The New England Patriots strengthened their defensive line today by acquiring DE/LB Derrick Burgess from the Oakland Raiders for a third round pick in 2010 and fifth round pick in 2011. The Patriots released veteran offensive lineman Al Johnson to make room on the roster for him. Burgess could fill the role left by Mike Vrabel who was traded to Kansas City. Burgess is a 7-year veteran having spent his first three years in the league with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s spent the past four with the Oakland Raiders. Burgess is a two time Pro Bowler and had 16 sacks in 2005. In 85 games, he has 188 tackles and 47 sacks. Editor’s note: Steve sent this to me via text message. He’s still hoping to return before the season starts.

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady turned 32 yesterday and was greeted by teammates with some birthday cake to the face. I wonder what his wife Gisele Bundchen gave him? As a Pats fan I can not wait for the team to play for real. I believe with the return of Brady after his injury and the addition of veteran running back Fred Taylor to compliment Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris that the offense will be even more dynamic than in the record setting 2007 season. I will go on the record and say you won’t see an undefeated season and you probably won’t see 50 TD passes but we will see a return of the team’s AFC East dominance and a very good chance of the team’s 4th Super Bowl championship since 2001. I, for one, am ready for some football and can’t wait for Terrell Owens and Buffalo in Week 1. Editor’s Note: Steve sent this to me via text message.

While the New England Patriots haven’t made anything official yet, the agent for former UConn Husky Darius Butler, Drew Rosenhaus, announced on his Twitter page that Butler had come to terms on a 4-year deal with the Patriots.

We are excited to announce that Darius Butler has agreed to terms on a 4 year deal with the Patriots. He was the 41st pick.

No financial terms were disclosed.

Butler would be the first of UConn’s draft choices to sign a contract with his respective NFL team.

UPDATE: The deal will be formally announced once all the paperwork is finalized and submitted to the league office.

UPDATE # 2: Courtesy of Pro Football Talk, here is how Butler’s contract breaks down:

Butler gets more than $2 million guaranteed in the form of a $440,000 roster bonus and a $1.6275 million guaranteed option bonus.

His base salaries will be $310,000 (2009), $395,000 (2010), $582,000 (2011) and $770,000 (2012).

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During a drill during the New England Patriots rookie mini-camp last weekend, third-round draft pick linebacker Tyrone McKenzie suffered a knee injury in a one-on-one coverage drill.

Now according to Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe, McKenzie will be out for the season after suffering a torn ACL.

Patriots rookie linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, who was injured during the team’s rookie mini-camp last weekend, is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, according to a source close to the rookie.

And in some other Patriots news I missed, they announced they had signed 8 free agents earlier in the week and yesterday announced they had signed free agent safety Brandon McGowan and waived punter Tom Malone.

And in the day late, dollar short news, here’s a link to the what games the Patriots will wear their throwback jerseys this season.

McKenzie out for season [Reiss’ Pieces]

Rookie minicamp: Tyrone McKenzie [Reiss’ Pieces]

The New England Patriots wrapped of the first of their mini-camps yesterday as the rookies took to the field again during a double session. The rookies aren’t allowed to return to the Patriots before May 15th or after their college’s graduation, whichever comes later. So for the rooks, that means a lot of Patriots homework to learn until their back in 12 days.

Peace, happiness and practice; Saturday mini-camp notes [Patriots.com]

It’s QB or not QB at Pats’ camp [Enterprise News]

New sport within his grasp [Boston Globe]

No sideline job for Crennel [Boston Globe]

Vollmer’s journey went from Germany to Patriots [AP via Boston Globe]

Patriots’ Rookie Vollmer Makes Up For Late Start [Hartford Courant]

One of the newest Patriots, Darius Butler, has a ‘Prime Time’ mentor [Providence Journal]

Chung’s eager to make a hit [Providence Journal]

Chung studying up [Reiss’ Pieces]

Observations from rookie minicamp practice [Reiss’ Pieces]

Shifty move for Julian Edelman [Boston Herald]

Tyrone McKenzie injures knee [Boston Herald]

George Bussey, Myron Pryor share common roots [Boston Herald]

Just five days after the 2009 NFL Draft wrapped up, the New England Patriots rookies got to work at mini-camp yesterday. Here are some links from the local media’s coverage of the mini-camp.

It won’t be easy turning this corner [Boston Globe]

Rookie Tate looks to be a quick study [Boston Globe]

Darius Butler’s on the number [Boston Herald]

Grappling with new life [Boston Herald]

Ron Brace begins learning curve [Boston Herald]

Rookie Jermail Porter hopes his first football is pro football [Providence Journal]

Ron Brace’s football career has been New England through and through [Providence Journal]

Bill Belichick press conference [Reiss’ Pieces]

Saturday schedule [Reiss’ Pieces]

New England Patriots: With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquiring Kellen Winslow in the offseason, they really had no need for tight end Alex Smith any more. Now Smith has a new home as the New England Patriots traded an undisclosed 2010 draft pick for him. Smith will compete with Chris Baker, Benjamin Watson and David Thomas for the starting tight end spot. [Reiss’ Pieces]

New England Patriots: After the draft concluded on Sunday, the New England Patriots signed four rookie free agents to contracts. They are S Marcus McClinton (Kentucky), CB Jamar Love (Arkansas), QB Brian Hoyer (Michigan St.) and LB Antonio Appleby (Virginia). [NE Patriots Draft]

The Patriots finished up the 2009 draft today with two picks in the 7th round.

With the 23rd pick in the 7th round (232nd overall), the Patriots took QB/WR Julian Edelman from Kent State. The Patriots drafted him as a wide receiver and he could maybe fill a role in some type of  “Wildcat” formation.

With their final pick in the draft (234th overall), the Patriots took  defensive tackle Darryl Richard from Georgia Tech.