Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch underwent minor knee surgery this off-season and will not participate in the team's three-day mini-camp, Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times reports.

O'Neil adds that this is the third procedure Branch has had on his left knee, beginning with ACL replacement surgery after the 2007 season.

Branch, who turns 31 in July, is entering the fifth (gasp!) year of a six-year, $39.5 million dollar contract extension, which will pay him $5.47 million dollars in base salary in 2010, provided he's on the 53-man roster in Week 1. Branch has appeared in 47 of a possible 62 games for the Seahawks, and has caught 177 passes for 2,235 yards (12.6 avg) and 14 touchdowns. Branch added 8 receptions for 96 yards in three playoff games.

During his 8-year career, which began as a second-round pick (65th overall) out of Louisville by the Patriots, Branch has 390 receptions for 4,979 yards and 28 touchdowns. Branch was also named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXVIIII after catching 11 passes for 133 yards in the Patriots’ 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.