The Patriots have re-signed 33-year old running back Kevin Faulk to a 1-year deal.  This was a smart move as Faulk still has a lot left in his gas tank.  Faulk played in 15 games for the Patriots last season and he carried the ball 62 times for 335 yards (5.4 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 37 passes for 301 yards (8.1 avg) with 1 TD grab last season.  His 2009 season didn’t end there however as he returned 5 punts for 31 yards (6.2 avg) and 6 kickoffs for 144 yards (24.0 avg).  Faulk has now played in 152 games in his career with the Patriots and he has carried the ball 839 times for 3,505 yards (4.2 ypc) with 16 TD runs.  He also has caught 418 passes for the Patriots in his career racking up 3,605 receiving yards (8.6 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  Faulk has also returned 99 punts for 932 yards (9.4 avg) and 181 kickoffs for 4,098 yards (22.6 avg) with 2 TD returns.  Faulk has made some huge plays in his career for the Patriots and it was smart to keep him on board for 2010.

The Patriots have signed 24-year old linebacker Marques Murrell.  Murrell played in 10 games for the Jets last season and he had 12 tackles and he forced 1 fumble.  In his two years in the NFL, Murrell has played in 22 games in which he has 21 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.  The price was right for the Patriots to take another player off the rival Jets.  Murrell will provide depth at linebacker and on special teams for the Patriots in 2010.

The Patriots have re-signed 28-year old cornerback Leigh Bodden to a 5-year, $28.5 million dollar deal.  Bodden played in 15 games for the Patriots last season in which he had 55 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble, 18 passes defensed and 5 interceptions (one returned for a TD).  Bodden has now played in 90 games in his NFL career and he has 346 tackles, 9 forced fumbles, 18 interceptions (one returned for a TD) and he has defensed 76 passes.  The Patriots were smart to lock up Bodden before other teams drove up the price on him as he is a fine CB.

The Patriots have released 30-year old TE Chris Baker.  Baker played in all 16 games for the Patriots last season and he caught 14 passes for 142 yards (10.1 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The Patriots won’t miss Baker much as they expected more from him than what they got last season. 

The Patriots have signed 35-year old WR David Patten to a 1-year deal.  Patten did not play last season.  He has played in 147 games in his NFL career and he has caught 324 passes for 4,715 yards (14.6 avg) with 24 TD grabs.  Patten played from 2001-2004 with the Patriots.  In those 4 years, Patten played in 54 games in which he caught 165 passes for 2,513 yards (15.2 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  Patten appears to be in the twilight of his career but I don’t see any problem in the Patriots giving him another chance.