It's no secret the Patriots are in need of wide receiver help. It was already unlikely Wes Welker would be ready for the start of the season due to his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery. Now, on top of that, the veteran wideout is dealing with surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. So, at the very least, a Welker return probably won't be in the cards until October of November.

The Patriots were awarded the NFL's Outstanding Overall Player Development Program Award, honoring their contributions in areas of financial education, continuing education, career development and life skills. An NFL rep will officially recognize the Pats during a 2010 game. . . .

FILE - This Dec. 12, 2007, file photo shows New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson talking to reporters during a media availability in the locker room at the team''s football facility in Foxborough, Mass. The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent tight end Ben Watson to a multiyear contract. Watson spent the past six seasons with the New England Patriots. Watson visited the Browns on Thursday, March 11, 2010, along with quarterback Jake Delhomme and running back Justin Fargas. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File) (Stephan Savoia, AP

In the middle of his busiest time, Nick Caserio dropped by the set of Patriots All Access to provide a general update. The director of player personnel described his team as "fortunate" to have signed its own free agents, Vince Wilfork [stats], Kevin Faulk [stats] and Tully Banta-Cain [stats].

Baker, 30, has played eight years in the NFL, the first seven with the New York Jets and last season with the New England Patriots, who released him.

Baker, 30, is an eight-year NFL veteran, who played last season for New England. He caught 14 passes in 2009 and was released March 4, just before free agency began. Baker played seven seasons for the New York Jets from 2002-2008 after being chosen in the third round out of Michigan State. He caught a career-high 41 passes for the Jets in 2007.

"We viewed Ben as one of the top all-around tight ends in the free agent market," Browns general manager Tom Heckert said in a statement. "Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets. He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player.

"We viewed Ben as one of the top all-around tight ends in the free agent market,'' Browns general manager Tom Heckert said in a release. "Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets. He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player. We feel as though he can help us in many different areas and we are excited about his addition to our team.''

In addition to undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee, Patriots receiver Wes Welker is also recovering from a torn rotator cuff this offseason, according to a source close to the situation.

"Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets. He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player. We feel as though he can help us in many different areas and we are excited about his addition to our team."

The Patriots made the big nose tackle a captain in 2009, but without a new contract, that "C'' didn't carry all the juice it should have. Wilfork didn't know what the future held for him and neither did his teammates. So he led the way he always had, by example, and couldn't carry a torch that was first fumbled (following the departures of Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, and Mike Vrabel), then started a brushfire that left the season in ashes.

"He always wanted to stay in New England ? he said it publicly, I said it publicly,'' Brothers said. "Any time he plays for the Patriots, he knows the standard is to win a Super Bowl. It's not to make the playoffs or win more games than he did last year. Coach [Bill] Belichick is trying to win Super Bowls.

The team put the franchise tag on Wilfork last month, keeping him from becoming a free agent and giving the sides more time to work out a contract. Wilfork announced the deal on his Twitter feed and a Patriots spokesman confirmed the agreement.

This is analagous to saying that New England shouldn''t have picked up Randy Moss because of the numbers he put up in Oakland. Stallworth has proven to be reliable if not great, in other places, like New Orleans, Philly, and the aforementioned Patriots.

Maybe so. Belichick has earned his reputation as the league''s most innovative and resourceful coach, and while the Patriots still could win 10 games and the division, he has fewer resources to tap. He is 42-58 without Tom Brady at quarterback, and Matt Cassel looked skittish, like someone who had started once since high school. He has ordinary running backs and underwhelming secondary talent. Worse yet, his major remaining offensive star, Randy Moss, has rediscovered his alligator arms.

Two months after the Dolphins embarassed Bill Belichick with the Wildcat, the Patriots responded with their own offensive wrinkle. This was Matt Cassel in the shotgun, no huddle, five receivers. The spread.

One of Patten''s career highlights came in 2001 when he became the first player in New England franchise history - and only the sixth player in the NFL since 1960 at the time it occurred - to record a touchdown pass, touchdown reception and rush for a touchdown in one game (at Indianapolis, 10/21/01). He completed a 60-yard touchdown pass, caught two touchdown passes (91 and six yards) and rushed for a 29-yard score.

First I want to say that living in New England Vince is a great community guy giving lots of his time and money.Vince is a very good run stopper,but he can''t play on 3rd down,and alot of times on 1st down.Lets face it the NFL is a passing league,just look at the two teams that played in the super bowl.Nose tackles just don''t have the same value anymore.Again Vince is a great teamate but he really struggles with his weight.So Vince please don''t take this as a slap in the face 7 million for 20-25 snaps a game is not bad work if you can get it.

If the league can somehow come together and avoid a work stoppage for the 2011 season, Moss would still be an attractive free agent option for several teams. He''ll be 34, but that''s not too old for wideouts and he''s still a Pro Bowl-caliber player. Read More:Patriots AFC East NFL Rumors randy+moss

New Englanders will never forget Vinatieri''s role in bringing home those Lombardi Trophies. His split-the-uprights 48-yard kick as time expired produced a 20-17 upset of the St. Louis Rams, giving the franchise its first NFL title in Super Bowl XXXVI to close the 2001 season. That was just weeks after his 45-yard shot sliced through wind and snow, ultimately helping to beat the Oakland Raiders in the infamous "Tuck Rule" playoff game.