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FOXBORO - The Patriots have all of their important draft choices under contract with time to spare before the official start of training camp.

With the signing of safety Patrick Chung, announced on Monday, the Patriots have 10 of 12 picks in this year's draft locked up and on the practice field for what's being called a "rookie minicamp" that's being conducted this week at Gillette Stadium out of the public eye.

The full-squad training camp begins Thursday morning at the Gillette practice complex, but NFL rules allow the Patriots to bend that restriction in their favor by calling the rookies to work a few days beforehand for a "minicamp" that isn't viewed by the media or by the public, as a majority of training camp practices are.

When Chung reported Sunday with the rest of the rookie class (save for injured linebacker Tyrone McKenzie and long-snapper Jake Ingram), it was a clear sign that a contract agreement had been reached.

Terms were not announced. The nine other signed draft choices all signed four-year deals, however. Chung (5-foot-11, 212 pounds) started 51 straight games during his college career to set an Oregon record. As a junior in 2007, he was named a second-team All-America selection and first-team All-Pac 10 Conference choice. He averaged 22.3 yards on nine kickoff returns while leading Oregon with a career-high 117 total tackles, nine passes defended and two interceptions.

In 2008, Chung earned third-team All-America accolades in addition to his return to the All-Pac 10 Conference first team. He finished the season with 92 total

tackles in 13 games with two sacks. He caused and recovered a fumble, and returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown.

To make room on the training camp roster for Chung, the Patriots released safety Antwain Spann, a third-year veteran who had bounced between the practice squad and the 53-man roster during his tenure. Spann played in 19 regular-season games and three playoff games with the Patriots.

The two remaining unsigned draft choices aren't likely to sidetrack the Patriots' plans if they aren't under contract by Thursday.

McKenzie, the South Florida linebacker selected in the third round, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the third practice session of the May rookie orientation camp, at which time it was determined he would be lost for the season.

As for Ingram, the 198th overall selection, his continued absence has to qualify for "What are you thinking?" status. The product of the University of Hawaii was already likely to be in the runner-up position in a battle for Lonie Paxton's old job with former Cardinals' snapper Nathan Hodel, signed as a free agent after Paxton departed for big bucks in Denver.