FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed free agent linebacker Victor Hobson today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Victor is a good young player with considerable playing experience," said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. "We are excited about his addition to our linebacker unit."

Hobson, 28, is a veteran of five NFL seasons all with the New York Jets (2003-2007). The 6-foot, 252-pound linebacker has played in 76 career games with 58 starts and has totaled 343 tackles (236 solo), 11 sacks, nine passes defensed, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Last season with New York, Hobson started 14 games at linebacker and made 62 tackles. He also contributed two sacks for 21 yards and contributed a career high three passes defensed.

Hobson was drafted by the Jets in the second round (53th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft from the University of Michigan. As a rookie in 2003, Hobson saw action in all 16 games with one start and made 50 tackles. In 2004, he started in 11 of the 12 games in which he played. The four games Hobson missed during the 2004 season are the only games he has missed in his NFL career. He started all 16 games in 2005 and set a then career high in tackles with 78. Hobson eclipsed that total, tallying a career best 100 tackles in the 2006 season. He also added a career high six sacks for 27 yards while starting every game that year.