Walter is back in punt formation

Brooks Barnard put four punts inside the 20-yard line against the Miami Dolphins in extreme weather conditions last Sunday. It just wasn't good enough.

The Patriots re-signed Ken Walter Thursday, 10 days after waiving him. Walter, 31, had a punting average of 37.9 yards -- which was last in the NFL.

Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli phoned Walter's agent, Paul Sheehy, and welcomed the former Cleveland Browns ballboy back into the family. But the opportunity isn't permanent.

"I'm making a decision based on where we're at right now," Belichick said. "We're playing the Jacksonville game. It's Friday and the game is Sunday. I'm not even going to sit here today and guarantee that this is the way it'll be [tomorrow]. It may be, but I'm not going to make that decision until [tomorrow]. This is the decision we made. What the decision will be next week, I don't know. We'll make that decision next week."

When we last left Walter, he shanked an 18-yard punt late in the game at Indianapolis Nov. 30, which the Patriots won, 38-34.

Walter was not having a good year. In 63 punts, he had 16 inside the 20 and had three touchbacks in 12 games. Walter averaged more than 40 yards per punt in only five games.

"Ken is thrilled to be back," said Sheehy. "He never left the area. He got his workout shoveling snow just like everyone else in New England last week. It was a little surprising, though. When Ken was cut they told him they didn't know which direction this whole situation would lead them in. We're just happy it led them back to Ken."

Sheehy said Walter received two calls from teams during his respite. Walter was not in the Patriots locker room yesterday, but according to kicker Adam Vinatieri, Walter is expected to resume his holder duties.

When the Patriots cut Walter they told him they could no longer risk losing a game because of poor punting. They brought in the 24-year-old Barnard, who had no NFL experience. Barnard might have hurt his long-term chances because of some line-drive punts. Walter had a line-drive punt returned for a 57-yard touchdown by Denver's Deltha O'Neal Nov. 3.

Belichick said the decision "wasn't something that came out of thin air. It's something we've been talking about. We don't have a lot of exposure with either Brooks or [practice squad punter/kicker] Travis [Dorsch]." The Patriots are hurting on special teams; long snapper Lonie Paxton tore his right anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the season, so the team is breaking in a replacement, Sean McDermott. Belichick said his decision to re-sign Walter had no bearing on the performance of last's week holder, Damon Huard.

Walter signed for the remainder of the season at the same pay ($725,000) he had been receiving. Walter had three years remaining on his old contract, which was torn up. He also had lucrative incentives, which he lost out on when he was cut. With Walter back, the only mystery on special teams is McDermott, who has had stints in Tampa Bay and Miami.

"[McDermott's] doing a nice job," Vinatieri said. "Whenever you get a new guy in there's always an anticipation, but he's doing a good job." Asked if the return of his buddy, Walter, surprised him, Vinatieri said, "Very little things surprise me. Great to have him back. At this point they feel Kenny is the best guy for the job and I'm happy to have him back."

McDermott was cut by the Dolphins early in the season.

"I've been working out and keeping in shape in Miami," McDermott said. "I've been snapping and staying in shape. I've been snapping since high school, so it's not something you lose overnight."

McDermott said he snapped with Walter punting and holding for kicks in the locker room before Thursday's practice. Snapping could be the easy part for McDermott, but blocking is a concern. Paxton, a former offensive lineman, could snap and then make his blocks. McDermott said his snapping is similar to Paxton's, in that they both snap with two hands. "First key is to get a good snap for the punter and then be ready to make a block," he said.