Coming off a Pro Bowl season, Andre Carter is seeking a long-term contract with the Patriots. New England is looking to sign him to something closer to the low-cost, one-year deal it signed him to last season. Carter, 33, is coming off a torn quad, a difficult injury to recover from.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, currently on a promotional tour in advance of the team's October game against the Rams in London, said he believes it would be good for the NFL to have a team located overseas. "I personally think we should have a franchise in London and that is something I am going to push for," Kraft said, according to SkySports.com.

Ray Rice had high praise for how Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco performed in the playoffs this past season. "It was his show," Rice told WQXI-AM in Atlanta. "It was his show on offense, and as much credit that I was getting and as much respect I was getting from defenses, all Joe really had to do is prove that we can drive the ball down the field and score, and he did that. Quite frankly, he outplayed Tom Brady the last game." Brady's Patriots won a tight AFC Championship Game. Flacco was 22-of-36 passing, amassing 306 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. "He outplayed Tom Brady, and Tom Brady -- he's the trademark for a quarterback," Rice said. "So Joe Flacco feeling the way he feels is only right, because he did it on a high level. He did it on the peak of his performance."

Rodney Harrison played 15 seasons in the NFL, but says that his career would have lasted longer if he played under today's rules. Harrison, who last played nearly four years ago, serves as an analyst for NBC Sports Football Night in America during the season. "I haven't really thought about everything specifically but they are on the right page," he said when asked about how the league has moved towards protecting the players. "They've cut down on a lot of these hits in minicamps, training camps and padded practices and all the physical contact during the season. If I were playing right now in this era, I could probably play 20 years because we wouldn't have all of those physical contact practices. I think there comes a point in time where you have to understand. We're different than basketball, we're different than baseball. We hit every single day and your body needs a break, your head needs a break. So I think they're making steps in the right direction."

Sammy Morris is interested in returning to the Patriots if they will have him back. "It's definitely reciprocal," Morris said of New England's interest. "I'm still here. My family is here. My kids still go to school here, so it's definitely reciprocal. I've been around a while, so I kind of just know the deal. Words are one thing, but all I can do is take care of my part. If something materializes, then I know I'll be ready."

The Patriots announced the re-signing of safety James Ihedigbo on Friday, according to an ESPN.com report Ihedigbo, entering his sixth NFL season, played a surprisingly high total of defensive snaps last season for the Patriots (67 percent).

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a key to the settlement of last year's lockout even though his wife was dying from cancer, has won the George Halas Award. The Halas Award is given by the Professional Football Writers of America to a player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. Kraft, the 43rd winner, is the first NFL owner and first member of the Patriots to receive the honor.

There are conflicting media reports about when Patriots guard Logan Mankins will return from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Mankins tore the ligament in the AFC Championship game win over the Ravens, played through the injury in Super Bowl XLVI and underwent surgery a few weeks later.

Tom Coughlin has expressed disappointment and frustration after losing Jake Ballard to the Patriots. The Giants took a risk by waiving the Ballard to make room on the roster to sign defensive tackle Rocky Bernard. It backfired when New England surprisingly snatched up the injured tight end off the waiver wire. "Discouraged is a minor description," Coughlin said. "Very disappointing. I am not going to have a lot to say about that one, just the fact that we are disappointed. We are very disappointed." The Giants were hoping that Ballard would clear waivers and then be placed on the team's PUP/reserve list. He is expected to miss this season while he recovers from microfracture knee surgery and a torn ACL suffered in the Super Bowl.

Jake Ballard, who was waived by the Giants on Monday, has been claimed by the Patriots. The tight end thought he had cleared waivers and would be returning to the Giants after the team let him go following a failed physical. Ballard tore his ACL in the Super Bowl, was cut loose by the Giants, was given the impression he'd be coming back, and then ultimately landed with the team he helped beat in the big game.