ESPN

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports today that outside linebacker Derrick Burgess is considering retirement, according to sources.

More on this to come.

Patriots outside linebacker Derrick Burgess is not present at Gillette Stadium for training camp, a league source confirms.

Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet wrote today on the questions surrounding Burgess, who did not take part in the team's first practice and has not been spotted by teammates at the facility.

Burgess, who signed a one-year contract with a maximum value of $1.65 million this offseason, figures to play a significant role at outside linebacker in the team's 3-4 alignment. With third-year outside linebacker Shawn Crable released on Wednesday, and Burgess not on the practice field, the Patriots are thin at the position.

Tully Banta-Cain and Rob Ninkovich were the outside linebackers with the top defense in this morning's practice.

The Patriots’ first public training camp practice is Thursday, July 29, and with 82 players on the roster, there is plenty to analyze. ESPNBoston.com has picked what it feels are the top eight aspects to monitor. As part of the “Countdown to Camp”, they will be counted down with one each day leading up to the first practice.

No. 7: Young linebackers and their development

Why it’s a top issue: One of the Patriots' main weaknesses in 2009 was a lack of a pass rush: The team blitzed more than 40 percent of the time, ranking them seventh in the NFL, which was a sign that there wasn't enough pressure out of the standard four-man rush. The fourth rusher most often comes from the outside linebacker spot. Furthermore, the heart of the defense is the inside linebacker spot and former undrafted free agent Gary Guyton played 84 percent of the snaps there in 2009, the second highest total of any defender.

Why it might change: From a personnel standpoint, the selection of second-round draft choices Jermaine Cunningham (outside linebacker) and Brandon Spikes (inside linebacker), the return to health of 2009 third-round draft choice Tyrone McKenzie (inside linebacker), and, to a lesser degree, 2008 third-round draft choice Shawn Crable (third round).

Historical perspective: The inside linebackers are the youngest in Bill Belichick's 11-year tenure. No longer can Belichick count on veterans like Tedy Bruschi, Roman Phifer, Ted Johnson and Junior Seau, which highlights the importance of development. Cunningham is the highest outside linebacker (53rd overall) the Patriots have drafted in Belichick's tenure.

Xs and Os thought: When the Patriots set their initial 53-man roster in 2009, they kept 3 inside linebackers (Jerod Mayo, Guyton, Eric Alexander) and 5 outside linebackers (Tully Banta-Cain, Derrick Burgess, Rob Ninkovich, Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods). Special teams contributions are often a factor in that decision-making process.

Looking to the future: How realistic is it to expect immediate pass-rush contributions from Cunningham at outside linebacker? Pat Kirwan of NFL.com examined the topic earlier this year, pointing out that teams relying on rookie pass-rushers should be careful in doing so.

Fun fact: Mayo lives five minutes from Gillette Stadium. "I feel I can get so much better as a football player living near work," he explained.

Camp Countdown:
No. 8 -- Tight ends & the red zone

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Three nuggets from Bill Belichick's near 23-minute chat with an overflow media crowd at Gillette Stadium Wednesday:

Roster moves: The Patriots signed rookie wide receiver Nick Moore to their practice squad (he Tweeted the news Tuesday night, along with the fact that he'd wear jersey No. 17), but Belichick indicated the formal announcement of a roster move won't come until later today. "As soon as we get it all straightened out, we'll have it for you," said Belichick. It would seem the easiest move might include moving wide receiver Wes Welker to season-ending injured reserve, with a current practice squad player elevating to the active roster.

Flacco and playoff experience: Quarterback Joe Flacco led the the Ravens to the AFC championship game last season as a rookie, but Belichick was asked Wednesday if playoff experience could be a factor when Baltimore visits New England Sunday in a wild card matchup. "It didn't in 2001," Belichick noted, a nod to Tom Brady leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl despite limited game experience to that point.

Praise for Burgess: Belichick heaped praise on the play of outside linebacker Derrick Burgess, who seems to be playing some of his finest football since being chastised for arriving late to a team practice last month. Burgess registered two sacks over the first 13 weeks of the season, but has logged three in the past four weeks, and totaled 18 of his 35 tackles during that span. "He's definitely what we needed as an edge player," Belichick said when asked if Burgess had met expectations since New England traded a pair of draft picks to Oakland for him. "He's done a good job for us. He's different than [outside linebacker] Tully [Banta-Cain], but both Tully and Derrick have given us very good play on our perimeter defense."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quarterback Tom Brady was one of eight players not present for the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice. The four players reportedly sent home for being late for Wednesday's 8 a.m. meeting -- Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Derrick Burgess and Gary Guyton -- were also among those absent.

Brady's wife delivered the couple's son Tuesday. Brady was present at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday morning, holding his regularly scheduled press conference.

The other players not spotted at the start of practice were running back Fred Taylor, defensive lineman Myron Pryor and defensive lineman Ty Warren.

Media members were present for stretching and agility drills before departing. With snow and rain in the region, the practice was held inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse.

A look at snaps played by Patriots defenders in the team’s 31-14 win over the Jets (as charted in the press box, small margin for error):

ILB Gary Guyton – 51 of 51 snaps
ILB Jerod Mayo – 51 of 51
S Brandon Meriweather – 51 of 51
CB Jonathan Wilhite – 51 of 51
CB Leigh Bodden – 50 of 51
S Brandon McGowan – 50 of 51
OLB/DE Adalius Thomas – 40 of 51
NT Vince Wilfork – 39 of 51
DE Mike Wright – 37 of 51
DE Ty Warren -- 34 of 52
OLB Tully Banta-Cain – 26 of 51
OLB Pierre Woods – 19 of 51
DE Derrick Burgess – 17 of 51
DT Myron Pryor – 17 of 51
CB Darius Butler – 12 of 51
S James Sanders – 9 of 51
S Pat Chung – 5 of 51
DT Ron Brace – 1 of 51
S Randy Moss – 1 of 51

(Two false start penalties included in snaps)

ANALYSIS: The base alignment was a 3-4, with the Patriots using a 3-2-6 dime (6 defensive backs) in most passing situations and occasionally a 4-2-5 nickel (5 defensive backs). … Butler and Chung were the fifth and sixth defensive backs in the sub package. … When Chung left the game with a head injury, he was replaced by Sanders. … Mayo and Guyton played every snap at inside linebacker, keeping Junior Seau on the sidelines for the third game in a row. … Including penalties, the 51 snaps were the third fewest the defense has played in a game this season (46, vs. Falcons, 49 vs. Titans). … Banta-Cain made the most of his playing time, finishing with five tackles and two sacks in just 26 snaps. … After seeing action solely on early downs, Thomas is playing again in sub packages as he’s had more of a chance to rush the passer in recent weeks. … Woods played on defense for the first time since Oct. 18 against Tennessee, starting at outside linebacker and working in a rotation. … This was the second time this season that Moss has been called upon as a safety in a Hail Mary situation.