According to ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss, the Patriots have agreed to terms with free-agent long snapper James Dearth. With Matt Katula among the 11 players released earlier today, Bill Belichick said the team would likely have a long snapper on the roster prior to Thursday's preseason finale with the Giants. Dearth's arrival would back up that claim.
The 35-year-old Dearth snapped for the Jets from 2001-09, and according to reports had worked out for the Patriots earlier in training camp. Dearth also played for Cleveland, where he entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 1999, and spent last season on injured reserve with San Diego.
