Dennard at Pats practice, not commenting on DUI

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Starting cornerback Alfonzo Dennard practiced with the New England Patriots on Friday but declined comment on his arrest for drunken driving.

Dennard participated in the team's first training camp practice, playing on both the first-team and second-team defenses.

But the second-year pro wouldn't discuss his arrest July 11 in Lincoln, Neb., where he played college football for Nebraska.

"I'm not trying to talk about that right now," he said. "I'm just happy to be back on the field, a great opportunity."

Last year's seventh-round draft choice started seven of the last 10 regular-season games and both playoff games last season. He was projected to be one of the two starters again this year, along with Aqib Talib, obtained last November in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His latest arrest, though, may get in the way.

Dennard was on probation at the time of his arrest. He has a court date of Aug. 27 for a hearing on whether that should be revoked. The Patriots' season opener is Sept. 8 against the Bills in Buffalo.

On April 11, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and placed on two years of probation after being found guilty in February of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest outside a Lincoln bar on April 21, 2012. He's scheduled to serve the sentence next March.

Asked if he felt his career is threatened, Dennard said, "I'm just worried about the present right now and the present right now is being on the field and trying to help my team win and just doing as much as I can."

He wouldn't comment on whether he felt he let down coach Bill Belichick, who sent a letter on his behalf attesting to his character for the sentencing.

"I'm still on the team right now," Dennard said, "So that's all I'm worried about right about now."

Belichick was non-committal about Dennard's status with the team.

"We have 90 players out there," he said. "Our roster is at 90 players, We're full. They're all active. They'll all be participating."

Cox Media Group