Mayo's deal worth $18.9m

Rookie linebacker is on board for five years

FOXBOROUGH - Patriots first-round pick Jerod Mayo, wearing No. 51, joined his teammates for the second of yesterday's two practices after missing the first session while his deal was finalized. The 6-foot-1-inch, 242-pound linebacker, who was taken with the 10th overall pick in April's draft, signed a five-year deal worth $18.9 million with $13.8 million in guarantees and bonuses.

Last year's No. 10 overall pick, Houston defensive lineman Amobi Okoye, received a six-year, $17.6 million deal - the last year is voidable for salary cap purposes, so it is essentially a five-year deal - with $12.785 million in bonuses/guarantees, according to Okoye's agent, Ian Greengross.

The top 16 picks are eligible to receive six-year deals. To make room for Mayo on the 80-man roster, the Patriots released offensive lineman Lavdrim Bauta, who signed Tuesday.

Mayo, who had to fly in from out of state to join his teammates, seemed a bit winded in his first practice. At one point he hopped to the sideline and appeared to be cramping up, with the medical staff working on his calves.

Vince Wilfork offered some advice to Mayo.

"Shut your mouth, take all the criticism and keep rolling," said the big nose tackle. "That's it. You have guys that have been here for a while, that know the ropes, that know this system. You might think that you know it, but you really don't."

Kaczur on PUP list

Offensive lineman Nick Kaczur, who was in court Monday stemming from his arrest in April for illegal possession of the prescription painkiller OxyContin, was among 12 players who opened camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Kaczur, who was found with 202 pills when he was pulled over in New York state, will have a misdemeanor drug charge dropped if he stays out of trouble for six months. After his arrest he acted as an undercover informant in a Drug Enforcement Administration sting that netted a man accused of supplying Kaczur with OxyContin, although the pills Kaczur was arrested for were manufactured in his native Canada.

It was not clear whether Kaczur, who started at right tackle in all 15 games he played in last season, was on PUP because of a physical ailment or the team simply wanted to give him time to get settled. He participated in the team's Organized Team Activities during the offseason, playing a lot of right guard.

"Basically, ready to practice is ready to practice and that encompasses a lot of different things," said coach Bill Belichick. "When they are ready to practice they are out there . . ."

Belichick said Kaczur's case was a legal matter the team had no control over and that any discipline would be handled internally.

Kaczur was among a few players who unexpectedly ended up on the PUP list. He was joined by linebacker Mike Vrabel and safety Rodney Harrison. The other notable names were wide receiver Wes Welker, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, right guard Stephen Neal, defensive end Jarvis Green, and defensive lineman Mike Wright.

Hobbs is recovering from surgeries to repair a torn left labrum in his shoulder and a groin issue. Neal suffered a knee injury in the Super Bowl, and Green had shoulder surgery. Wright is battling back from a foot injury. Welker had limited participation during OTAs.

The other players on PUP are running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, linebacker Bo Ruud, tackle Oliver Ross, and center Ryan Wendell.

Tight end Benjamin Watson, who had surgery on his left ankle in March, missed the first practice of the day, but was present for the evening session. Both practices were held in the Dana-Farber Field House because of rain.

Plenty in reserve

One player to keep an eye on in camp could be safety Tank Williams. The veteran free agent pickup was going through positional drills with the linebackers, a sign the team could use the 6-foot-2-inch, 223-pounder as a linebacker in nickel and dime packages.

Williams said the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings had him play close to the line of scrimmage and he is comfortable there.

"I feel like that I'm large enough to be close to the line and be effective kind of using my speed to get around the big linemen and make plays," said Williams. "I'm also accustomed to playing back in space."

Taylor-made trade

No tears were shed by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady or left tackle Matt Light when one of their chief tormentors, Jason Taylor, was traded out of the division by the Miami Dolphins. Taylor was shipped to the Washington Redskins Sunday for a 2009 second-round pick and a 2010 sixth-rounder. "Yeah, I think Light and I popped a cold beer when I saw that transaction," said Brady with a smile. "We were the two most excited players in the NFL, so I appreciate that very much. I let [Taylor] know it as well." . . . The team's offseason program award winners were safety James Sanders, placekicker Stephen Gostkowski, Wilfork, defensive end Ty Warren, linebacker Tedy Bruschi, left guard Logan Mankins, wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, and running back Sammy Morris . . . Oft-criticized for his hands, defensive back Brandon Meriweather came up with an interception during the first practice . . . The Patriots signed defensive tackle Titus Adams. The 6-4, 305-pound Adams was a seventh-round pick of the New York Jets in 2006 and saw time on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad last season.