The New England Patriots announced the re-signing of two free agent linemen who contributed to last season's Super Bowl team, offensive tackle Grant Williams and center/guard Grey Ruegamer. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Williams, 27, joined the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2000 and has started 12 of 29 games in the past two seasons. The 6-7, 320-pound tackle was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as a rookie free agent out of Louisiana Tech following the 1996 NFL draft.
He played four seasons in Seattle and became a full-time starter in 1999, before signing with the Patriots. He started eight of 15 games at right tackle for the Patriots in 2000 and four of 14 games in 2001. He also appeared in each playoff game and filled in at left tackle for the entire second half of the Patriots 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Ruegamer, 25, joined the Patriots when he was signed off the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad on Nov. 16, 2000. Since then, he has appeared in 20 of 22 possible games and made his NFL starting debut in a 44-13 victory over the previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 30, 2001. The 6-5, 300-pound lineman was originally drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.
He was waived by the Dolphins in August of 2000 and signed onto the Steelers' practice squad two days later (8/29/00).
