Lynch joins Patriots
Sports Network | August 15, 2008
Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots have signed veteran safety John Lynch.
Terms of the deal were not released by the club, but NFL.com reported it to be a one-year pact worth $1.5 million.
Lynch spent the past four seasons with the Denver Broncos after playing his first 11 years with Tampa Bay. He has earned nine Pro Bowl selections, including four straight, and only Ken Houston has received more Pro Bowl nods at safety with 10.
In 224 NFL games, including 191 starts, Lynch has amassed 1,277 tackles, 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. He has also started 12 playoff games and was a member of Tampa Bay's Super Bowl championship team after the 2002 season.
Last year with the Broncos, Lynch recorded 62 tackles in 13 games played. He was released by Denver on July 31.
Lynch, who will turn 37 in September, will help fill a void created with Tank Williams was lost for the season with a knee injury in the first preseason game.
The Patriots also placed offensive lineman Barry Stokes on injured reserve because of a back injury.
Stokes was signed by the Patriots on August 2. He has played in 83 games with Miami, Green Bay, Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit.
