Aaron Hernandez

INDIANAPOLIS - The calendar says it has been less than six years but Aaron Hernandez feels that his trip from There to Here seems much longer. "Sometimes I still sit back and think how crazy it really is," says the Patriots' eclectic and electric tight end, who has made it from high school to the Super Bowl at fast-forward speed. Along the way the 22-year-old from Bristol, Conn., has redefined how his position is played in the NFL and made himself the universal adapter on a New England team that long has had a reputation for using its players in unconventional ways.

Posted this on Twitter earlier, but - the Patriots hosted free agent TE Dallas Clark in Foxborough on Tuesday, according to a league source. The former Colt, who spent nine years in Indianapolis before getting his release earlier this year, played in just 17 games over the last two seasons due to a wrist injury in 2010 and broken fibula last year. He will be 33 in June. The Patriots obviously have Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez already at the position, and also signed former Bronco Daniel Fells earlier in the offseason.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in Week 2, said today that he's working his way back and hopes to play as soon as possible. "I'm feeling good, man," Hernandez told reporters. "I just take it day by day and work with the trainers and try to get back as soon as possible. " Hernandez would not give a definitive answer as to when he thought he might be back, and as of this morning he said he didn't know when he'd be returning to practice with the team.

FOXBOROUGH - The one year Daniel Fells spent as a tight end with the Broncos, the season was devoured by Tebow Mania. He signed a three-year deal with the Patriots in March and is looking forward to the change in environment. "It was a circus," Fells said. "But just like any circus, there's good and there's bad. So it's just something you took in stride. " The bad was obvious. "The media frenzy all day, every day," Fells said. "That can be somewhat of a distraction sometimes.

By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez didn't speak much to reporters following Saturday's game against the Denver Broncos, but he did say he was OK after appearing concussed in the fourth quarter. Hernandez caught four passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. But he made his contribution running the ball for the Patriots. He led the Patriots rushing with a 61 yards on five carries, including a 43-yard jaunt in the first quarter that led to the Patriots' first touchdown.

By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff The Patriots announced their inactive players for today's game against the New York Jets. RB Danny Woodhead, WR Julian Edelman, S Josh Barrett, OT Sebastian Vollmer, QB Ryan Mallett, DT Mike Wright and LB Jerod Mayo are all out. Woodhead and Edelman both missed practice all week with ankle injuries. Barrett, who had been listed as questionable heading into today's game, had limited participation in practice all week with thumb and hamstring injuries.

loading video... (please wait a moment) Requires Adobe Flash Player By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff FOXBOROUGH -- It was arguably the highlight play of today's Patriots practice. Tight end Aaron Hernandez took a pass from Tom Brady in the flat, took a step, saw safety Patrick Chung coming, and still got lit up. When asked about it, Hernandez responded with a smile. "I wasn't expecting it," Hernandez said, looking humored by the question.

Essentially, the Patriots have the same cast of characters on offense heading into the playoffs as they did last year when the unit struggled in a loss to the Jets. Stevan Ridley's explosiveness brings an added dimension to the running game, but if there is one reason the Patriots will be tougher to defend this January, it is clearly Aaron Hernandez. The second-year tight end has developed to the point where he is a legitimate top option to go along with wide receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

FOXBOROUGH - Aaron Hernandez started high-stepping about 10 yards out. He made sure Bills safety George Wilson could tell he was staring him down on the way to the end zone. Hernandez's 39-yard second-quarter touchdown yesterday made it 21-14; the Patriots still were pulling themselves out of the 21-point first-quarter hole they fell into in their regular-season finale. When Hernandez crossed the goal line, Wilson had a few words for him. Hernandez wasn't about to back down.

FOXBOROUGH - He saw the AFC conference trophy in the dressing room and the championship hat and shirt in his cubicle. And yet, Aaron Hernandez couldn't quite believe he was going to the only game that comes with a ring. "I feel great," the Patriots' factotum tight end-running back-blocker declared yesterday after his teammates had escaped the Ravens by a 23-20 margin in the final seconds to make it back to the Super Bowl after a three-year absence. "It's a dream come true. It hasn't hit me yet, but in the next few days it'll be real.

FOXBOROUGH -- The one year Daniel Fells spent as a tight end in the Denver Broncos locker room was when it was devoured by Tebow-mania. He signed a three-year deal with the Patriots in March and he's welcoming a 180-degree change in environment. "It was a circus," he said. "But just like any circus, there's good and there's bad. So it's just something you took it in stride. " The bad was obvious. "The media frenzy all day, every day," Fells said. "That can be somewhat of a distraction sometimes.

thinks Janoris Jenkins is this draft's Aaron Hernandez.

The Patriots have come to an agreement with Denver free agent tight end Daniel Fells, according to a league source. Fells becomes a needed third tight end for a team that regularly uses two, and has seen both of those players - Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez - suffer injuries over the last two years. Last year with the Broncos, Fells played in all 16 games with 15 starts, and had 19 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns. The year before, with the Rams, he recorded 41 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns.

While other teams went for the sexy free agent purchases last week - the NFL equivalent of waiting in line for the iPad 3 - the Patriots stuck to their usual open-market M.O., which is akin to bargain shopping. While the Broncos were obviously thrilled Monday that Peyton Manning chose them over the Titans and 49ers, the Patriots were content to make under-the-radar moves for roster depth. Tight end Daniel Fells, receiver Donte Stallworth, offensive lineman Robert Gallery, and cornerback/special teams ace Marquice Cole were brought aboard Monday.

While other teams went for the sexy free agent purchases last week - the NFL equivalent of waiting in line for the iPad 3 - the Patriots stuck to their usual open-market M.O., which is akin to bargain shopping. While the Broncos were obviously thrilled Monday that Peyton Manning chose them over the Titans and 49ers, the Patriots were content to make under-the-radar moves for roster depth. Tight end Daniel Fells, receiver Donte Stallworth, offensive lineman Robert Gallery, and cornerback/special teams ace Marquice Cole were brought aboard Monday.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had arthroscopic surgery Friday on the left ankle that hampered him in the Super Bowl, according to the Sports Business Journal. The Patriots declined comment. Gronkowski, who set an NFL single-season record for tight ends with 17 touchdown receptions, had just two catches for 26 yards in the 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis last Sunday. His recovery is expected to last 10-12 weeks and end before the Patriots begin organized team activities in the spring.

FOXBOROUGH - Most days, Aaron Hernandez goes through the many tasks all football players must attend to, his focus on practice or the weight room or film study. But there are days when he realizes if he turns around he'll be looking at Tom Brady and Deion Branch, players who, not so long ago, he watched on television while growing up in Bristol, Conn. "Honestly, sometimes I sit back and think about it - it is definitely a dream come true," Hernandez said yesterday. "I'm playing with a lot of the players that I watched, like Deion Branch, Wes Welker, Tom Brady, so it's...

By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff INDIANAPOLIS -- Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski caught two passes for 26 yards Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI, just two weeks removed from a high ankle sprain he suffered in the AFC Championship. Asked about his health, Gronkowski said "I was good. I was 100 percent out there doing everything they asked me to do. " Asked if he took a cortisone shot to help with any pain, he said no. Despite his assurances, the Patriots' all-pro tight end was not his usually effective self and played limited snaps in the game, a 21-17 loss to the New York Giants.