01:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 18, 2004

Patriots wide receiver David Patten evidently received a $250,000 roster bonus he was due to be paid this week, confirmation that the veteran wide receiver is still very much in the Patriots' plans.

There was some question whether the bonus was to be paid on March 15 or on the 15th day of the NFL's 2004 year, which was yesterday. March 3 was the start of the league's business year. Either way, Patten, as his agent Mark Lepselter said, "is still a New England Patriot" as of today.

With David Givens and Deion Branch continuing to emerge as receivers and Bethel Johnson likely to make strides in his second year, Patten's position appeared tenuous -- especially with a receiver-rich draft coming up in a month.

Patten played in just six games in 2003 after injuring a knee against the Giants in early October. He ended the season on injured reserve after catching just nine passes.

--TOM E. CURRAN