The New England Patriots signed first-round draft pick Jerod Mayo on Thursday, bringing their last unsigned selection into the fold as the defending AFC champions opened training camp and began their quest to put last season's imperfect season behind them.

A linebacker who was the 10th overall selection in this year's draft, Mayo signed a five-year deal, according to his agent, Mitch Frankel. The deal was wrapped up in the morning as his teammates embarked on their first practice and Mayo was present for the evening workout.

"It sounds like that's getting pretty close," coach Bill Belichick said a few hours before the announcement. "But until they're done, to me, they're not done."

For Belichick, nothing is done at this time of year.

Less than six months after the Patriots' bid for a perfect season _ and a fourth Super Bowl title in eight years _ was foiled with a 17-14 loss to the New York Giants, New England was back on the practice field.

"We're disappointed about the way it ended, no doubt about it," quarterback Tom Brady said. "It all starts fresh for us, starting today."

Brady said that Belichick has not used last season's failure as a tool to motivate his team _ not yet, at least. If the Super Bowl comes up, it is in the context of game films and adjustments, just like any other game, Brady said.

But that doesn't help soothe the pit in his stomach when he watches it.

"When you see the game, you think about how you felt after the game," he said. "You can't change it at all _ you really can't _ as hard as you might want to, you can't." Continued...