FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced five transactions today. The Patriots have re-signed unrestricted free agent running backs Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris. Additionally, OL Logan Mankins signed his franchise tender, DB Kyle Arrington re-signed as a restricted free agent and free agent DL Steve Williams came to terms with the club. Terms of the contracts were not announced.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
Faulk, 5-8, 202 pounds, is the longest tenured Patriot on the roster, entering his 13th season. Last season, Faulk was limited to just two games due to an injury. He had eight rushing attempts for 45 yards and caught six passes for 62 yards.
Faulk has filled various roles since joining the team in 1999 as a second-round pick (46th overall) out of LSU. He is the Patriots all-time leader in all-purpose yards (12,247) and kickoff return yards (4,098) and is the Patriots' all-time leading return specialist, totaling 5,030 combined return yards (4,098 kick return yards and 932 punt return yards).
Morris, 6-0, 220 pounds, originally signed with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 3, 2007. He has also played with the Buffalo Bills (2000-03) and the Miami Dolphins (2004-06).
He entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft choice (156th overall) of the Buffalo Bills out of Texas Tech in 2000. Morris later signed with Miami as an unrestricted free agent in 2004.
Last season, Morris played in all 16 games and finished with 56 yards on 20 rushing attempts, caught seven passes for 77 yards and registered 10 special teams tackles.
FRANCHISE PLAYER SIGNING
Mankins, 6-4, 310 pounds, was originally drafted by the Patriots in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. Mankins has started all 89 regular season games and 10 postseason games he has appeared in since joining the Patriots in 2005.
Named to the Pro Bowl in 2007, 2009 and 2010, Mankins was also selected to the Associated Press All-Pro First Team in 2010 after being named to the All-Pro Second Team in 2007 and 2009.
Last season, he started at left guard for the final nine games of the season as well as the playoff game vs. N.Y. Jets (1/16/11). Mankins was part of an offensive line that contributed to the Patriots scoring the seventh most points in a season in NFL history.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS SIGNING
Arrington, 5-10, 196 pounds, was initially signed to the New England 53-man roster from the practice squad on Nov. 8, 2009.
Last season, Arrington played 16 games with 14 starts and finished the season with a career-high 67 total tackles on defense. He also scored two touchdowns in 2010 - one on a blocked field goal at Miami (10/4) and the other on his first career interception vs. Green Bay (12/19).
FREE AGENT SIGNING
Williams, 6-2, 306 pounds, most recently spent two seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. After going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft, Williams signed with the Kansas City Chiefs where he saw his only NFL regular season action.
Williams then spent the 2007 season with the Carolina Panthers before he was signed by the New England Patriots on May 4, 2009. He was waived on Sept. 4, 2009.
