FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady practiced with the New England Patriots for the first time yesterday since suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year's opening game.

Brady and nearly the entire team participated in the first of four days of this week's organized team activities, Patriots spokesman Stacey James said.

The first three days of OTAs were held last week for young players and others signed as free agents in the offseason who needed more time to get used to the playbook.

The only media access for this week's sessions is tomorrow. James said yesterday that Brady threw passes and did other activities during his first formal practice with the club since he suffered a torn left knee ligament midway through the first quarter of the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

VIKINGS

NFL APPEALS RULING

The NFL filed notice yesterday that it plans to appeal a federal judge's ruling in the case of two Minnesota Vikings players facing suspensions over positive drug tests.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson in Minneapolis last week threw out most of the claims by Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. He also dismissed a lawsuit brought by the NFL players' union on behalf of the Williamses and three New Orleans Saints players also facing suspension.

But Magnuson sent the Williamses' two remaining claims to state court.

In yesterday's filing, the NFL said it asked the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to review whether Magnuson misapplied federal law when he didn't dismiss those two claims outright.

ELSEWHERE

Browns: Cleveland signed free agent cornerback Rod Hood, a starter for Arizona in last season's Super Bowl. Hood spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals. He started 14 games last season, recording 40 tackles and one interception.

Cardinals: Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin is in the process of firing his agent Drew Rosenhaus. Boldin, in a long contract dispute with the team, informed the NFL Players Association in a letter that he wanted to replace the agent. The players association says it received the letter on Friday, so with the required five-day waiting period, Boldin can sign with a new agent tomorrow.

Cowboys: Dallas released cornerback Tra Battle and free agent defensive tackle Casey Tyler, who was out of football last season after the New England Patriots cut him in training camp. Dallas signed Battle off San Diego's practice squad in November.