The Patriots informed QB Nathan Rourke that he is being waived, per sources.

This thins the QB room to 4 -- Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton.

“For all of you out there that think about who’s responsible for the Patriots’ success during the time Tom and I were there. Was it Brady? Was it me? Was it Brady? Was it me? In reality, the truth of the matter is it was both of us —because of me.” -Bill Belichick, all-time roast

Drew Bledsoe … Randy Moss … Matt Light … Julian Edelman… Rob Gronkowski … Nate Solder … Lonie Paxton … Dan Koppen … Rodney Harrison … Danny Amendola … Willie McGinest.

Teammates and friends on hand for Tom Brady roast (hosted by Kevin Hart).

Always nice to catch up with Nate Ebner and Patrick Chung, such as Sunday morning at a rugby tackling clinic in Quincy.

Both are minority owners of the defending Major League Rugby champion New England Free Jacks. We discussed ties between football/rugby and why they believe Jerod Mayo will thrive.

Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (Penn State OL coach on Caedan Wallace future at LT; first look at QB Drake Maye later this week at rookie camp; do OL pieces fit with outside zone scheme?; rare w/ 5 QBs; new Ernie Adams revealed etc.) tinyurl.com/3nw84dth

Fun football story today: When the UFL’s Memphis Showboats host the unbeaten Birmingham Stallions (12 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN+), you might recognize the name Vinny Papale.

He is the son of Vince Papale, whose journey inspired the 2006 movie Invincible (starring Mark Wahlberg).

Maye be the start of something special.

Brandon Spikes always kept it light. Nice to see him back in town.

Here’s a throwback photo from 2013.

Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction on June 12 sold out hours after tickets went on sale to the general public this afternoon.

Promises to be an epic evening.

OT Mike Onwenu, reflecting on representing himself in free agency, says it “was always trending in the direction I would be back.”

He says in all discussions with the team, it was mentioned that he would play tackle. Thus, he is locking himself in at right tackle at this time.

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley says one new sign inside Gillette Stadium speaks to him.

It reads: “Process. Progress. Payoff.”

Says Bentley: “That’s right when we walk in the door. It’s big for us. Our biggest thing now is not letting them just be slogans…Do you actually live by it?”

Joey Slye has appeared in 78 career games.

🏈🦶121 field goals in 147 attempts.

🏈🦶138 of 156 on PATs.

🏈🦶358 kickoffs with an 83.2 touchback percentage.

The Patriots and veteran kicker Joey Slye are in agreement on a deal, per sources.

Slye was released by the Jaguars earlier this week. Competition for Chad Ryland.

On the Patriots' media schedule Thursday:

🕛🎙️ 12p ET: OT Mike Onwenu, LB Ja'Whaun Bentley

(In midst of fourth week of the voluntary offseason program.)

Snapshots: (L-R, back row): Patriots players Nathan Rourke, Austin M Hooper, Jacoby Brissett, Kevin Harris, Antonio Gibson and Tyrone Wheatley in Riverside, RI as part of a (beyond the football) team effort in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month.

The details:

🏈 Led by…

A fitting day on the calendar as SportsCenter talks Patriots QBs, and Amina Smith has some fun with it …

News story: Veteran Jacoby Brissett eager to battle Drake Maye for Patriots’ QB1 job.

“Competition brings out the best in all of us,” he says.

dlvr.it/T6H5RZ

Catching up with Jacoby Brissett in Riverside, RI as he takes part in an event in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month.

The Patriots furnished 3 new apartment units reserved for youth aging out of foster care … and Brissett talked about that, returning to NE, and Drake Maye.

Patriots DT Christian Barmore with a message of thanks after signing his four-year contract extension (via Instagram).

The Patriots have signed OLB Oshane Ximines. The former Giant has a connection with the new assistant coach, Drew Wilkins.

Old Dominion alum. 2019 third-round pick (No. 95).

48 games, 9 starts, 71 tackles, 6.5 sacks.