Following the second session in the afternoon, offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia gave him some private time with a blocking sled.

Porter has never played organized Football before; not even at the Pee Wee level. But like Patriots guard Stephen Neal, he is hoping his superior wrestling skills will translate into a new career.

``I'm learning,'' Porter said. ``It's a whole new world for me.''

Porter, who is 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, achieved All-America status by winning 29 consecutive matches as senior. He said he's had it in his mind for a while to make the move to Football.

``This is something I wanted. I've been thinking about this since my junior season of college. I wanted to pursue this after college. I just wasn't sure where to start,'' he said. ``Fortunately, some people pointed me in the right direction, so here I am.''

It just so happens Porter shares the same agent (Neil Cornrich) as Neal, whom he's followed religiously.

``I watched a lot of wrestling film on Stephen Neal, first and foremost,'' Porter said. ``He was probably the greatest college heavyweight of all-time. So this is the avenue he took. And it just seemed like it was a possible transition for me, also.'' Pats coach Bill Belichick said Neal was started out on the defensive line first, before moving to offense. Porter, who is working on the offensive line, might also flip.

``We're just kind of taking it day by day and see how he does in different drills and in different situations. (We'll) just take it one step at a time,'' Belichick said. ``I don't really have any expectations other than (that). As long as he's improving we'll keep working with him and see maybe where the best fit for him may be.

``I don't really know that until we've had a chance to see him play a little bit. But he's certainly a good looking kid. He's got a good frame. He's got good balance, we know that from wrestling.''

Keeping it tight

Belichick discussed the trade for veteran tight end Alex Smith, who was acquired Thursday for an undisclosed 2010 draft pick.

``That's something that has kind of been, I don't want to say in the works, but has been out there for a while,'' he said. ``We just felt like, given the player and the situation and what the compensation was, it was something that we wanted to do.

``I feel like Alex is a good player,'' Belichick continued. ``He's done a lot of different things for Tampa Bay - in the passing game, in the running game, pass protection. Smart guy. Athletic. In coach (Jon) Gruden's offense, which they ran down there, you see him doing a lot of different things, lined up in different spots - playing on the line, playing off the line, playing in motion, playing split out - different kind of routes and so forth they run. I think you see him with a versatile set of skills.''

On the mend

Third-round pick Brandon Tate was present in workout clothes yesterday, but did not participate. He tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee Oct. 11 against Notre Dame, missing the final seven games of the season.

During a conference call with the media after being drafted last week, Tate said he thought he would be ready for camp.

``He's rehabilitating the knee injury. We will just take that as it comes, day by day. When he's ready, I'm sure he'll be out there,'' Belichick said.

Pioli pounces

After taking the wrecking ball to his scouting department last week, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli has scooped up a pair of former Patriots staffers.

Jim Nagy, who served as a scout (2000-07) under Belichick, has been hired by Pioli as a regional scout. Also joining Pioli is Jay Muraco, who was the Pats' college scouting coordinator the past nine seasons, and will serve as a Chiefs' area scout.

Read the Patriots Point After at bostonherald.com.