FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- One day after visiting New England, former Denver Broncos safety John Lynch has reached a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Patriots, according to a source.
Lynch, 36, was released by the Broncos, who wanted to re-adjust his role this season. After talking to coach Mike Shanahan, the Broncos gave him a chance to land elsewhere. The Patriots were the perfect fit.
Lynch, 36, was released by the Broncos, who wanted to re-adjust his role this season. After talking to coach Mike Shanahan, the Broncos gave him a chance to land elsewhere. The Patriots were the perfect fit.
Belichick became interested in Lynch after losing safety Tank Williams for the season because of a knee injury suffered on Aug. 7 in a 16-15 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Williams was expected to be used 10-to-25 plays a game in certain defensive packages that needed a hard-hitting safety.
Neither of last season's starters, Rodney Harrison and James Sanders, played in the preseason opener and both have missed several practices in training camp.
Sanders became a starter last season, his third with the Patriots.
"Whatever moves they plan on making it'll be what's best for the team," Sanders said after Thursday's practice. "He's just a hard, tenacious hitter. He's a big guy and he brings it every time he makes a tackle. So he's a tempo setter."
Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees said Williams, who spent his first four seasons with Tennessee then played for Minnesota last season, had been playing well in camp.
"I hate to lose him. You hate to lose anybody," said Pees, a 36-year coaching veteran in high school, college and the NFL. "But when you've done it for as long as we've all done it, it happens every year. So somebody else has just got to step in and take his place."
After leaving Denver, Lynch said he could sign elsewhere.
"I still have a great passion for the game of football," Lynch said after being released by the Broncos. "I still very much love it in my heart. I still feel like I can compete at a Pro Bowl level, but the situation is going to have to be right. I'm not going to just play for any team or any situation."
Lynch, who spent his first 11 seasons with Tampa Bay, played every snap in Denver's last three games last season, but earlier he was taken out on passing downs.
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