FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (July 27, 2006) -- Star defensive lineman Richard Seymour was among 10 players placed on New England 's physically unable to perform list.

While fans attending the July 28 opening of training camp weren't expecting to see the team's top wide receiver Deion Branch, who wants a new contract, they won't see defensive captain Seymour either.

The four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman also missed the start of training camp last year in a holdout, got a raise for 2005 and a multiyear contract after last season. He missed four games with a knee injury and there is no indication he's seriously injured now; the Patriots did not indicate why he was placed on the PUP list.

Players can only be put on the PUP list before the first practice of training camp. If they are not removed from it before the final roster cutdown to 53 players on Sept. 2, they must stay on it for the first six weeks of the season. At any time during Weeks 7-10, they can be activated or work out with the team.

After the first 10 weeks of the season, they must be activated, waived or placed on injured reserve, requiring them to miss the rest of the season.

Any of the PUP players can be taken off the list in training camp once they're ready to practice.

Branch's likely absence has nothing to do with his health. Entering his fifth season, the 2002 second-round draft choice wants more than the $1.045 million he's scheduled to make this year, the last of his original contract. Jason Chayut, Branch's agent, said this week the player wouldn't be in camp "until he feels he's being treated fairly," according to the Boston Globe.

Chayut did not return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Branch, who also missed a mandatory minicamp in June, can be fined $14,000 for each day he stays away from training camp.

The others placed on the PUP list were safety Rodney Harrison and center Dan Koppen, who both underwent surgery and were sidelined for most of last season; running back Patrick Pass; tackle Nick Kaczur; cornerback Randall Gay; wide receivers Chad Jackson and Bam Childress; long snapper Lonie Paxton and defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan.

Harrison is as important to the defense as Seymour and is the leader of the secondary. Koppen has been a fixture on the offensive line.

In other moves, the Patriots re-signed three free agents -- linebacker Chad Brown and offensive linemen Gene Mruczkowski and Billy Yates -- and released linebacker Ryan Claridge and defensive lineman Kader Drame.