Welker tweeted Tuesday afternoon that he had decided to sign the franchise tender of $9.5 million as the Pats' franchise player.

``I signed my tender today. I love my team and I love my teammates,'' he said on his Twitter account ``Hopefully, doing the right thing gets the right results.''

The decision comes one day after Welker said in a radio interview that ``there are 9.5 million reasons why I wouldn't miss any regular-season games.''

Welker could have held out as leverage to help negotiate a long-term contract. He no longer will have that leverage but he and the team have until July 16th to negotiate a long-term pact.

The Patriots will hold their first full practice Monday.

The Pats also announced that they have released quarterback Mike Hartline. The 23-year-old former Kentucky quarterback had been signed in January to a future contract after spending part of last season on the Colts practice squad.

"No, not at all. Not at all," he said when asked about holding out or missing games. "There's 9.5 million reasons why I wouldn't miss any regular-season games. So, I don't have to worry about that.

Welker was referring to the $9.5 million franchise tag he received in the offseason.

Earlier in the offseason, Welker had said he probably wouldn't attend minicamp in June while he's negotiating a new contract. He seemed to back off those comments on Monday.

"We're still kind of waiting, but I'd really like to be there," he said. "I don't know. To say I'm going one way or another right now, I'm not going to say definite or anything like that. But I would definitely like to be at those minicamps for sure."

"I think we're all on the same page," he said. "And we're all trying to collectively come together and make something happen. I think everybody just needs to know that. We're all on the same page and we're trying to work toward something."

"We're just kind of moving along. I have a great relationship with coach [Bill Belichick] and Mr. Kraft and with the front office and everybody else. I don't think there's any sort of hard feelings on my side or their side. I think we're all looking forward to the 2012 season and hopefully do some big things there."

In his second year, he played in only three games before being redshirted with an ankle injury. In 2010, he bounced back and had the second-most tackles for a loss for the Canes but last fall he was suspended for the season opener by the NCAA for taking impermissible benefits while being recruited. He returned to start the next three games before a knee injury ended his season.

Even so, he surprised many scouts by declaring for the draft. The 6-3, 300-pounder is extremely strong (benched 225 pounds 35 times at the combine) but was not drafted. Now he says he's simply happy to get a chance.

"No regrets. I'm just glad to be a Patriot," he said. "I'm going to work hard and attack everything 110 percent."

Francis, 23, just completed a fine career at Rutgers. The 6-4, 275-pound defensive end totaled 5.5 sacks and is one of a slew of rushing ends the Patriots will have at training camp. In order to help him navigate what it means to be a Patriot, he'll be picking the brain of one of his college teammates, Steve Belichick. The Son of Bill was named a coaching assistant for the 2012 season by his father earlier this week.

Steve Belichick was a long-snapper at Rutgers. Asked if he considers the younger Belichick his coach, Francis said "I do, actually, and it's kind of weird. He's a good friend and he's never going to direct me on the wrong path. I'll always respect him and his job and I respect him as a friend as well."

A few years back, Francis walked into a math class at Rutgers and spotted Belichick. He quickly tried to make friends. "You're coach Belichick's son and I suck at math so don't judge me."

Francis said he realized he wasn't in college anymore when he walked into his first NFL meeting room and was handed a Patriots' playbook that he calls "gi-normous."

"It's a wild thing. It's kind of big but that's expected. There's a lot that goes on in the NFL," he said. "I sat down in the first meeting and looking at the entire room, I just said `it's time to work. I have to stay on point with everything."

Thanks to the addition of six guys who are not technically rookies, the Pats have 20 players working out. NFL rules allow any players who have not yet earned any credits toward a pension to take part in rookie mini-camp.

That means kicker Chris Koepplin, running back Eric Kettani, quarterback Mike Hartline, linebacker Markell Carter and defensive linemen Aaron Lavarias and Alex Silvestro are allowed to take part even though they were with the team (primariliy on the practice squad) last season.

The Pats drafted their smallest class in years, seven players, and signed seven free agents.

Here is the list of expected participants with the numbers they have been assigned:

2 -- K Chris Koepplin
5 -- QB Mike Hartline
13 -- WR Matt Roark
27 -- DB Tavon Wilson
36 -- RB Eric Kettani
37 -- CB Alfonzo Dennard
38 -- RB Brandon Bolden
43 -- DB Nate Ebner
45 -- LB Dont'a Hightower
49 -- DE Markell Carter
60 -- LB Aaron Lavarias
60 -- OL Jeremiah Warren
65 -- DL Marcus Forston
66 -- DE Jake Bequette
66 -- OL Markus Zusevics
68 -- DE Justin Francis
69 -- DE Alex Silvestro
80 -- WR Jeremy Ebert
82 -- TE Brad Herman
95 -- DE Chandler Jones

Matt Patricia has been named defensive coordinator, Josh Boyer will coach cornerbacks, Brian Flores will coach safeties, Patrick Graham will coach the defensive line and Pepper Johnson will coach the linebackers.

On offense, George Godsey will coach the tight ends.

In addition, Joe Judge has been named special teams assistant and Steve Belichick has been named a coaching assistant.

Addai, 29, has spent his entire six-year career with the Indianapolis Colts. He has 4,453 career rushing yards and 39 touchdowns.

The seven rookie free agents signed on Thursday are: running back Brandon Bolden (Mississippi), defensive lineman Marcus Forston (Miami), defensive lineman Justin Francis (Rutgers), tight end Brad Herman (Iowa), wide receiver Matt Roark (Kentucky), offensive lineman Jeremiah Warren (South Florida) and offensive lineman Markus Zusevics (Iowa).

All seven rookies will be in Patriots' rookie minicamp on Friday at Gillette Stadium.

The All-Pro cornerback says Thursday that the way the Patriots coach "disrespects" the Jets is uncalled for and not professional.

Revis called Belichick "a jerk" in March on a TV show. He says "when you make it personal, say things that are personal," about opposing players and coaches, that is a sign of disrespect.

"Why go there?" Revis says about personal and derogatory comments he believes Belichick said about the Jets last season.

Revis also says he is "cool" with his current contract, which has two years to run and came out of a lengthy holdout in 2010. He says he is not thinking about another holdout, but didn't completely dismiss it.

National Football League players live longer than men in the general population and are less likely to suffer from cancer or heart disease, according to a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

NIOSH, a government research agency, studied all 3,439 men who played at least five seasons in the NFL from 1959 to 1988.

Of those, 334 were deceased, compared with an expectation of 625, based on estimates from the general population. While the agency expected 146 cancer-related deaths, 85 players died from the disease. There were 126 deaths from heart disease against an expectation of 186, according to an e-mailed summary of the findings.

While NIOSH didn't look at neurodegenerative causes of death, the institute is now studying incidences of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease among NFL players.

The league sent a summary of the findings to 3,200 former players yesterday. The study was commissioned by the National Football League Players Association in 1990 because of concerns about shortened life span and heart disease among players.

While players overall are less likely to contract heart disease, some are more likely to, the study said.

Players who had a body mass index above 30 during their playing career, making them obese, had twice the risk of dying from heart disease than other players.

Also, African-American players had a 69 percent higher risk of death from heart disease than white players and defensive lineman had a 42 percent higher chance of death from heart disease compared with the general population.

"All other positions had a lower chance of dying of heart disease compared to the general population,'' the study's summary said. "We are not certain why heart disease was higher among the defensive lineman. This was unexpected and needs further study.''

The Patriots' newest tight end knew what he was getting into when he signed a three-year, $5.25 million contract with New England in March. With Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski on the roster, Fells is almost certain to be the Pats' third tight end.

He does not mind because he thinks he will still get plenty of chances to help.

``They're both real good tight ends. They went out there and they produced. They are two of the top guys in the league,'' Fells said when he met with reporters Tuesday at Gillette Stadium. ``But traditionally, just looking at this offense, Tom's (Brady) going to find the open man. That's something that appeals to everybody.

``Every week you turn the TV on and you're seeing something new from this team,'' said Fells, who has been with five other teams in his seven-year career. ``Just the things they were doing. It is revolutionary, as you say. Bill (Belichick) is the type of guy who finds different ways to keep defenses on their toes or keep them back on their heels. They don't really know what to expect or what's going on. He's an innovator in that sense.''

The Patriots did not have a third tight end last season. When they went to three tight-end sets, which they did quite often, tackle Nate Solder handled that job. With Solder likely to take over for the retired Matt Light at left tackle, Fells gives the Pats a legitimate end to complement Gronkowski and Hernandez.

Fells started 15 games for Denver during Tebow Mania last season. Tim Tebow's presence, he said, made work a bit of a circus, although he did not blame Tebow for it. Tebow is an easy-to-like guy, Fells said.

Still, it meant Fells spent most of his time blocking rather than running pass routes. He caught 19 passes for 256 on the season. His most productive year was in 2010 with St. Louis, where he caught 41 passes for 391 yards.

Fells, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent, said he welcomes the chance to, as he put it, ``go to an organization like this and see how things are done right in this league.''

While he admires Gronkowski and Hernandez, he has a very different personality. At 29, he is six years older than the other two who are among the most free spirited and outgoing players on the New England roster.

``I'm a little bit older. I've been around he block,'' the 6-foot-4, 258-pounder said. ``I was young once. I'm married. I have a son (who is 10 months old). Things change. Times change. They will grow up a little bit. They're enjoying their youth right now.''

Also with the Pats, being nominated for the Patriots' Hall of Fame brought back some special memories for Troy Brown.

Brown spoke Tuesday about how his career almost never happened. He was released by the team after being an eighth-round draft choice. He thought he would never get the chance to show what he could do.

``Yeah, that definitely went through my head after being out for, I think seven or eight weeks, in 1994. I thought about it. I actually went out and got a job; I started working at the Boys and Girls Club,'' he related.

``I was planning to go back to school in January and finishing up my degree. That's what you have to do when you don't have a job and you've been out for almost two months. But I was blessed and I was lucky to get the phone call. I still remember watching that Jet game - I think the Patriots were playing the New York Jets in New York. A buddy of mine at the time, Ronnie Harris, who actually had my job as the punt returner, he went out and he fumbled a punt and I believe the Jets went on to win the game.

``I wasn't expecting a phone call but I received a phone call from Bobby Grier that night telling me to get ready to come back. I asked if my plane tickets would be ready - I was waiting for that moment because my tryouts were far and between. I think I worked out for Kansas City once and I think I worked out for the Jets once, in that whole two-month period that I was out of football and the Patriots hadn't called at all, so I was pretty impressed to get that phone call.''

Brown played for 15 years and now has been nominated, along with Bill Parcells and Fred Marion, for the Pats Hall of Fame.

Fans will decide the winner by voting at The Hall or on the internet. Brown now does radio and television work and has settled in Foxboro.

``I'm a small town guy and Foxboro is probably 10 times bigger than my hometown. I like the peace and quiet of Foxboro,'' he said ``I loved played for this organization, this team, this atmosphere. I loved the accountability they put on the players to go and out and do your job. I never had any problems with Bill Parcells, never had any problems with Pete Carroll and definitely haven't had any with Bill Belichick. I love that, even though a lot of guys can't really handle that.''

Marion also spoke by conference call. He was a standout defensive back for 10 years for the Pats. He was taken aback when he was informed he was one of the three finalists.

`` For a moment there I just paused. I was at a loss for words,'' he said. ``You play the game just to play the game. You play to the best of your ability and I'm going to let things fall where they may. I was very honored, a little floored knowing that I was thought of in that fashion the way I played the game for 10 years for the Patriots.''

Marion is now the general sales manager of a car dealership in Sanford, Fla.

Unfortunately, not everybody knows.

It's been my experience that most pro athletes really don't know when to call it quits.

Either the money is too tempting, prompting them to hang on longer than they should, or the fear of what they'll do after football (or basketball, or baseball) is too great.

In any case, it's not easy to walk away from something you've done your entire life; something that, for many athletes, defines who they are.

But Light understands that there is life after pro ball, is prepared for it, and is looking forward to it.

It's also understandable that Pats QB Tom Brady hoped Light would stick around for one more season.

As long as Brady has been playing, Light has been protecting his blind side.

And doing it so well that he helped the Patriots get to five Super Bowls, was voted to three Pro Bowls, and was paired with Bruce Armstrong on the Patriots' all-time team.

His successor at left tackle will be Nate Solder, drafted in the first round in 2011.

If Solder -- who showed great promise as a rookie -- has a career as lengthy, and as successful, as Light's, he should consider himself a very lucky man.

And if, like Light, he knows when that career is over, Solder will be even more fortunate.

Gaffney has played 10 NFL seasons, three of them with the Patriots from 2006-08. In New England, he caught 84 passes for 1,059 yards and eight touchdowns.

He has also played for Houston, Denver and Washington. In all, Gaffney has 443 receptions for 5,622 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Team owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and more than a dozen of Light's present and former teammates took part in an entertaining press conference at The Hall at Patriot Place, which is part of the Gillette Stadium complex. In part because Light was one of the Patriot pranksters, the hour-long event was a mix of praise for Light as a player and a person and humor, as numerous stories were told about the some of the pranks Light pulled off.

``(He) is the model of what we consider a true Patriot,'' Kraft said.

``He's been a tremendous player for us, a tremendous resource for our team. He's given great leadership as well as great performance,'' Belichick offered. ``(He was behind) a lot of levity that we probably need around here. Most of which I'll miss, but not all of it.

``Matt, congratulations on a tremendous career. You and your family have meant a lot to this team and the community up here. Nobody was more dependable, durable and consistent,'' Belichick said. ``It's been a pleasure to coach you these 11 years. . . Thank you for putting up with me.''

Light said his career was unexpected.

``This is probably sound horrible. I was really honestly floored that I had an opportunity to play and make it to the next level,'' he related. ``I never really had plans to play in the National Football League. I never really thought about it when I was a kid.

``For me when I came in I really just wanted to find out, how can I improve, who can I learn from, how quickly can I do it, and will I be able to keep pace.

``I think it was that drive in trying to improve myself and prove it to myself that kept me going,'' he said. ``I don't think it was until year two or three or four that I started thinking, `Wow, this is actually happening. This could become something bigger than myself.' Fortunately, it did become that.''

In his 11 seasons after being drafted in the second round out of Purdue in 2001, Light started 173 of 175 games in which he played. He never had a losing season and helped the Pats to nine AFC East titles, played in six AFC titles games, five Super Bowl and three Pro Bowls.

Kraft pointed out that he is the only offensive player other than a quarterback to start five Super Bowls. The only others to do that are Tom Brady, John Elway, Cornelius Bennett and Charles Haley.

An autopsy Thursday confirmed that the former NFL linebacker died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the medical examiner's office said. The office said further details would be released in a final investigative report, which may take up to 90 days to complete.

Officials said they were awaiting a decision by the family on whether to turn over Seau's brain to unidentified outside researchers for study.

Seau died Wednesday in his home in suburban Oceanside.

Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. A gun was found near him, McCoy said. Police said no suicide note was found and they didn't immediately know who the gun was registered to.

Seau's ex-wife, Gina, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Seau sustained concussions during his 20-year career. She said she didn't know if the effects of concussions contributed to Seau's death. Seau starred with his hometown San Diego Chargers for 13 years before playing with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.