The Patriots made some moves on their offensive line on Wednesday, claiming tackle Kevin Haslam off waivers from the Chargers and releasing R.J. Mattes.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Haslam played collegiately at Rutgers, and started three games at left tackle for San Diego down the stretch of the 2012 regular season. He also spent part of the 2010 season with the Jaguars.

Mattes was a rookie free agent signed earlier this month. The 23-year-old was a four-year starter at both guard and tackle at North Carolina State. The 6-foot-6, 313-pounder was named a second-team All-ACC as a senior in 2012.

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Bill Belichick

According to Forbes, Bill Belichick is no longer the highest-paid coach in America.

The magazine says that Saints coach Sean Payton has surpassed the Patriots coach with a salary that will pay him roughly $8 million annually for the next five years. Belichick, who reportedly makes $7.5 million a year, is tied for second on the list with new Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

The length and amount of Belichick’s contract has always been a closely guarded secret. When he’s been asked about his employment situation, he’s revealed little.

“I don’t talk about contracts, but I would say I like working here, I like the organization — ownership, coaches, scouts, players, and the guys I work with,” Belichick said in July 2007. “I appreciate the opportunity to work here, and it’s a good situation. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

The only thing we really know for sure is that Belichick is locked in for 2013. The day after the Patriots lost to the Ravens in the 2012 AFC title game, he said he’ll be back for this season, saying, “I’ll be here. You’ll have to deal with me again next year. I know that’s disappointing for a lot of you. Until I’m told otherwise, I plan on being here.”

When it comes to breaking down Belichick’s contractual situation, Forbes writes: “Belichick is arguably the NFL’s best tactician, evidenced by the fact that the Patriots have won 72.6% of their games and made five trips to the Super Bowl since he took over in 2000. Sean Payton’s new contract brings an end to Belichick’s two-year reign as the highest-paid coach in American sports and his three-year run as highest-paid in the NFL.”

Belichick has been a fairly regular presence on the Forbes list. In 2010, Belichick was second to then-Lakers coach Phil Jackson. But after Jackson retired followed that year, Belichick moved into the top spot at $7.5 million, and spent 2011 and 2012 in the top spot.

The list also has some other New England ties: former Patriots coach Pete Carroll, who now runs the Seahawks, makes $7 million annually. Celtics coach Doc Rivers also makes $7 million a year, according to Forbes. And Chip Kelly — the new Eagles coach by way of the University of New Hampshire and Oregon — reportedly has an annual salary of $6.5 million.

For the complete story and the list, click here.

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Wide receiver T.J. Moe was an undrafted free agent out of Mizzou. (AP)

The Patriots spent more guaranteed money on their undrafted free agents this year than any other team in the league, according to Brian McIntyre of Yahoo! Sports and NFL.com.

According to McIntyre, the Patriots apparently spent $140,000 in guaranteed money on their undrafted free agents. Wide receiver T.J. Moe (who had several other suitors) got the biggest payday, as the Mizzou product received a signing bonus of $8,000 and $22,000 in guaranteed base salary (regardless of whether or not he makes the final 53-man roster) for a total of $30,000 in guaranteed money.

In addition, according to McIntyre, several other UDFA’s also got sizable paydays. Nevada tight end Zach Sudfeld has a total of $17,000 in guaranteed money ($12,000 signing bonus and $5,000 base salary). Offensive tackle Elvis Fisher of Missouri got $15,000 in guaranteed money, while Kent State guard Josh Kline ($14,000), Tennessee fullback Ben Bartholomew ($10,000) and safety Kanorris Davis of Troy ($10,000) also got at least $10,000.

NFL teams are allowed to spend a maximum of $78,170 in signing bonuses on undrafted rookie free agents this offseason, but there are no limits to the amount of guaranteed money teams can include in deals signed by undrafted free agents.

Of course, big dollars for UDFA’s is nothing new for the Patriots. Last summer, they outbid several teams for the services of running back/return man Jeff Demps, guaranteeing him a whopping $211,000 ($200,000 base salary guarantee, $11,000 signing bonus), regardless of whether or not he made the final roster. Of course, Demps ended up spending the entire year on IR before wanting to play football part-time while also running track, so while a sizable payday for a UDFA is nice (and tells you something how that player may be regarded around the league), it’s no guarantee of future success.

Robert Kraft

Patriots owner Robert Kraft had good news about the most recent round of surgery for tight end Rob Gronkowski, telling reporters Tuesday that it was “as good a report as we could’ve hoped.”

“That made me feel good,” Kraft said when he heard the news about Gronkowski’s latest surgery. “I heard about it late afternoon, and once again had a chat late at night after our dinner meeting was over. And so, we just hope for the best.”

Gronkowski had his fourth surgery for a broken left forearm that he initially injured during the 2012 regular season and limited him down the stretch. In addition to the injury, there was also an troublesome infection issue. Despite the fact that initial reports indicate that the infection has cleared, the Patriots owner said Tuesday that he wouldn’t declare the infection is gone, because, he said, even doctors aren’t completely sure it won’t return.

Speaking at the NFL owners meetings — which saw Super Bowl L awarded to San Francisco and Super Bowl LI awarded to Houston — Kraft also expressed interest in a possible Boston/Providence Super Bowl sometime in the near future.

The Patriots owner said a good test run would be Super Bowl XLVIII, which is set for February in New Jersey.

“We would love one day to hold it here if it’s a good experience there,” Kraft told reporters. “We’re looking forward to seeing this experience in New York and New Jersey.

“Part of what it will require is political people in Boston and Providence coming together so we could really have the right number of hotel rooms and have the support,” Kraft said. “It would require cooperation from all of the political folks who would have to gather together and want this and come together, like they do in other parts of the country.”

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