This time, Patriots hit mark

Physical Lynch boosts secondary

FOXBOROUGH - A second shot at John Lynch has put him in the Patriots' secondary.

Four years ago, the Patriots pursued the cerebral safety, even though they were set at the position with Eugene Wilson and Rodney Harrison and were coming off a Super Bowl victory. Lynch ended up with the Denver Broncos. This time, the Patriots had a more dire need for a safety and Lynch was looking for a new playing partner after asking for and receiving his release from the Broncos Aug. 1.

According to a league source, the Patriots signed the nine-time Pro Bowl selection yesterday, helping to offset the loss of Tank Williams, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday after suffering a knee injury in the exhibition opener against Baltimore Aug. 7.

The source could not confirm terms of the deal, but NFL.com reported that Lynch signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The source said the Jets were among the teams also interested in Lynch's services.

The Patriots had Lynch in for a visit on Wednesday, which was confirmed by coach Bill Belichick yesterday. Belichick said he spoke with Lynch, and then the safety took a physical. Lynch was not at practice yesterday while the sides finalized his deal.

Lynch's nine Pro Bowl selections are the second most by a safety in NFL history to Hall of Famer Ken Houston, who made 10 NFL Pro Bowls and two AFL Pro Bowls. Lynch made the Pro Bowl in all four seasons he spent in Denver. Last year, he was selected as an injury replacement after he had 59 tackles, a sack, and three passes defended in 13 games, 12 starts.

However, Denver decided that Lynch, who has 26 career interceptions, had become somewhat of a liability in coverage and signed free agent Marlon McCree from the Chargers during the offseason.

During training camp, the 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound Lynch was being replaced when the Broncos went to their nickel (five defensive backs) and dime (six) packages. Lynch, who is entering his 16th season, had a tough time adjusting to being a part-time player, and went to Denver coach Mike Shanahan, who agreed to release him.

"He wants to play every down," Shanahan said at the time. "Heck, I can't blame him. I'm not going to say that he can't."

It's unlikely that Lynch, who will turn 37 Sept. 25, will be an every-down player in New England, with James Sanders and Rodney Harrison in place and the emergence of Brandon Meriweather. However, the hard-hitting safety is more than ample insurance should Harrison, who started training camp on the physically unable to perform list, came off July 29, but has not practiced since Aug. 2, continue to be slowed by injuries. Lynch also seems to be a perfect replacement for Williams, who was being utilized as a hybrid safety/linebacker in one of the Patriots' primary defensive schemes.

When asked about the possibility of the team bringing in Lynch, Sanders supported the move.

"I don't know him too well," said Sanders. "I know he's a great safety who has played a lot of great years in this league. He's a great guy. Whatever moves they plan on making, it will be what's best for the team."

The Patriots courted Lynch in 2004, when the Buccaneers released him after 11 seasons even though he had agreed to take a pay cut if it would enable him to stay in Tampa. At the time, it was written that the Buccaneers believed Lynch's game was on the decline.

He went on to make four straight Pro Bowls.

The Patriots are hoping that Lynch can have the same stabilizing impact on the secondary that Junior Seau had on the linebacking corps the last two years.

But Lynch's style is more reminiscent of Harrison. Both are feared across the league for the ferocity of their hits. Sanders said that was the first thing that came to mind when he heard Lynch's name. "He's a big guy, and he comes down and brings it every time he makes a tackle," said Sanders. "He's a tempo-setter and he goes out there and brings the wood each and every week."

Despite his physical style, Lynch has been durable. He has made 191 career starts. The safety did suffer a pair of reported concussions in 2006, but his father, John T. Lynch, e-mailed to say that Lynch only suffered a pinched nerve in his neck. Lynch had surgery to remove bone spurs in his neck in 2004, but only missed four games in four years in Denver.

Yet, there may be concerns that all those hits are catching up to Lynch. He missed two games last season because of "stingers" in his neck, which are impingements of the nerves, and one game with a groin injury.

The signing of Lynch adds another must-see game to the Patriots' schedule. If Lynch sticks in New England, he will face his former team, the Broncos, when the teams meet on "Monday Night Football" Oct. 20 at Gillette Stadium.