FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed running back Frank Moreau today. The team also announced the releases of cornerback Ben Kelly.
Moreau, 26, has played in 14 games with one start in two NFL seasons, running the ball 75 times for 206 yards and five touchdowns. This past spring, he played for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe and gained 462 yards on 99 carries (4.7 avg.) with a pair of touchdowns. Moreau carries an NFL Europe roster exemption, meaning he does not count against the team's 80-man roster limit. The 6-foot, 223-pound back had his best NFL season while with Kansas City in 2000, when he saw action in 11 games and ran the ball 67 times for 179 yards and four touchdowns. His four scores were the most by a Chiefs rookie in 16 seasons. The Louisville product played in three games and started one contest for Jacksonville in 2001.
Kelly, 24, was claimed off waivers by the Patriots from the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 2, 2001. He played in nine games for the Patriots over two seasons from 2001-02, recording four tackles (3 solos) and a special teams tackle in his Patriots career. In 2001, he also returned kickoffs in two games, totaling seven returns for 123 yards. The University of Colorado product was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round (84th overall) of the 2000 NFL draft.
