NFL

Per Kraft, Gronk will be back "as soon as possible." Right now, "as soon as possible" appears to be mid-August. That's because Gronk is tentatively slated for "minor" back surgery sometime in the next 3-4 weeks. Like Robert Griffin III, Gronk's Week 1 status will be hard to accurately gauge before training camp.

Per reporter Field Yates, Fletcher wasn't showing "any signs of limitations." He missed all of 2012 with a torn ACL. He's returning as a reserve linebacker and special teamer.

According to ESPN Boston, Ballard wasn't showing any effects of his February 2012 ACL tear, and participated in the "majority of practice reps." Ballard won't be a factor in the Patriots' passing game if both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are healthy, but the Pats' top two tight ends are rarely 100 percent at the same time. Ballard posted a 38/604/4 line in 2011 for the Giants before missing all of 2012.

Brady says he's cleaned up his mechanics with the help of QBs guru Tom House. "Over the years, I was a little inefficient and I learned how to get away with it," Brady said. "I've been working (on) what's called ground-force production ... Getting the power from the ground, which translates from the ground to your legs, to your hips, to the shoulder, and all the energy is going toward the target." Going on 36, Brady's arm strength isn't quite what it used to be, but it hasn't mattered as he's averaged 4,654 passing yards and a 36:8 TD:INT ratio over his past three seasons. He's locked in as a top-five fantasy QB.

Gronkowski emerged from surgery Monday afternoon. The new plate will continue to hold together the fracture in his left forearm, which was surgically repaired four times because of complications due to the infection. Gronkowski is now expected to undergo back surgery in 3-4 weeks, the recovery timetable for which will last roughly ten weeks. He's still got a good chance to get in some late-training camp time, and be all systems go for Week 1 at Buffalo.

An undrafted free agent, Harrison originally agreed to terms with the Bears but was turned away at rookie minicamp when he failed his physical due to a foot injury. Harrison is talented -- he's 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds with 4.46 wheels -- but he'll have an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster in New England.

Per the Boston Herald, Spikes simply feels working out on his own "is the best way to prepare for the upcoming season," and has "nothing to do" with his contract status. Spikes is in a contract year. So while the division-rival Dolphins have two players upset about money (Reshad Jones, Randy Starks), Spikes' situation is different because he fully intends to rejoin the team on June 11.