FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed RB Joseph Addai today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
In addition, the Patriots signed seven rookie free agents today - RB Brandon Bolden (Mississippi), DL Marcus Forston (Miami), DL Justin Francis (Rutgers), TE Brad Herman (Iowa), WR Matt Roark (Kentucky), OL Jeremiah Warren (South Florida) and OL Markus Zusevics (Iowa). Those seven players will join the seven players drafted by the Patriots in 2012 at a rookie mini-camp at Gillette Stadium that begins tomorrow.
Addai, 29, is a veteran of six NFL seasons with Indianapolis after joining the Colts as a first round draft pick (30th overall) out of LSU in 2006. He was released by Indianapolis on March 9, 2012.
The 5-11, 214-pounder, has played in 78 NFL games with 60 starts and has gained 4,453 yards on 1,095 carries and has 39 rushing touchdowns. He has also added 191 receptions for 1,448 yards and nine touchdowns. Addai has played in 10 postseason games and gained 621 yards on 158 attempts with four touchdowns.
Addai eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his first two seasons, gaining 1,081 yards as a rookie in 2006 and 1,072 yards during a Pro Bowl season in 2007. Last season, Addai played in 12 games with 11 starts and gained 433 yards on 188 carries with one touchdown and caught 15 passes for 93 yards.
RB Brandon Bolden, 22, finished his college career at Mississippi ranked second in school history in total touchdowns (33) and rushing touchdowns (27) and fourth in rushing yards (2,604). Bolden, 5-11, 215 pounds, played in 10 games with four starts in 2011 and totaled 96 carries for 462 yards and four touchdowns while serving as a team captain.
DL Marcus Forston, 22, was limited to three games last season at Miami due to an injury. Forston, 6-3, 300 pounds, played in 13 games with 12 starts in 2010 and registered 37 total tackles, 3.0 sacks and one interception.
DE Justin Francis, 23, appeared in 12 games in 2011 at Rutgers and tallied 60 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one interception and five passes defensed. Francis, 6-4, 275 pounds, appeared in seven games as a true freshman in 2007 before being redshirted in 2008.
TE Brad Herman, 22, played in 12 games with three starts as a senior at Iowa last year, finishing with eight catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Herman, 6-5, 255 pounds, was a four-year letter winner at Iowa.
WR Matt Roark, 22, appeared in all 12 games as a senior at Kentucky and finished with a career-high 36 receptions for 349 yards and his first career touchdown. Roark, 6-5, 214 pounds, led Kentucky to its first win over Tennessee since 1984 when he filled in at quarterback and completed four-of-six passes for 15 yards and rushed 24 times for 140 yards.
OL Jeremiah Warren, 24, started the final 38 games of his career at South Florida at guard. Warren, 6-4, 329 pounds, was named to the All-Big east second-team as a senior after starting all 12 games at guard.
T Markus Zusevics, 23, started at right tackle as a junior and senior at Iowa. Zusevics, 6-5, 300 pounds, was named honorable mention All-Big ten as a senior.
