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The Patriots have released defensive lineman Myron Pryor.

Pryor missed the entire 2012 season due to injury and played in just two games in 2011 due to a shoulder injury. Originally a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2009, Pryor has career totals of 34 tackles and one sack in 24 games played.

The 6-foot-1, 305 pounder was likely a long shot to make the Patriots active roster for the 2013 season.

With the NFL Draft closing in, ESPNBoston.com is narrowing its list of prospects that it projects as the best fits for the Patriots at areas that seem likely the club could target:

Player: Sio Moore

School: Connecticut

Position: Linebacker

Listed height/weight: 6-foot-0, 245 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 3rd (scouting report)

Draft projection: Third round

Why he’s on our list: The Patriots have starting linebackers Jerod Mayo (weakside), Brandon Spikes (middle) and Dont’a Hightower (strongside) returning, but could be looking for a depth-based option with good cover skills. Moore potentially fits. Also, Spikes enters the final year of his contract in 2013.

Recommended link: John Silver of SNYUConn.com has Moore’s Q&A from the NFL combine.

Key stat: Totaled 11 pass breakups in 12 games last season.

Workout stat: Amassed 29 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “I’d be hard pressed to find a prospect who has made more of the offseason evaluation process this year and it started with a strong week at the East-West Shrine game. The way he flew around the field there led to a late invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he continued to stand out. Next up was the combine, where he posted the fifth fastest 40-time (4.65 seconds) for linebackers after measuring 6006 and weighing in at a ripped 245 pounds. The rest of the testing was just as impressive. He finished second on the bench with 29 reps of 225 pounds, his 38-inch vertical jump ranked third and his 10-foot-7 broad jump ranked fourth for linebackers. In addition, he caught all but one pass and looked good during position specific drills. Of course, this would not mean nearly as much if the film didn’t back it up and in Moore’s case the film backs it up. His greatest strength is his ability to make an impact on third down and in passing situations. He covers a lot of ground in zone coverage and he’s fluid enough to match up with most backs and tight ends in man coverage. His massive hands (10.2 inches), long arms (33.5) and ability to play the ball don’t hurt either. Moore can rush the passer too. He shows good burst off the edge and locates seams in the protection when he rushes between the tackles. In terms of defending the run, there’s a lot to like about his range and aggressiveness. On the other hand, he doesn’t always play with great gap discipline and he can improve his ability to get off blocks.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- July and the start of training camp may still be a few months away, but for New England Patriots players, the start of the voluntary offseason program on Monday still felt like the first day of school.

"It's good to be back with your teammates and around those guys," special teams captain Matthew Slater said Thursday. "It's been a while. That camaraderie kicks in right away."

Slater, who enters his sixth season in New England, offered a glowing review of one of the team's offseason acquisitions, running back/returner Leon Washington, who Slater faced in 2008 and 2009 when Washington was with the Jets and last season in a game against the Seahawks.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Leon has accomplished in his career. He's been one of the elite returners that this league has ever seen," Slater said. "I think he's tied with Mr. (Josh) Cribbs for the most kickoff returns for touchdowns."

Slater hopes that Washington, who he met at the Pro Bowl in January, can improve a Patriots kickoff return unit that finished 25th in the NFL last season.

"He's a weapon in that department and in that phase of the game. Something that we obviously needed improvement on," he said. "So hopefully he can give us a boost."

The Patriots have added several players through free agency this offseason, and Slater believes that the team has made several high-character additions.

"We have some good character guys who are going to come in here," Slater said. "I really feel like they're going to buy into the Patriot Way and do things the right way. They came ready to work."

Not surprisingly, the message that Slater and defensive end Rob Ninkovich sent to reporters on Thursday was that they are just beginning their preparations for this season.

"We're a long ways from being able to put a team out of the field that's going to compete," Slater said. "You have to enjoy the process. That's something that a lot of us enjoy and something that a lot of people don't see, but that's where the season is made, in the offseason."

The Patriots' greatest need right now could be at the wide receiver position. The team's interest in obtaining at least one more wide receiver was confirmed by the recent attempt to acquire Emmanuel Sanders.

With Sanders still in Pittsburgh, the draft is an alternative vehicle for finding another young wide receiver, although Bill Belichick has selected a wide receiver in the first round just once (1994) during his two tenures as an NFL head coach.

With the idea in mind that the "no first-round receiver" trend could continue (and also that the Patriots could be interested in trading out of the first round to acquire more picks), we asked NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock on a Wednesday conference to assess potential receivers of interest for the Patriots in round 2 and 3 of the draft (the Patriots currently do not have a fourth-, fifth- or sixth-round selection).

"You're talking about them at 59, I think at that point DeAndre Hopkins is probably -- the two guys that I would love are DeAndre Hopkins from Clemson and [Robert] Woods from USC," Mayock replied. "I'm not sure either of them is going to be there at that point, they could be, so I'd throw that out there as potential. I think they understand the game, I think they catch the ball, they're tough, they run routes as well. They're two of my favorite route-runners in this year's draft.

"After that, who might be there?" he continued. "A couple of bigger bodied guys like Terrance Williams from Baylor, Aaron Dobson from Marshall, who are both very interesting to me. Big-bodied guys who get some production out of them outside the numbers and in the red zone could complement Danny Amendola. A guy like Quinton Patton could be there, from Louisiana Tech. I'm not sure he's quite as much a fit because he might end up inside in the NFL. Some of those bigger bodied guys with speed and verticality I like for them."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The day after Boston was hit by Monday's bombings, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick turned to one of the most respected players in the locker room to address the team.

Speaking at Tuesday's team meeting, special teams captain Matthew Slater told his teammates that Monday's events should put life in perspective.

"We've been blessed -- every one of us, every man that's in that locker room," Slater relayed Thursday. "We live, sort of a life of... I don't want to say 'privilege,' but it is.

"So it's about us not taking things for granted. It's about us valuing the life that we have, the life that our families have. In the big picture, that's much more important than what goes on on the field."

Reporters had the chance to speak to Slater on Thursday about the start of the offseason program this week, but he opened the interview with remarks about Monday's tragedy.

"I just want to let people know out there affected by that event that were injured, or had somebody they knew injured, or killed, or are still battling for their lives, or had to witness that traumatic event, that we're praying for them," Slater said. "I don't think that there's been a time that I've been more proud of this city, this region, with the way people have responded to tragedy."

Slater said he was glad to hear that former Patriots Joe Andruzzi and Matt Chatham, who were in Boston on Monday, were not harmed. He said he knew of others who were planning on heading to the marathon that day.

"That area that was bombed -- we've been there," Slater said. "We've walked around that area, all of us have, (those) that live in the area. So it just really struck home. I know that building. I recognize that place. It definitely struck a nerve."

Known as one of the more spiritual and articulate players in the locker room, Slater's remarks should resonate among players.

"I think we need to be counting out blessing every night that we get home safely," Slater said Thursday. "I think that reminder has been sent to the locker room. We just need to value our friends, family, and the time we have on earth."

Every Thursday on ESPNBoston.com, there is a Patriots chat in the early afternoon. Today's chat kicked off at noon, can be recapped here, and included some of the following topics:

1. Surgeries for Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and how that could affect them.

2. What's left on the free-agent market? And where do things stand with John Abraham?

3. Is the need for a receiver in the draft overrated? Defensive end, too.

4. Looking at running backs who were brought in for pre-draft visits.

5. Draft-day trades.

6. Why it's unlikely the Patriots would target someone like Margus Hunt in the first round.

The NFL regular-season schedule will be announced tonight (8 p.m. ET), which is highly anticipated. It’s fun to begin thinking about planning the fall.

Last year, the Patriots opened at Tennessee. Two years ago, it was a Monday Night Football date in Miami.

Does this mean the team will be opening at home for the first time since 2010 (vs. Bengals)?

We’ll find out tonight. Until then, let’s have some fun and give our ranking of the best possible season-opening games:

1. Broncos (home) – A game like this could bring big ratings during the season (maybe early November like the Patriots-Colts games of the past?), so perhaps it’s one that the NFL doesn’t “burn” in Week 1. Wes Welker will get big cheers upon his return to Gillette Stadium, as he should.

2. Falcons (away) – A road game against the high-flying Falcons could be an instant classic. Former Patriots director of college scouting Thomas Dimitroff, now in his sixth season as Falcons general manager, has built one of the NFL’s best teams.

3. Steelers (home) – The Emmanuel Sanders Bowl? Always a big game against a physical team. Would be an exciting opener, just as it was in 2002.

4. Saints (home) – The Patriots haven’t opened against an NFC team since 2000, the first year of Bill Belichick’s tenure as coach, when they lost at home to Tampa Bay (21-16). Sean Peyton’s return as Saints coach figures to be a big Week 1 storyline. Similar to the Falcons, the potential for offensive fireworks is big.

5. Texans (away) – After seeing them in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs, and late in the 2012 regular season, this road game figures to be a tough one for the Patriots. If it’s the opener, it would be even tougher.

6. Browns (home) – A home game against a team with new ownership, new coach, and new personnel chief. From a team perspective, it’s probably best to catch a team like this earlier in the season. From a fan perspective, this would be similar to the 2008 opener at home against the Chiefs. A bit different.

7. Panthers (away) – With first-year general manager Dave Gettleman inheriting a tough salary cap situation, the Panthers are in clean-up mode. A road game in Charlotte would be different – the franchises have met just five times in the regular season – with defending quarterback Cam Newton, Steve Smith and Co. something that could occupy plenty of Bill Belichick’s time over the offseason.

8. Bengals (away) – Would be a repeat of the 2010 opener, which was at Gillette Stadium. The only difference is that this year’s game is played in Cincinnati. A chance to catch up with BenJarvus Green-Ellis but not a top choice because we just had this matchup.

9. Dolphins (home/away) – They look like the Patriots’ primary competition in the AFC East, which makes them the most compelling potential division foe to open against. But one “drawback” is that the teams just met in the 2011 opener. Something different would be preferred.

10. Jets (home/away) – The 2007 opener at the Jets was unforgettable (Randy Moss splitting triple coverage). There is always a spark when these two rivals meet, but the Jets look to be down right now. Thus, nothing off the charts with this potential opener – home or away.

11. Bills (home/away) – The Patriots opened at home against them in 2006 and 2009, and on the road against them in 2003 (Lawyer Milloy game). First-year coach Doug Marrone looks like a solid choice to lead the Bills, but not an opener – home or away – that looks exciting at this time.

12. Buccaneers (home) – A good matchup between head coaches Bill Belichick and Greg Schiano who have mutual respect, but there’s just one problem with making this the opener (at Gillette Stadium) – the Buccaneers are visiting the Patriots in the second week of the preseason (Aug. 16). Too close to home.

13. Ravens (away) – This would have been at the top of the list, but it falls to the bottom after it is learned that the Ravens will be opening on the road. Since Patriots-Ravens is scheduled to be played in Baltimore, it can’t be the opener.

Here is the update on the fourth annual ESPNBoston.com reader mock draft.

As has been the case over the last three years (2012, 2011, 2010), we have three regular commenters participate. Last year it was "Mr. Scratch", "PatsFanTRichter" and "DinoScapelli." In our first two years, "401PATSFAN" and "gln826" were involved.

We started the process by inviting all five back for 2013. We have one confirmation ("Mr. Scratch") and one decline ("DinoScapelli"). Still waiting on "PatsFanTRichter", "401PATSFAN" and "gln826."

Please confirm in the comments section of this blog entry and we'll go from there ("Clark12to81" is our first fill-in, if needed).

We're going to lock in Monday, April 22 for the draft, with Tuesday, April 23 as the fallback date.

For others who might be interested, we'll start by getting this mock set up, then potentially put together a complementary piece after it is completed.

In his most recent mock draft, ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr. has expanded his selections through the third round, providing a comprehensive breakdown of how he projects each team will use its day one and two picks.

As it relates to the Patriots, Kiper cites wide receiver, cornerback, defensive end and an interior offensive lineman as the team's top needs, and finds solutions to three of those needs with their first three picks.

In the first round, Kiper has the Patriots taking cornerback Jamar Taylor out of Boise State, followed by wide receiver Markus Wheaton from Oregon State in the second round and center Travis Frederick of Wisconsin with pick 91, which was recently retained when the Steelers matched the offer for Emmanuel Sanders.

Wheaton is among the players that have taken a pre-draft visit to the Patriots, while Taylor has become a popular name in mock drafts for the team in the back end of the first round (the Patriots have privately worked him out, as they do for many prospects). The team has its starter at center in Ryan Wendell, who enjoyed a strong 2012 campaign; however, he enters the final year of his current contract in 2013. Frederick would represent a "thinking ahead" selection, something the Patriots have successfully acquired in the past.

More from Kiper relating to the Taylor selection:

"I'm not sure fans are too excited about Taylor, but he's been a recent riser, hits one of my top two needs and the board didn't break in my favor. If you see the pick-by-pick, both the top two wide receivers are gone, and Xavier Rhodes was taken by Denver just one pick ahead."

Kiper's mock draft can be viewed both in pick-by-pick form (CLICK HERE; Insider content) as well as broken down by team (CLICK HERE; Insider content).

Every Thursday on ESPNBoston.com, there is a Patriots chat in the early afternoon. Today's chat is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET, and questions can be submitted in advance.

Catch up then.

Another Patriot has stepped up to offer support for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, as defensive back Devin McCourty has pledged to donate $100 for each tackle he makes and $200 for each interception he records during the upcoming season.

New teammate Danny Amendola recently made a similar pledge for $100 for each catch he makes and $200 for each drop next season.

Patriots and other athletes on Boston sports teams, as well as athletes around the country, have shown strong support for the victims in the days following the tragic event.

Like Amendola I will donate $100 for each tackle made & 200 for every int made in 2013-14 season to the victims of the Boston bombing(D-Mac)

— Jason+Devin McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) April 17, 2013

 

In the first of an eight-part series, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com's "Around the League" blog examines each AFC East team's needs leading into the NFL draft, while also offering possible prospects to address said needs.

For the Patriots, Rosenthal pegs defensive end as the top need at this juncture, with other spots to fill as receiver, cornerback, guard and defensive tackle.

Writes Rosenthal:

The Patriots need pass rushers and secondary help. Of course, that these will be team needs in New England is as reliable an occurrence as Bill Belichick saying after every loss that the other team "out-played us and out-coached us."

The good news for Patriots fans: The team isn't quite as desperate at those spots as it has been in years past. Chandler Jones is a foundation-type defensive end; adding one more situational pass rusher to join Rob Ninkovich could make the position strong. Cornerback and strong safety lack reliable long-term solutions, but the positions are deeper.

As it relates to potential prospects who fit, Rosenthal highlights wide receiver Markus Wheaton of Oregon State, cornerback Desmond Trufant of Washington, defensive end Datone Jones of UCLA and safety John Cyprien of Florida International.

If the Patriots are to address defensive end in the first round, it will mark the second time they will have taken a player at the position in as many years. While Chandler Jones is firmly entrenched as a defensive building block on one side of the line, the team may be looking to add more pass rushing presence in the draft. Rob Ninkovich is one of the team's most reliable defensive players, although he enters the final year of his contract in 2013.

To see Rosenthal's full AFC East report, CLICK HERE.

With the NFL Draft closing in, ESPNBoston.com is narrowing its list of prospects that it projects as the best fits for the Patriots at areas that seem likely the club could target:

Player: Margus Hunt

School: SMU

Position: DE

Listed height/weight:6-foot-8, 277 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 6th (scouting report here)

Draft projection: Second round

Why he’s on our list: Hunt has unique physical traits that figure to have value to the Patriots, with potential to fit at end and tackle depending on the situation, and help the pass rush. While it would be unlikely that the Patriots would use a first-round pick on a 26-year-old rookie, if Hunt is in striking range in the second round, he could be an intriguing prospect with whom to work based on his raw potential.

Recommended link: Chris Burke of SI.com writes on how NFL teams are working to solve the “Margus Hunt mystery.”

Key stat: Was dominant in the Hawaii Bowl, earning MVP honors, in a performance that included 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Had 17 blocked kicks over his college career, which is an NCAA record.

Workout stat: Maintains 13.6 percent body fat, according to the Pro Football Weekly draft preview.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “The expectations were high when it comes to Hunt’s combine workout. He didn’t disappoint. At 6-8 1/8 and 277 pounds, he ran the third fastest 40-time (4.60) and turned in the fourth fastest 10-yard split (1.61) for a defensive lineman. He also benched 225 a position-best 38 times. In terms of the film, he finished his career with an impressive performance against Fresno State in the bowl game and he’s showed flashes of developing into a difference maker off the edge throughout the year. His closing burst is impressive and his ability to translate initial burst to power has improved. There’s also a lot to like about his ability to work inside where his quickness can give interior offensive linemen problems. He’s a consistent threat to bat passes down at the line of scrimmage and force quarterbacks to move around despite his average arm length (33.6). He has a 34.5-inch vertical jump and he times his jumps well. His NCAA record 17 blocked kicks is a testament to that. There is still room for improvement though. He didn’t play football until he got to SMU and his inexperience shows up most rushing the passer. He is still learning how to set up offensive linemen and developing as a hand fighter. In terms of defending the run, he does a good job of staying low for a player with his height and setting the edge. His ability to get off blocks needs work. Finally, it’s worth noting that he will be a 26-year old rookie and there are reportedly durability concerns when considering why a player with his upside and skill set isn’t a lock to go in the first."

Former Patriots running back Kevin Faulk will announce the team's second-round draft choice at next week's NFL Draft.

Faulk's appearance is part of the league's initiative, started in 2011, in which 32 "legendary" alumni announce second- or third-round draft choices at Radio City Music Hall.

Faulk, who played for the Patriots from 1999-2011, was arguably the franchise's best-ever "third-down/passing back." He was a key member of three Super Bowl championship teams.

Wednesday is the final day for teams to host draft prospects for visits at their facilities, and each team is able to invite up to 30 out-of-town prospects in total for visits.

The Patriots have a pair of players in for visits on Wednesday, one of which is Alabama running back Eddie Lacy, regarded by many as the top back in this class.

In addition, the Patriots hosted Cal's Keenan Allen on Monday, considered by many to be one of -- if not the -- top wide receivers available. ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Allen had been red-flagged for a drug test during the NFL Combine in February.

Other Monday visitors included Nevada safety Duke Williams, LSU running back Spencer Ware, UCLA defensive end Datone Jones and Azusa-Pacific offensive tackle Luke Marquardt.

Other pre-draft visits for the Patriots confirmed by ESPNBoston.com from earlier in the process:

LB Kiko Alonso (Oregon)
WR Josh Boyce (TCU)
OT Chris Faulk (LSU)
RB Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina)
CB Tyrann Mathieu (LSU)
WR Kenny Stills (Oklahoma)
G Dallas Thomas (Tennessee)
WR Robert Woods (Southern Cal)
WR Markus Wheaton (Oregon State)

As always, context is required when considering these visits. Mike Reiss summed up the essence of visits in a recent post:

"A visit doesn’t necessarily indicate that the team has a favorable grade on a player, or plans to draft him. In fact, sometimes the visit can lead the team in the other direction. The visits could be tied to medical questions, and updating information along those lines, as a few of the prospects above didn’t fully participate in the combine. There could also be off-the-field type questions. In essence, the visits indicate that there is something still outstanding that the team wants to clear up before placing a final grade on the prospect."