of words because it's still one year, nine and a half (million). It's the same. It's the same contract." The wide receiver signed his franchise tender with New England this month, but he is still searching for a long-term deal.

It was reported on Friday morning that the Patriots were upset with Wes Welker, namely over public comments made regarding his desire for a contract extension. Welker took to Twitter on Friday, hinting at the matter. "Don't believe the hype," the receiver said. "Everyone wants to make a story. Control what u can control and move on." He recently signed his franchise tender with the Patriots.

It is being reported that Dallas Clark visited with the Patriots on Tuesday. New England already has Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez at tight end. Earlier this week, the Chiefs were pegged as the front-runner's to sign Clark.

Wes Welker recently signed his one-year franchise tender, but that doesn't mean contract talks with the Patriots have improved. In fact, Welker is further away than ever from a long-term deal. "There have been talks, but nothing that's brightened anything at all," Welker told the Boston Herald. "It's actually gotten worse." Welker revealed that the Patriots have lowered the two-year, fully guaranteed $16 million offer that they initially proposed. He is guaranteed $9.5 million after signing his tender. “(Organized team activities) are about to start. The team's all getting together. You get all these months off and everything else. I don't know, you're just kind of bored," Welker said. "You want to be up on the field. You want to be up there competing and trying to get better."

Patriots receiver Wes Welker signed his franchise tender on Tuesday, he announced on his Twitter page, ending any question about whether he will attend the team's mandatory minicamp next month. "I signed my tender today. I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results. #leapoffaith," he wrote. Welker's franchise tender is worth $9.5M.