ALAMEDA, Calif. (March 23, 2006) -- The Oakland Raiders signed veteran cornerback Duane Starks, the second former New England defensive back they've acquired this week to bolster the secondary.
The Patriots released Starks on Feb. 25 after his lone season with New England ended in injury. He was placed on injured reserve Nov. 10 with a shoulder injury.
The Patriots acquired the 31-year-old Starks in an offseason trade with Arizona last year. He intercepted 25 passes in his first seven seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and Cardinals, but had no interceptions in seven games with the Patriots.
New England had envisioned Starks as a replacement for Ty Law, who left the Patriots after the 2004 season. Baltimore drafted Starks in the first round, 10th overall, in the 1998 draft.
Oakland added Tyrone Poole on March 20. Poole, an 11-year NFL veteran, played the last three seasons with the Patriots but was limited to six games the last two years because of injuries. He played only one game last season, the opener against Oakland, before being sidelined with an ankle injury.
The Raiders were looking for secondary help after cutting ties with Charles Woodson earlier this offseason. Poole will be added to a roster that includes three young cornerbacks in Nnamdi Asomugha, Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt.
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