FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed veteran G Kendall Simmons today. Terms of the contract were not announced by the team.

Simmons, 6-3, 315 pounds, spent the last seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after joining Pittsburgh as a first-round draft pick (30th overall) out of Auburn in 2002. Simmons has started 81 regular-season games and seven postseason games during his seven NFL seasons.

Simmons started the first five games at right guard for Pittsburgh last season before suffering an Achilles injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the year. He was released by Pittsburgh in February.

Simmons earned a starting position at right guard as a rookie in 2002. After starting 14 games in 2002 and all 16 games in 2003, he missed the entire 2004 season with a knee injury. He rebounded in 2005 to start all 16 games and four postseason games, including a start in Super Bowl XL during Pittsburgh's victory over Seattle. In that game, he was a part of an offensive line that helped the Steelers rush for 181 yards.

NOTE:The Patriots will announce the members of the practice squad on Monday, September 7.