Patriots finally hit field en masse

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By Tom E. Curran
CSNNE.com Patriots InsiderFollow @tomecurran
FOXBORO - The 2011 offseason has finally, mercifully ended. NFL players ratified their collective bargaining agreement Thursday afternoon. But the uncertainty continued right to the bitter end as Patriots head coach Bill Belichick strode to the microphone around 4:25 p.m. not knowing whether all his newly signed free agents and franchise players could take the field. Among them, rookie Nate Solder who earlier in the afternoon agreed to a four-year deal with the team. The first three years are guaranteed in the Solder's contract, according to Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network. The fourth year is partially guaranteed. One interesting note on Solder; Bill Belichick indicated he may have Solder learn the right side as well. That, despite saying during the draft that Solder was strictly a left tackle. "I guess the answer to(whether Solder can play the right side)is 'Well see.' Does he have the skill set to play right tackle? Well see. We thought Matt (Light) had the skill set to do that. That lasted about two weeks." Light and Logan Mankins, who signed his franchise tender, were also on the field Thursday afternoon.

Tom E. Curran can be reached at tcurran@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Tom on Twitter at http:twitter.comtomecurran.

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