Nick Kaczur

The Patriots have released seven players, including defensive lineman Ty Warren, who missed last season because of a hip injury. Tight end Alge Crumpler, linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, cornerback Tony Carter, tackle Nick Kaczur, defensive lineman Marcus Stroud, and rookie free agent linebacker Ryan Coulson were the other players released. The Patriots also announced the signing of quarterback Ryan Mallet and offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, who were both chosen in April's draft.

FOXBOROUGH - The once-dominant Patriots defensive line of Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, and Vince Wilfork is down to one remaining member after New England yesterday released Warren and five other veteran players. Also cut were Alge Crumpler, Nick Kaczur, Tully Banta-Cain, Marcus Stroud, and Tony Carter. The six were due a combined $12.88 million in base salary this season; all of that comes off New England's cap for this year. Crumpler and Kaczur, both of whom are coming back from significant injuries, each could return to the team at a reduced salary, but Warren very...

The New England Patriots have signed quarterback Ryan Mallett, one other draft choice and released seven players. Mallett, a third-round pick from Arkansas, and offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, a fifth-round choice from TCU, signed Friday. There were some notable names among those released — defensive end Ty Warren, tight end Alge Crumpler and offensive tackle Nick Kaczur. All carried salary cap numbers of at least $3 million. Warren spent last season on injured reserve after being a regular starter for six seasons.

The New England Patriots have signed quarterback Ryan Mallett, one other draft choice and released seven players. Mallett, a third-round pick from Arkansas, and offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, a fifth-round choice from TCU, signed Friday. There were some notable names among those released — defensive end Ty Warren, tight end Alge Crumpler and offensive tackle Nick Kaczur. All carried salary cap numbers of at least $3 million. Warren spent last season on injured reserve after being a regular starter for six seasons.

I spoke briefly with Ty Warren about his release, and while it is possible that a couple of the other veterans released today - possibly Alge Crumpler or Nick Kaczur - might re-sign with the team for less money, it is pretty clear Warren will not be returning. "I am definitely not mad about my release," he said. "I appreciate the Patriots and our journey together, and I appreciate the Krafts for drafting me in 2003 and providing an opportunity. "I look forward to doing bigger and better things.

FOXBOROUGH - The once-dominant Patriots defensive line of Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, and Vince Wilfork is down to one remaining member after New England yesterday released Warren and five other veteran players. Also cut were Alge Crumpler, Nick Kaczur, Tully Banta-Cain, Marcus Stroud, and Tony Carter. The six were due a combined $12.88 million in base salary this season; all of that comes off New England's cap for this year. Crumpler and Kaczur, both of whom are coming back from significant injuries, each could return to the team at a...

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots swung a trade yesterday, sending offensive tackle Brandon Gorin to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional draft choice. While the deal might be minor, it's reflective of the team's successful program in developing offensive linemen under assistant Dante Scarnecchia. The 28-year-old Gorin played in 39 games (23 starts) from 2003-05. But he was anything but a finished product when he joined the team in 2002, spending that year on the practice squad.

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady normally praises his offensive line at every turn, but this time he couldn't resist. From left to right, what he has seen of late has frightened him. Bad blocking? Nope. Bad beards? Most definitely. "It's ugly," Brady cracked. "And they already need all the help they can get. " NFL offensive lines bond in different ways, and in New England the blockers who protect Brady and open holes for running backs Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney have their niche.

FOXBOROUGH -- Sometimes patience and restraint are the wise course, and that is the route the Patriots appeared to take yesterday in the opening day of the NFL Draft. The existence of some nagging question marks in his linebacking corps, despite several free agent acquisitions, and the need for another defensive back did not rattle Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who refused to let his reach exceed his grasp in search of help that probably wasn't really there in the early hours of the draft.

FOXBOROUGH -- Ryan O'Callaghan is a fast learner. Yet to make his NFL debut, he's already a bona fide member of the Bill Belichick secret society. Asked if he could confirm the obvious -- that he'll be starting at right tackle Sunday when the Patriots host the Buffalo Bills in the season opener -- the 6-foot-7-inch, 330-pound breathing mountain looked like the kid hiding in the back of the class lest he be called on to answer a question. "I haven't been told that," he recited.

I spoke briefly with Ty Warren about his release, and while it is possible that a couple of the other veterans released today - possibly Alge Crumpler or Nick Kaczur - might re-sign with the team for less money, it is pretty clear Warren will not be returning. "I am definitely not mad about my release," he said. "I appreciate the Patriots and our journey together, and I appreciate the Krafts for drafting me in 2003 and providing an opportunity. "I look forward to doing bigger and better things.

The Patriots have released seven players, including defensive lineman Ty Warren, who missed last season because of a hip injury. Tight end Alge Crumpler, linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, cornerback Tony Carter, tackle Nick Kaczur, defensive lineman Marcus Stroud, and rookie free agent linebacker Ryan Coulson were the other players released. The Patriots also announced the signing of quarterback Ryan Mallet and offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, who were both chosen in April's draft.

FOXBOROUGH — In a year in which the Patriots’ offensive line has dealt with season-ending injuries to right tackle Nick Kaczur (back) and right guard Stephen Neal (shoulder), a holdout by left guard Logan Mankins, and concerns about its depth, Dan Koppen has remained a constant presence and stabilizing force in the trenches. Along with tackles Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer, Koppen has not missed a snap. From training camp to the regular season, Koppen has remained at the center of it all. When the top-seeded Patriots host the...

FOXBOROUGH — Sebastian Vollmer has never been one to dwell on the past. But that doesn’t mean he is incapable of reflection. Especially when it comes to the pivotal moment of his NFL career — when as a Patriots rookie he was thrown into the breach during a 20-17 overtime loss at Denver last season when left tackle Matt Light injured his knee. “Everything happened so fast,’’ Vollmer recalled. “The coaches were like, ‘Well, get in.’ Matt was out, so it was, ‘Get in.’ So there was really not much thinking involved.

FOXBOROUGH — On one side of the line of scrimmage tomorrow will be Tom Brady, who the Patriots just invested $72 million in. On the other, a Bengals defense that registered 34 sacks last year. Protecting that $72 million investment will be an offensive line that is missing one of its biggest pieces. While the Patriots hammered out a few contracts before tomorrow’s season opener, none of them have Logan Mankins’s name on it. The left guard refused to sign his $3.26 million tender offer and did not participate in offseason workouts or training camp.

FOXBOROUGH - The 58th overall pick in the NFL draft this year didn’t begin playing football until he was 14 years old. Still, the play of Sebastian Vollmer - as well as myriad injuries - has forced the Patriots to be creative in working him into the offensive line rotation. In their 20-10 win over Carolina last Sunday, the Patriots rotated Vollmer, Matt Light, and Nick Kaczur at left and right tackle. An offensive line may be the last place you want inconsistency, but the maneuvering seemed to please coach Bill Belichick, who said, “That was probably good for them to get a...