Helping out at Wes Welker's camp this afternoon, Patriots OLB Tully Banta-Cain -- he of the brand-new three-year deal -- revealed that he had off-season shoulder surgery and he's spent considerable time since rehabbing to get it right.

"I'm getting recovered from that," he said, pointing to his left shoulder. "I'm finally back doing everything with the team, doing all the workouts and OTAs. I'm just getting back to my form."

Banta-Cain called the surgery "minor" and said he's pretty much "good to go" now.

The eighth-year linebacker figures to play a pretty prominent role in helping to juice up the team's sagging pass rush this fall. He led the club with 10 sacks.