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In this week's edition of "Reiss' P.A.T.", Mike Reiss checks in from OTAs at Gillette Stadium, visits with Bryan Morry, the executive director of the Patriots' Hall of Fame, and answers your Twitter questions.

The New England Patriots claimed offensive tackle Kevin Haslam off waivers Wednesday, and waived offensive lineman R.J. Mattes in a corresponding move.

Haslam, who enters his fourth season, was waived by the San Diego Chargers on Tuesday. He went undrafted in 2010 out of Rutgers, and becomes the eighth Rutgers product on the Patriots' 90-man roster.

At 6-foot-5 and 304 pounds, Haslam has experience at both guard and tackle, and started three games for the Chargers last season.

Mattes is an undrafted rookie from North Carolina State.

One of the tenants behind the Patriots' sustained success under Bill Belichick has been a mix of young talent and veteran experience throughout the roster. When Tom Brady was a young, developing quarterback in the league, veterans such as Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Ty Law and others were around to serve in leadership roles.

Brady now lays claim to the elder statesman title on the Patriots roster, and it is he who serves as the team's leader while youngsters such as Rob Gronkowski, Dont'a Hightower, Stevan Ridley and Chandler Jones develop in the early stages of their own careers.

But while the Patriots' projected starting lineup for 2013 is laced with young cornerstones on either side of the ball, it has a veteran feel. Mike Sando, who runs the NFC West blog for ESPN.com, points out that the Patriots' projected starters are the sixth oldest among NFL teams.

More specifically, Sando calculated that the Patriots' offensive starters make for the seventh oldest group, while the defensive starters make for the ninth oldest group on their side of the ball.

It's important to note, as Sando does, that these rankings can change as starting lineups become clearer closer to the start of the regular season. If, for example, either Michael Jenkins or Adrian Wilson (who some project as starters) were to be reserves, the Patriots' rankings may drop, particularly if Aaron Dobson and Tavon Wilson were their replacements.

For the most part, however, we have a sufficient feel on which players will start for the Patriots in 2013, and while the overall average age of the starters ranks near the top of the league, it's safe to say that the Patriots have a strong young core in place for the future. Beyond the aforementioned young players, there are several others such as Nate Solder, Shane Vereen, Marcus Cannon, Jamie Collins, Alfonzo Dennard and Armond Armstead who could be fixtures in the lineup for years to come.

The development of those younger players (among others) will be worth monitoring as the offseason progresses and the regular season draws closer.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Eleven months ago, Bill Belichick seemed amused when asked a question about potentially breaking an "unwritten rule" by claiming injured tight end Jake Ballard on waivers from the Giants.

The long story short: The Giants were waiving Ballard with the intention of placing him on their PUP/reserve list because Ballard was recovering from microfracture knee surgery and a torn ACL suffered in the Super Bowl (against the Patriots), and wasn't expected to play in 2012. But because the Giants were making the move while teams had a 90-man roster limit, Ballard was subject to the waiver system before landing on PUP/reserve. The Patriots intercepted the move by claiming Ballard.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin called it "very disappointing" but made it clear he didn't harbor any ill feelings toward the Patriots. He called the move a "calculated risk [that] didn't work."

Belichick said simply that there are no unwritten rules on claiming injured players.

Still, that didn't stop some from questioning Belichick's decision. The Patriots already had a stocked depth chart topped by Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Daniel Fells, and they would later add Michael Hoomanawanui, so why did they even need Ballard?

This is why.

At the time of the waiver claim, June 12 of last year, Belichick couldn't have projected what his tight end depth chart would look like. The tight end personnel might have looked good at that moment, but in the physical game of football, an injury or unexpected turn of events could alter the picture at a position that is vital in the team's offense.

So Belichick weighed the cost of paying Ballard his 2012 salary of $540,000 while he rehabbed with the potential reward of seeing him on the field in 2013 when he'd earn a base salary of $630,000 (if he made the roster). He decided the investment of tight end insurance was worth it -- the only coach/personnel man in the NFL to do so -- and it's a move that is looking awfully smart right now as Gronkowski (left forearm/back) and Hernandez (shoulder) are rehabbing.

In Tuesday's organized team activity, Ballard's presence on the field was arguably the most notable storyline. It was the first clear-cut indication that his rehabilitation from serious knee surgery has gone well enough to put him in position to compete for a roster spot. At one point, he caught a pass from quarterback Tom Brady, and Brady yelled out his encouragement as the two are in the early stages of building a rapport.

Time will tell if Ballard emerges as a contributor for the Patriots, but the early indication is that this is another classic case of the forward-thinking Belichick building crucial depth on his roster.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- One leftover from Tuesday's organized team activity was the status of second-year running back Brandon Bolden, who wasn't on the practice field with his teammates.

Bolden's absence Tuesday was health-related, as he has been taking part in the team's offseason program but hasn't been cleared to participate on the field as he continues to rehab an undisclosed ailment.

Bolden, who missed two games last season with a knee injury and four because of a league-issued suspension, appeared in 10 regular-season games in 2012. He finished with 274 rushing yards on 56 carries and two touchdowns, and coaches credited him with six special teams tackles. His highlight came Sept. 30 against the Bills when the Patriots turned to a power running game against an undersized Bills' sub defense and Bolden churned out a team-high 137 yards on 16 carries (8.6 avg.) and a touchdown. The following week is when he first showed up on the injury report (knee).

Bolden's status could have some connection to the Patriots acquiring LeGarrette Blount in a draft-day trade with the Buccaneers; more depth never hurts, especially when a team is managing injuries/rehabilitation at the position.

Between projected top back Stevan Ridley (5-11, 220), Bolden (5-11, 220) and Blount (6-0, 247), the Patriots currently feature one of their biggest offensive backfields in Bill Belichick's coaching tenure. Shane Vereen (5-9, 205) and Leon Washington (5-8, 203) offer a change-of-pace element at running back, with rookie free-agent Akeem Shavers (5-11, 203) also in that category.

Bolden's health status bears monitoring as training camp nears in late July.

The Patriots signed 19 rookie free agents after the draft, and their contracts were analyzed by colleague Field Yates. This was one of the largest rookie free-agent classes for the Patriots in recent memory, in part because of the 90-man roster limit and also something that reflects the general youth of the team.

Examining the rookie free-agent contracts reflects, in part, the value that the player had in the post-draft market.

Today, Brian McIntyre of the “Shutdown Corner” blog on Yahoo! Sports puts those numbers in a league-wide context by noting that the Patriots spent more guaranteed money on rookie free agents than any team in the NFL.

“The New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams each spent over $100,000 in guaranteed money on their class of undrafted free agents this offseason, according to a source with knowledge of rookie salary data,” McIntyre writes.

“NFL teams could spend a maximum of $78,170 in signing bonuses on undrafted rookie free agents this offseason, but there are no limits to the amount of guaranteed money teams can include in the standard three-year contracts signed by undrafted free agents. Seven NFL teams have spent more than the $78,170 signing bonus maximum in guaranteed money, with New England leading the way by spending $140,000 in guaranteed money on their undrafted free agents.”

To read McIntyre’s piece, CLICK HERE.

On Tuesday morning, five areas of interest for the Patriots' organized team activity were listed. Here is a follow-up based on what we saw on Tuesday's session:

1. Early signs of Brady-Amendola synergy. This came through as clearly as it could in an organized team activity setting. At one point, Tom Brady worked with Danny Amendola on the quick pass that was often a staple with the QB and Wes Welker, while most of the entire team was on the other field for special-teams work. That play requires a certain element of timing and being on the same page and it was something that Brady and Welker did particularly well, giving Welker the chance to create yardage after the catch in the form of a glorified running play. Brady and Amendola spent time Tuesday attempting to build a similar rapport. Overall, Amendola seemed to take a leading presence among the receiving corps, as he was often the first receiver in drills.

2. Progress report on Ballard. This was probably the most significant development of the OTA from this perspective, the fact that Ballard's rehabilitation from knee surgery has reached a point where he is on the field catching passes from Brady. With Rob Gronkowski (forearm/back) and Aaron Hernandez (shoulder) not in the mix, Ballard received some significant reps, at one point running a dig route from left to right and showing good hands in hauling in a throw from Brady about 15-20 yards down the field. That was a good chance to get a snapshot look at Ballard's ability to run, which some might have had a concern with after knee surgery -- the thinking being that Ballard wasn't considered fleet of foot before the injury, and any loss of speed might limit his ability to contribute. Ballard is 275 pounds, and it certainly doesn't look effortless, but the feeling here was that he was running better than anticipated. It looks like he's still being managed health-wise -- at one point in practice he worked off to the side with some resistance training -- but his on-field presence is a notable development for the Patriots as they navigate rehabs with top tight ends Gronkowski and Hernandez.

3. Eyes on Dobson and the outside receivers. A little bit of a surprise to see veteran Michael Jenkins stand out from the crowd among outside receivers, and also took note that it was Jenkins and Amendola working with Brady on two different occasions (while most of the team was on the other field for special-teams work). Was curious if second-round pick Aaron Dobson would have those types of opportunities, but they weren't as plentiful. Also took note of Lavelle Hawkins' quickness at one point. His style of player seemed to be closer to an early-career Deion Branch -- not a big target, but some shiftiness there.

4. Trickle-down effect of Spikes' absence. With starting middle linebacker Brandon Spikes staying away from voluntary organized team activities, it opened the opportunity for others to take more reps. Dane Fletcher, who missed last season with a torn ACL, was one beneficiary. "I feel good or else I wouldn't be out here," Fletcher said. "I feel like everything is [progressing]. It's getting better."

5. Brady breaking in new receivers. Brady was vocal on the practice field, often times barking out encouragement when he liked what he saw from one of the team's pass-catchers. In a practice with a heavy emphasis on the passing game, Brady was naturally a central focus. The change at the receiver position puts him out of his comfort zone a bit, but as one would expect, he seems to be embracing the challenge.

BOSTON -- While the biggest news out of Tuesday's owners meetings in Boston was Super Bowls L and LI being awarded to San Francisco and Houston, there were a few other nuggets of note:

Kraft stresses value of in-stadium experience. One of the cornerstones of San Francisco's bid for the Super Bowl in 2016 was keeping up with technology inside the stadium that fans are able to use to enhance viewing at home. In recalling his favorite Tedy Bruschi moment on Tuesday -- his December 2003 interception against the Miami Dolphins and the ensuing "snow fireworks" -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made sure to mention how fans needed to be at the stadium to experience that moment.

"(It was) one of the great visuals and part of what makes it great going to a game in a stadium," Kraft said. "You experience a sense of community and group celebration that you can't do at home no matter how much you like the home viewing experience."

The Patriots recently expanded their WiFi capacity in Gillette Stadium, but Kraft said the team's efforts will extend beyond that.

"We understand with what's going on in the world today, people are concerned about being in an environment where there are large crowds," Kraft said. "At the same time, with the way technology works, we're doing things in quickies and getting quick reactions, and we don't have that sense of community that I think a lot of people long for.

"Going to sporting events, and especially football games that are only once a week, it's a great experience and we're going to keep making them more and more special."

Mara talks potential changes to offseason calendar. On Monday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that the NFL and NFLPA were "on the verge" of pushing back the draft until May and moving the start of the league year to before the scouting combine in Indianapolis.

It would be a change that would take NFL coaches and front offices out of their routine, and on Tuesday, New York Giants owner John Mara addressed the possibility that it may ruffle the feathers of those on the football side.

"Every time you change something, certain coaches and other football people think it's the end of the world," Mara said. "But you know what? They always manage to adapt."

According to Schefter, the change to the draft could come as soon as 2014.

"If you're moving the draft, there are advantages to it," Mara said. "You bring the (rookies) in for minicamp, and then they just stay. You can look at it a number of different ways.

"I think if we do it, we're going to do it for the long haul."

NFL reaches deal with Microsoft. The NFL announced a partnership with Microsoft on Tuesday that could include more technology being implemented on sidelines.

From the league's news release:

"Coaches and players will soon have access to a variety of cutting-edge Microsoft solutions, including Surface tablets to enhance on-field communications, photo viewing and play calling. Microsoft and the NFL envision a sideline of the future with players reviewing in-game photos from different camera angles directly from the sideline and head coaches calling plays off connected Surface tablets instead of today's static paper products. With Microsoft technology, NFL coaches, players and other personnel will have the technology they need to improve decision-making and on-field performance."

BOSTON -- Hours after former linebacker Tedy Bruschi was announced as the 19th player elected to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame, owner Robert Kraft told reporters that the fan vote overwhelmingly fell in Bruschi's favor.

"I think he got 75 or 80 percent of the vote," Kraft said Tuesday.

Bruschi was one of three nominees for election, along with former coach Chuck Fairbanks and offensive lineman Leon Gray.

Kraft recalled standing in the team's practice bubble after Bruschi was drafted in 1996, taking a question from then-coach Bill Parcells about the team's third-round pick.

"Who's that Mexican guy?" Kraft recalls Parcells asking him. "That always stuck out."

Bruschi told reporters after being elected Tuesday that he planned to spend his entire career with the Patriots shortly after he was drafted, something that Kraft noted in his remarks.

"We're big believers in trying to keep certain players as long as we can. It's very hard," Kraft said. "In fact he was one of those guys who wanted to play here his whole career. He did it without an agent."

Bruschi suffered a stroke in February 2005 that kept him out of action through the first half of the following season. Kraft said Tuesday that he urged Bruschi to be cautious in his return to the field.

"When he wanted to come back to play, I insisted that he go visit a couple doctors, actually some doctors in New York that were not Patriots fans," Kraft recalled. "I told him certain decisions in life you measure nine times and cut once, and he followed all of that."

The Patriots will induct Bruschi and former broadcaster Gil Santos into the team's hall of fame on Aug. 11, and then honor Bruschi in a halftime ceremony on Sept. 12 against the New York Jets.

"He's someone who's very special," Kraft said. "We were so lucky to have Tedy and I'm happy that he's decided to make his home here."

ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss was on SportsCenter this afternoon to discuss the integration of Danny Amendola into the Patriots’ system (video above).

Amendola, who has already worked some with Brady this offseason, said at Tuesday’s OTA that he’s still learning “the vocabulary of the offense.”

“It’s a process,” he added.

Reiss finished the interview with an observation from Tuesday’s OTA:

“The Patriots, unlike the other 31 teams in the NFL, don’t have jersey numbers for their players (at OTAs). And when you watched Amendola on the field, you almost would have thought that it was Wes Welker. They're very similar types of players.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Below are a few photos from Tuesday's Patriots organized team activity:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- You'll be hard pressed to find many players who favor the offseason or training camp over the regular season and playoffs, but Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib may just be one of them.

The 27-year old addressed reporters following the team's second OTA of the offseason on Tuesday, opening his remarks with a unique take.

"I feel good," he said. "Best part of the year right here."

Pressed for an explanation on why he felt that way, Talib offered, "This is what you work for. You put in all the work, see what you get out of it during the season."

Talib and his teammates have been hard at work during the offseason conditioning program, the first that he has taken part in since being acquired via trade last season from Tampa Bay. He stressed the importance of conditioning and fundamentals as it relates to the on-field work.

"Right now we're just getting in good shape," he said. "Getting the basics of the defense and offense down. We're working right now."

The Patriots were able to retain Talib this offseason with a one-year contract that could pay him up to $5 million. He was briefly an unrestricted free agent, but noted on Tuesday that his preference throughout the process was to remain in New England.

"I just let it played how it played," he said of free agency. "I wanted to be back, I'm happy I'm here [and] I'm ready to get to work."

"This is a great organization, great team, great teammates," Talib noted when asked why New England was his team of choice.

Given that his contract only lasts for one season, there's a school of thought that 2013 is another "prove-it" year for Talib in advance of 2014 free agency. That's not something that's on his mind right now, though.

"It's time to get in shape, that's all I'm worried about right now, getting in good shape man, best shape I can be in," he said.

As proof of his dedication to conditioning, Talib was dressed in multiple layers despite the heat and humidity in the Foxborough area on Tuesday.

"Double shirts, out here trying to get as hot as possible, get a good sweat," he said of his attire. "Get in some good shape."

Talib stated that he felt the secondary improved down the stretch last season, but added that the group isn't letting itself grow content or feel like enough work has been done entering the upcoming season.

"We don't let ourselves feel like that," he said. "We start it all over, we start it from scratch. Got to pick it up from square one and get it started right now."

BOSTON -- With NFL owners choosing the sites for the Super Bowl in 2016 and 2017 on Tuesday in Boston, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft addressed the possibility of Boston hosting a future Super Bowl.

"It would be great. I sort of like Boston/Providence (as the site)," Kraft said. "This is where it all started. Right here."

The biggest litmus test for cold-weather Super Bowls will happen next February, when New York/New Jersey hosts Super Bowl XLVIII.

"We would love one day to hold it here if it's a good experience there," Kraft said Tuesday. "We're looking forward to seeing this experience in New York and New Jersey."

Like the upcoming Super Bowl, Kraft believes that cooperation between two states would be necessary, given Gillette Stadium's location about halfway between Boston and Providence.

"Part of what it will require is political people in Boston and Providence coming together so we could really have the right number of hotel rooms and have the support," Kraft said. "It would require cooperation from all of the political folks who would have to gather together and want this and come together, like they do in other parts of the country."

Kraft also expressed a desire to hold the Pro Bowl, which is still played in Hawaii, in the host city the week before the game. But like the Super Bowl, the allure of warm weather may ultimately trump efforts to have the game played in cold-weather cities.

"I think a lot of our fans like being down in the warm weather, to be very honest," Kraft said. "And if I didn't live here, I'd probably feel the same way."

The earliest that Boston/Providence would be able host a Super Bowl is in 2018, but competition could be stiff. Indianapolis, which hosted Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, has already began the bidding process.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola got a head start on his work with quarterback Tom Brady this offseason, as the two convened in Southern California to take part in workouts at USC.

They're back at it in a more formal setting now, as the second day of OTAs took place on Tuesday and the media was allowed to watch the roughly-90-minute session.

It didn't take long for Amendola to recognize the type of talent he was working with when catching balls from Brady.

"Absolutely, yeah. I said it today, he darted me in the chest with one ball and inside my head I was like 'wow, this guy can really wing it,'" he said following Tuesday's practice. "That's why he's Tom Brady."

Amendola will be counted on to play a big role in a new-look Patriots wide receiver corps, and he said that working with Brady was an important opportunity as they continue to develop a rapport.

"Any time you get a job and you get to work with each other is good," he said. "We're getting a lot of good work in right now, that's most important."

One of the advantages that Amendola has over other free agents is his familiarity with the offensive system, as he played under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in 2011 while the two were with the Rams.

"It's familiar," he said of his Patriots playbook. "When Josh was in St. Louis I got to know it pretty good. It's a little more intricate out here and it's something to grasp. I'm learning every day."

He stressed the importance of using OTAs to develop a further understanding of the vocabulary and concepts of the playbook.

"It's the verbiage, it's everything," he said. "That's the most important thing, the vocabulary of the offense, and I'm learning day in and day out, and studying at night and everything. It's a process; [it's the] second day, so I'm looking forward to next practice."

Some have been quick to compare Amendola to Wes Welker, the departed slot receiver whose role may fall into the lap of Amendola. And while that could turn out to be the case, Amendola said he isn't spending any time worrying about how he compares to Welker.

"That's not something I need to worry about," he said. "I'm worried about the playbook and getting the routes down and getting on the same page as my teammates. The good thing is I don't have to worry about that stuff."

BOSTON -- One day after New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski underwent a fourth surgery on his left forearm, team owner Robert Kraft said he has received positive reports from doctors.

"I'm not a medical person and things change day-to-day, but we were told that it was as good as a report that we could have hoped for," Kraft said at the NFL owners meetings in Boston on Tuesday.

Gronkowski, who broke his forearm last season and re-injured the limb in the playoffs, had metal plates in his arm replaced on Monday. Doctors believe that an infection that has lingered this offseason is now cleared, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

With back surgery also a possibility, Gronkowski's status for the regular season opener is still in question, but Kraft was hopeful on Tuesday.

"I hope we have him back for the full season," Kraft said. "I know all the fans want that and as an owner, I surely do."

The Patriots signed Gronkowski to an extension last summer that could keep him in New England through the 2019 season. With injuries limiting his contributions last season and affecting his preparations for this season, questions have been raised about Gronkowski's durability.

"Part of the parity and the challenge of this business, and trying to be good year in and year out and having a (salary) cap, we all have to make decisions with the information we have at hand," Kraft said. "We think long-term he still should be great. We'll see."

Prior to his surgery, Gronkowski and Kraft took part in a football clinic on Saturday for children in Newtown, Conn., the site of last December's school shooting tragedy.

"Gronk was acting like (Tom) Brady and throwing to a bunch of kids. He challenged me to cover one. I thought I did a pretty good job covering, except the young man tripped and Gronk overthrew him," Kraft said. "He was saying it was a penalty on me. (But) the young man fell because Gronk overthrew him and he was trying to catch the ball.

"Once again, Gronk's enthusiasm and exuberance ... he really had the kids going," Kraft said with a smile.