Wide receiver and kick return specialist Aaron Bailey has signed a deal with the Patriots.
Bailey, 28, played five seasons in Indianapolis, where he established a Colts' career record with 3,501 total kickoff return yards. His 153 career kickoff returns rank second in franchise history behind Clarence Verdin. Bailey, who joined Indianapolis as a rookie free agent out of Louisiville in 1994, is one of just four players in Colts' history to return two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Both of those returns were 95-yard touchdowns.
Bailey, a 5-foot-10-inch, 185-pounder, set a career high and franchise record with 55 kickoff returns for 1,206 yards (21.9 avg.). Bailey also caught 26 passes for 329 yards and scored three touchdowns that season.
Bailey signed with Oakland in 1999, but he was let go before the start of the season. In five NFL seasons, Bailey started nine of 63 games played, caught 67 passes for 1,040 yards (15.5 avg.) and scored on six touchdown receptions. As a returner, he averaged 22.9 yards per kickoff return (153 for 3,501 yards) and 9.8 yards per punt return (20 for 195 yards). He also carried the ball four times for 54 yards.
In other news, the Patriots have retained speed coach Mike Morris. Morris, who came to New England in 1997, joins Dante Scarnecchia, Ivan Fears, Brad Seely, Jeff Davidson and DeWayne Walker as the assistant coaches who were retained from the 1999 staff.
Also, wide receiver Sean Morey has gone down to Orlando, Fla. for the start of NFL Europe training camp. All centers, quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers are scheduled to report by 7:30 Thursday night for orientation. Morey will be joined in Orlando by fellow Patriots Ed Ellis, Marc Megna, Garrett Johnson and Noel Scarlett on Monday, March 13, when offensive and defensive linemen, kickers and punters have to report for their orientation.
Morey, Ellis, Megna and Johnson will play for the Barcelona Dragons, while Scarlett will play for the Scottish Claymores.
