A very happy Deion Branch back in New England on Wednesday. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FOXBORO — Everyone in and around the Patriots locker room figured Deion Branch returning to the team was a mere formality of when, not if.

So, when over 20 reporters descended upon his locker – which remained in tact since his release on Aug. 31 – Branch was asked what it was like to be back with the team he’s had so much success, including MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX.

“Across the board, whether it was here, I always had to weigh my options,” Branch said. “That’s what I’m going to do first and foremost, weigh my options for my family and myself. But to get the call, besides some of the other calls, I think this was more important here.”

Branch acknowledged that other NFL teams indeed did reach out to him but he wanted to return to the Patriots. Why?

“First and foremost, my family is first,” Branch said. “Doing the things right by my family and put myself in the right position.”

Branch and Bill Belichick spoke about why he was cut at the time and how he might be used in coming back to New England for a second time in three years. The Patriots traded him in 2006 before being re-acquired in 2010 from Seattle, shortly after Randy Moss was shipped off to Minnesota.

“I’ll keep that between coach and myself,” Branch said. “It was very understanding. I think, overall, if you play this game long enough, I’m pretty sure every guy in this building will go through it. And I mean that, every guy. And that comes with time, most of all you’re a team player, the team’s going to do what’s best for the team, and me personally, I’m going to do what’s best for Deion.”

Branch said he’s not going to worry about how the Patriots choose to use him.

“That all depends on the game plan and whatever the coaches have for me,” said Branch. “I’m going to do whatever they ask of me, whether that be special teams, offense, defense, I’m going to do that. As far as within the offense, that comes with the game plan.”

Branch has been busy taking care of his kids, leaving some time to keep up on the Patriots but not a lot.

“I watched the first game, and caught the second half of the second game,” he continued. “When you have kids, there ain’t too much free time.”

Branch had five touchdown receptions and 702 receiving yards last season. He became a free agent after the season and re-signed on March 22.

Here are Rotobahn’s Week 1 starts and sits. These rankings are based on 12-team leagues and performance scoring. We’ve done our best to highlight players who may be either available or on the lineup bubble. After all, we all know we need to keep Tom Brady active.

If you are looking for more in-depth roster rankings, join us at Rotobahn.com, where we break things down even further.

QUARTERBACKS

Jay Cutler, Bears

Now well stocked with weapons, Cutler is a solid value this year. Start him in Week 1 if you have the need. We think he’ll post starter’s numbers.

Robert Griffin, Redskins

Griffin is the real deal and can play for you right away. His receivers are underrated, and TE Fred Davis is a plus option as well.

Joe Flacco, Ravens

Flacco is a guy you might find on waivers in small leagues, and he can post starter’s numbers in Week 1.

Stevan Ridley will get his chance in the spotlight for the Patriots on Sunday. (AP)

RUNNING BACKS

Stevan Ridley, Patriots

Ridley is going to get the rock a lot this week, so we see the big back as a good Week 1 play. Shane Vereen has been absent and the Law Firm has moved on to Cincinnati. This is Ridley’s time.

DeAngelo Williams, Panthers

The Buccaneers, who host Williams’ Panthers on Sunday, have to prove that they can stop the run. They have been very vulnerable to speed in recent years, and Williams is looking very speedy these days. Throw in a banged-up Jonathan Stewart and you have a solid recipe for success.

Michael Bush, Bears

If you are looking for an option, Bush could help. We like his chances against Indianapolis’ front seven, and we like Chicago’s chances of putting up some numbers. He’s a good flex option in bigger leagues.

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Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady are working together again. (AP)

FOXBORO — While the return of Josh McDaniels to the New England offense has looked relatively seamless from the outside in the two OTA sessions the media has had access to, Patriots players say both sides are still going through a getting-to-know-you process.

“There’s always getting up to speed when certain things have changed — what he’s done the last three or four years and certainly things we’ve changed,” acknowledged Patriots quarterback Tom Brady following Thursday’s OTA session. “But [McDaniels’] competitiveness is still there, his willingness to do whatever it takes to win is still there and he loves football. I think that’s why we get along so well.”

McDaniels was in the New England system from 2001 through 2008, working as the quarterbacks coach from 2004 through 2008, and adding offensive coordinator to his title those final three seasons. He left the Patriots following the 2008 season to become the head coach in Denver and spent nearly two seasons in charge of the Broncos. Last year, he was the offensive coordinator in St. Louis before returning to the Patriots staff at the end of last season.

According to wide receiver Deion Branch — who says that McDaniels “has thrown a lot of different wrinkles at us” during the OTAs — it’s clear that the experiences McDaniels had while he was away from New England have shaped his coaching style in his second tour with the Patriots.

“You can look at it and say that,” Branch said. “The thing is, I had him as an offensive coordinator, so now that he’s been through the transition of being a head coach and back as an offensive coordinator, it’s totally different. [But] him being a players’ coach, for one, is always a plus.”

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Tom Brady has redone his contract, according to NFLPA documents. (AP)

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has restructured his contract.

Brady, who signed a four-year, $72 million extension in September 2010, was initially scheduled to make $5.75 million in base salary with a $6 million roster bonus and $250,000 workout bonus this season. Under the new agreement (first reported by Brian McIntyre of Mac’s Football Blog), Brady’s base salary was reduced to a fully guaranteed $950,000, with the remaining difference ($4.8 million) combined with the roster bonus and converted into a $10.8 million signing bonus that will be prorated over the three remaining years on Brady’s contract.

By restructuring Brady’s deal, the Patriots freed up $7.2 million in cap space.

This is not the first time Brady has restructured his deal. In the spring of 2007, he reworked his deal to allow for more cap flexibility when it came to adding wide receiver Randy Moss. On that occasion, Brady initially had a base salary of $6 million, but the quarterback and the Patriots did some shuffling, and redid the deal so Brady received a signing bonus of $5.28 million and had his base salary reduced to $720,000.

WEEI.com will continue to offer daily insight and analysis regarding options that may be available to the Patriots when it comes to the 2012 NFL draft. Here is one is a series of profiles of players who could be on the board when it’s time for the Patriots to make a selection.

Michael Floyd had some off-field issues, but he produced on the field, including this catch in a win over Boston College on Nov. 19. (AP)

MICHAEL FLOYD

Position: Wide receiver

School: Notre Dame

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 220 pounds

Achievements: Notre Dame single-season record holder in receptions (100); Notre Dame career leader in receptions (271), receiving yards (3,686), touchdowns (36) and 100-yard receiving games (17); Belitnikoff Award semifinalist (2011); AP All-America second team (2011)

What he brings: Michael Floyd has everything a receiver needs to be a prolific vertical threat: great height, exceptional hands, precise route-running, fantastic leaping ability, strength and, after showing off a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, surprisingly good straight-line speed.

While at Notre Dame, Floyd terrorized defensive backs with his ability to go up and snatch the ball out of the air using his elite size, leaping ability and exceptional hands, a skill set Patriots fans have been clamoring for since the departure of Randy Moss. Unlike Moss, though, Floyd is a powerful runner who can break through tackles and has a reputation as a solid run blocker. Also unlike Moss, Floyd doesn’t create great separation from defenders and projects to have a similar package of skills as Kansas City’s Dwayne Bowe.

Floyd’s repertoire, however, extends beyond simply being a vertical threat, especially during his senior season, when the receiver dropped a notable amount of weight and improved his quickness in what turned out to be a record-breaking season. In addition to being the team’s top downfield threat, Floyd was regularly used on screen passes, short routes, throws over the middle and even as a punt returner, an unusual instance for a receiver his size.

Floyd’s stock has strengthened since the end of the college football season, making it unlikely for him to fall all the way to the Patriots’ first selection at No. 27. If the Patriots intend to call out his name on draft day, it will either be through trading up or Floyd taking an unexpected drop.

Where the Patriots could get him: Round 1

Notes: After consensus No. 1 receiving prospect Justin Blackmon, Floyd seems to have solidified his status as the No. 2 prospect in this year’s class, especially after crushing Baylor’s burner, Kendall Wright, in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.

Straight-line speed was Floyd’s biggest concern heading into the draft, but not so much after his impressive performance at the scouting combine. Floyd’s time puts him just behind Blackmon’s time of 4.46. Meanwhile, Wright ran a disappointing 4.61. Of course, the 40-yard dash is a far cry from definite proof of downfield speed. However, it does answer the question “Is Michael Floyd fast enough to be an solid NFL receiver?” with a resounding “probably.”

Heading into his senior season, Floyd appeared to have major character issues, particularly after receiving a year’s probation from the NCAA after pleading guilty to misdemeanor drunk driving, in addition to two other alcohol-related incidents during his career. After pleading guilty, Floyd was stripped of his captaincy and banned from team activities for multiple months.

However, much like his on-field performance, Floyd’s off-field conduct improved significantly during his final year at Notre Dame. He was even reinstated as a team captain for the final game of his career, after performing many hours of community service and taking required alcohol classes. However, the most prolific receiver in Notre Dame history has a lot of work to do to convince teams that he has truly matured.

Related articles:

WEEI: Floyd out to prove he’s a changed man

ESPN: Michael Floyd sentenced to probation

Akron Beacon Journal: Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd confronts alcohol issues

USA Today: Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd poised to produce if he plays

Video:

Here’s a smorgasbord of Floyd’s highlights throughout his Notre Dame career.

Randy Moss is coming back to the NFL.

According to multiple reports, the 49ers and the free agent wide receiver agreed to a one-year deal Monday evening. The pact ends Moss’ retirement after he spent the 2011 season out of football.

The 35-year-old Moss reportedly spent Monday working out with the 49ers and catching passes from coach Jim Harbaugh. Moss had recently worked out with the Saints.

Moss spent parts of four seasons with the Patriots, including a record-setting 2007 campaign in which he reeled in 23 touchdown receptions. He was traded to the Vikings after four games in the 2010 season, but only lasted four games before he was waived. He finished the season with the Titans after being claimed, but had only six receptions in eight games, the last ones he played before retiring.

The Patriots will host the 49ers this season, meaning Moss will make his first trip back to New England since Oct. 31, 2010, his last game with the Vikings.

WEEI.com will continue to offer daily insight and analysis regarding options that may be available to the Patriots when it comes to the 2012 NFL draft. Here is one is a series of profiles of players who could be on the board when it’s time for the Patriots to make a selection.

LSU's Rueben Randle scores a touchdown in last season's game against Auburn on Oct. 22. (AP)

RUEBEN RANDLE

Position: Wide receiver

School: LSU

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 208 pounds

Achievements: Coaches All-SEC first team (2011), AP All-SEC second team (2011)

What he brings: Randle, the former No. 1 wideout recruit coming out of high school, brings solid hands and prototypical size to the receiver position, coming in with a near-identical frame to Pats fans’ gold standard for deep threats: Randy Moss. Although he isn’t the pure burner like Baylor’s Kendall Wright, Randle is a more explosive route runner than the draft’s other big targets, such as South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery.

Where the Patriots could get him: Round 1 or 2

Notes: During his final season as a true junior, Randle functioned mostly as a deep threat in LSU’s limited passing offense. With 53 receptions for 917 yards, Randle has shown his prowess as a deep threat, which should appease most Patriots fans. But whether Randle’s capacity as an underneath receiver is limited or was underutilized with the Tigers remains to be seen.

Randle was last seen compiling 13 of the Tigers’ combined 53 yards through the air in a 21-0 shutout loss to Alabama in the national championship game. Working with Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels could prove to be the key to unlocking his potential. However, the last time the Patriots took a flier on a receiver coming from a run-heavy offense was the 2010 third-round selection of Taylor Price, who was cut late last season.

Randle, who was initially graded as a second-round pick, has seen his stock rise as of late, going No. 30 to the 49ers in Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock draft. However, with the combine and workouts still down the line, Randle’s final stock is still up in the air.

Related articles:

[New Orleans, La.] Nola.com LSU Tigers Wide Receiver Rueben Randle learns to express himself as a leader on the field and off

TideSports.com: Randle is LSU’s main deep threat

Shreveport Times: LSU loses Rueben Randle to NFL Draft

Video: Here’s Randle against Arkansas, racking up career highs in catches (9) and receiving yards (134).