Kaczur shows for practice

FOXBOROUGH - Patriots right tackle Nick Kaczur, who has been identified as the cooperating witness in a Drug Enforcement Agency sting that resulted in the arrest of an alleged OxyContin supplier, was allowed to participate in practice yesterday.

Kaczur, who in DEA documents said he started buying OxyContin in November, during the Patriots' perfect regular season, and purchased 100 pills every few days, joined his teammates inside Dana-Farber Field House for the first day of a three-day mandatory minicamp. However, he was not at his customary right tackle spot. Ryan O'Callaghan practiced there and reserve Russ Hochstein also saw time, while Kaczur slid over to right guard, normally occupied by Stephen Neal, who hasn't been seen on the field since Super Bowl XLII, during which he injured his right knee.

When asked about Kaczur, coach Bill Belichick said, "The legal process is taking its course." Belichick did not elaborate, but Kaczur's roster spot does not appear to be jeopardy. Kaczur did not speak with reporters.

The 28-year-old Kaczur, who has been singled out as the informant by Bernard Grossberg, the lawyer for alleged supplier Daniel Ekasala, and two people with knowledge of the sting, agreed to cooperate with authorities after he was arrested by New York State Police April 27. He was caught speeding, and police discovered a small amount of OxyContin in his car. They charged Kaczur with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Following his arrest, Kaczur wore a wire for the DEA and purchased drugs from Ekasala on three occasions last month, leading to Ekasala's arrest.

Nine sit it out

Nine players were not present for practice, but Belichick said all players on the roster were present at Gillette Stadium for the minicamp, even if they could not participate on the field. The practice nonparticipants were Neal, wide receivers Kelley Washington and Wes Welker, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, tight end Benjamin Watson, rookie linebacker Bo Ruud, defensive linemen Jarvis Green and Mike Wright, and newly signed offensive lineman Oliver Ross.

Some of the absences weren't unexpected. Watson had left ankle surgery in March. Wright is recovering from a season-ending foot injury. Green had arthroscopic shoulder surgery during the offseason. Ross is recovering from a fractured collarbone. Hobbs had surgeries to repair a torn left labrum in February and a groin injury in March. He is close to full speed.

Morris set to go

Running back Sammy Morris, who was placed on injured reserve last season after he sustained a sternum-clavicle separation in the sixth game, declared himself 100 percent healthy. "It's feeling good," said Morris.

Morris, the team's leading rusher when he went on IR, acknowledged that the freak nature of his injury, which happened when two players landed on him, made it even more frustrating.

"Like I said, a chiropractor in Dallas said I couldn't hurt myself again if I tried," he said. "It's kind of a freak deal. I'm just trying to move forward."

His kind of guy

Rodney Harrison has taken a liking to new safety Tank Williams. "I like him because he's such a humble kid and just wants to learn," said Harrison, who was seen offering Williams instruction. "He's always asking questions. He works hard. He's a pretty quiet guy to be so big and imposing, but a guy we're excited about, and I'm just glad he's on our team because he definitely can help us." . . . The Patriots added depth to the offensive line, signing guard/center Gene Mruczkowski for another go-round. The 28-year-old played in 15 games for the Dolphins last season. He played in 18 games for the Patriots from 2003-06. Mruczkowski, who was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2003, was among the final roster cuts last season . . . Quarterback Tom Brady is scheduled to break his offseason silence today . . . Lakers coach Phil Jackson might be doubting the severity of Celtics captain Paul Pierce's right knee injury, but Harrison isn't. "Very gutsy. Heart of a lion. Very inspiring," said Harrison of Pierce's performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.