Sam Aiken was signed by the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 3, 2008 ... Originally selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (127th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft ... Placed on injured reserve (11/26/03).

GP/GS (Playoffs): 86/7

• Aiken enters the 2009 season having played in 78 career games with four starts over six NFL seasons, all with the Buffalo Bills (2003-07) and Patriots (2008).
• Aiken enters 2009 having recorded 27 career receptions for 351 yards and has totaled 71 career special teams tackles.
• In his first season with the Patriots in 2008, Aiken played in 13 games with two starts and caught eight passes for 101 yards.
• Aiken finished fifth on the Patriots with 10 special teams tackles in 2008.
• In 2004, Aiken played in every game while totaling a career-high 11 receptions for 148 yards and adding 14 special teams tackles.
• Aiken's 24 special teams tackles in 2005 ranked second on the Bills and stand as a single-season career high.

2009 (8/3/0/0): Voted special teams captain by his teammates for the first time ... Recorded his first career touchdown with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the Patriots' 35-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at London's Wembley Stadium ... Led the team in special teams tackles once (at NYJ).

Buffalo (9/14): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 25-24 comeback victory over the Bills ... Tallied one special teams tackle. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units ... Led the team with three special teams tackles (2 solo). Atlanta (9/27): Played in reserve at wide receiver and on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 26-10 victory ... Made one special teams tackle. Baltimore (10/4): Made his first start of the season at wide receiver while playing on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Ravens ... Hauled in his first reception of the season, grabbing a Tom Brady pass over the middle and turning up field for a 26-yard gain in the third quarter. at Denver (10/11): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units, making one special teams tackle. Tennessee (10/18): Started at wide receiver as the Patriots opened in a three wide receiver set and set team records for most points and total net yards in a game (619) in a 59-0 victory over the Titans ... Tallied a season-high four catches for 30 yards ... Made a nice 12-yard catch along the sideline, getting both feet in bounds, gaining a first down in the second quarter and extending a Patriots touchdown drive ... Tallied one special teams tackle. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Played in reserve at wide receiver and on special teams' coverage and return units in the Patriots' 35-7 victory over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Scored his first career touchdown while registering the Patriots' longest play of the season, while out-muscling several Tampa Bay defenders on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter ... Matched the longest reception of his career on the 54-yard touchdown ... Registered two receptions for 66 yards. Miami (11/8): Started at wide receiver as the Patriots opened in a four-wide set in their 27-17 win over the Dolphins ... Grabbed two receptions for 17 yards.

2008 (14/2): In his first season with the Patriots, played in 14 games while making two starts at wide receiver ... Finished fifth on the team with 10 special teams tackles ... Recorded eight receptions for 101 yards, with both figures standing as the second highest totals of his career ... Led or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles three times during the regular season ... Made his Patriots debut against Miami (9/21), while tying for the team lead in special teams tackles with two ... Made his first start in a Patriots uniform against Buffalo (11/9) and tallied a season-high two catches for 22 yards, including a 19-yard reception from Matt Cassel on third and nine extending a fourth-quarter drive ... Led the team with two special teams tackles against the Bills ... Tallied a game-long 43-yard reception, the second longest reception of his career, against the N.Y. Jets (11/13) ... Started at wide receiver and tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles at Miami (11/23) ... In the Patriots' victory at Oakland (12/14), grabbed one reception for 16 yards with a clutch third-quarter catchand- run play and had one special teams tackle.
 

2007 (12/0 - Buffalo): Saw the majority of his action on special teams - helped the punt coverage unit, which led the NFL allowing 5.3 yards per return ... Played in 12 games, recorded six tackles on special teams ... Caught one pass for 10 yards in the season finale at Philadelphia (12/30).

2006 (15/0 - Buffalo): Saw majority of his action on special teams - helped the punt coverage unit tie for the NFL-lead in net punt average yielding just a 39.2 avg ... Tallied 13 special teams tackles

2005 (16/2 - Buffalo): One of the most potent coverage men in the league, finished second on the team with 24 tackles (21 solo) ... Helped the Bills special teams unit rank first in NFL in special teams rankings compiled by Dallas Morning News ... Started two games at wide receiver and finished with four receptions for 57 yards ... Made first NFL start at wide receiver against Miami (10/9) ... Made a key block on Jonathan Smith's 8-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive vs. NYJ (10/16) ... Recorded a forced fumble on special teams vs. Carolina (11/27)

2004 (16/0 - Buffalo): Finished the season with career highs - 11 receptions, 148 yards ... Added 14 tackles on special teams unit ... Helped Special Teams Unit rank first in NFL in special teams rankings compiled by Dallas Morning News ... Made a team-high three unassisted special teams tackles at Cincinnati (12/19) ... Tied the team-high with four catches vs. Pittsburgh (1/2/05) for a total of 52 yards... his four receptions were a single-game high.

2003 (5/0 - Buffalo): Was on the 53-man roster for the first 11 weeks of the season and appeared in five games ... Caught his first pass as a pro with an 18-yard reception at N.Y. Jets (10/12)

Became a major receiving threat as a junior at North Carolina and finished his career with 146 receptions for 2,205 yards and 15 touchdowns ... In 2002 was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team choice as well as a winner of the E. Carrington Smith Award (team MVP-offense) and Art Weiner Award (most outstanding receiver) ... That year he set school single-season records as he caught 68 passes for 990 yards (14.6 avg) and four touchdowns.

Samuel Aiken was born on Dec. 14, 1980 in Clinton, N.C. ... Was a two-time All-Conference recipient in track, football and basketball at James Kenan High in Warsaw, N.C. ... Was Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Shrine Bowl after catching six passes for 136 yards and a touchdown ... Placed second in the state in the high jump ... Majored in Exercise and Sports Science.
 

• As a senior at the University of North Carolina in 2002, Sam set school records with 68 receptions and 990 receiving yards.
• Sam has averaged nearly one special teams tackle per game over his career, tallying 71 special teams stops in 78 career games.