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July 19, 2007

Pats sign Chad Brown, release Spann, Nordin and Jonathan Smith

The New England Patriots signed free agent linebacker Chad Brown today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The team also released three players; veteran cornerback Antwain Spann, veteran wide receiver Jonathan Smith and rookie tight end Jake Nordin.

Brown, 36, is entering his 15th NFL season and his second season with the New England Patriots. Last year, he appeared in eight games for the Pittsburgh Steelers and totaled seven tackles, including a sack. The 6-foot-2-inch, 245-pound linebacker first signed with the Patriots as a free agent on May 10, 2005. That season, he was credited with 54 defensive tackles and three special teams stops in 15 games. Brown was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers (1993-96) and Seattle Seahawks (1997-2004) prior to joining the Patriots. He was originally selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft (44th overall). The Colorado product was a four-year starter for the Steelers and earned his first of three trips to the Pro Bowl in 1996 after finishing fourth in the NFL with a career-high 13 sacks. He signed with Seattle as a free agent the following year and spent the next eight seasons starting for the Seahawks. In 14 NFL seasons, Brown has started 161 of 186 games played and has recorded 1,075 total tackles, including 79 career sacks. His career sack total ranks second among all active NFL linebackers. He also has notched 41 career passes defensed, including six interceptions. He has forced 19 career fumbles and recovered 13, returning three of those for touchdowns.

Spann, 24, was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on Jan. 19, 2006. Last season, he was signed from the Patriots practice squad to the active roster on three occasions and saw action in eight regular season games and all three postseason contests. The 6-foot, 195-pound cornerback notched six special teams tackles on coverage units in 2006.

Smith, 25, was re-signed by the Patriots on Feb. 5, 2007. The 5-foot-10-inch, 190-pound receiver was originally claimed by the Patriots off of waivers from the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 3, 2006. The Georgia Tech product played in two games for the Patriots in 2006, but did not record any statistics. Prior to joining the Patriots, he appeared in 18 games with the Bills and collected eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Nordin, 23, was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Illinois on May 8, 2007. The 6-foot-3-inch, 255-pound tight end saw action in 38 games with 20 starts for the Huskies and finished his collegiate career with 54 catches for 547 yards.

-- PATRIOTS PRESS RELEASE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:11 PM | Permalink

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