FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed veteran free agent guard Brenden Stai today. The team subsequently announced the release of rookie safety Scott Farley.
Stai, 31, has started 96 of 105 games over eight NFL seasons with four different teams. In 2002, the 6-foot-4-inch, 312-pound lineman started five games at right guard for the Washington Redskins. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (91st overall) of the 1995 NFL draft. The Nebraska product was a mainstay on the Steelers' offensive line for five seasons (1995-99) and helped pave the way for running back Jerome Bettis to record four straight 1,000-yard campaigns beginning in 1996. Following his tenure in Pittsburgh, Stai started all 16 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2000 and again for the Detroit Lions in 2001. The Phoenix, Ariz., native started 77 consecutive games from 1997-2002.
Farley, 23, was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2003.
