Patriots Sign 9-time Pro Bowl Safety

[theFRANCHISE]

Nine-time Pro Bowl safety John Lynch took a physical with the New England Patriots, who need secondary help after being hit by injuries.

Coach Bill Belichick, who rarely identifies players brought in for visits, said Thursday that he met Wednesday with Lynch and that the former Denver Broncos star was given a physical.

The Patriots and Lynch have agreed on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting.

Source: NFL.com

I guess the Patriots are that desperate for help. It's not that John Lynch is a particularly bad option for his skills so much as his age.

He had just come off two career-threatening concussions sustained in the 2006 season, which would explain his lack of playing time in 2007 -- after all, no coach in his right mind would risk any of his players' health with such a serious injury.

Although I understand his desire to play, Lynch falls in the same category as Trent Green in terms of veterans who need to retire for the sake of their families and loved ones. We don't need to see another Kevin Everett-like injury...

[Redreed]

I mean, I guess. Lynch is one of my favorite non-Raven players of all time. He is exciting to watch and even now, at whatever age he tackles people like a 25 year old man -out there flying around and sacrificing his body for maximum impact. He has been a good teammate by all accounts, was a stand up guy about the whole Tampa Bay ending and he has my respect even though I know he doesn't want or need it, my point is; guys like John Lynch deserve to decide when and how their career will end, not you or me.

[theFRANCHISE]

I mean, I guess. Lynch is one of my favorite non-Raven players of all time. He is exciting to watch and even now, at whatever age he tackles people like a 25 year old man -out there flying around and sacrificing his body for maximum impact. He has been a good teammate by all accounts, was a stand up guy about the whole Tampa Bay ending and he has my respect even though I know he doesn't want or need it, my point is; guys like John Lynch deserve to decide when and how their career will end, not you or me.

True, but my issue is, it's not as if his concussions were anything minor, y'know? To get ONE is bad enough, but to suffer TWO in the same season is pretty serious.

If he were younger, I'd still be concerned but probably not as worried. But to be in his mid-thirties (he'll be 37 this season) and to have suffered those concussions only two years ago, I'd be a little more hesitant to put him back on the field.

I've always thought he was a great player and a great person, but I'd hate to see all that get overshadowed if he were to get hurt more seriously as a result of those concussions, y'know?

Still, it's like you said, it's not up to either of us when and how his career will end.

[Jesse Conroy]

I was hoping we would pick him up... Turn him into a CB... lol

[mcgaheewillrunyourassover]

im a big fan of john lynch

why did he have to go to new england

he'll still be lightin RBs up in his 16th season

[Troy SmiTH Xx]

I don't think he'll help all that much, he's too old and been cursed with too many serious injuries to be any help to that New England Secondary.

[RavensIQ]

John lynch and Rodney Harrison...BIG TIME HITS. I'd be scared to catch a post route across the middle if I was a WR. I wouldn't want no parts in a Harrison Lynch sandwich.

[mcgaheewillrunyourassover]

John lynch and Rodney Harrison...BIG TIME HITS. I'd be scared to catch a post route across the middle if I was a WR. I wouldn't want no parts in a Harrison Lynch sandwich.

some hitting safeties help the run defense alot...others just prevent TDs

last year that was true of both lynch and harrison...their run defenses were awful