Benjarvus Green Ellis

Two of the Patriots' free agents are bound for new teams: running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and defensive end Mark Anderson. Green-Ellis signed a three-year deal with the Bengals, ending his time with New England. An undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss in 2008, Green-Ellis worked his way from the practice squad to contributor to starter, becoming the first Patriots player to record a 1,000-yard season since the days of Corey Dillon, when he totaled 1,008 in 2010. Last year, Green-Ellis was again New England's leading rusher, though the rise of rookie Stevan Ridley and the Pats'...

The Patriots have agreed to a contract with former Colts running back Joseph Addai, according to a league source. Terms were not disclosed. Addai, 29, was one of three veteran running backs - also Ryan Grant and Tim Hightower - to visit the team recently. The Patriots need a veteran back to aid second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen after BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed with the Bengals. The Patriots also signed undrafted Mississippi running back Brandon Bolden.

The Patriots have been bulking up since the start of free agency. On Wednesday, they added one player but lost two more who had starting roles in their run to the Super Bowl. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis left for the Bengals and defensive end Mark Anderson joined the beefed-up Bills, who recently signed star defensive end Mario Williams. The Patriots also signed defensive back Will Allen, who was released by the Dolphins. Green-Ellis signed a three-year deal, and Anderson got a four-year contract.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff The Patriots have agreed to a contract with former Colts running back Joseph Addai, according to a league source. Terms were not disclosed. Addai, 29, was one of three veteran running backs, along with Ryan Grant (Packers) and Tim Hightower (Redskins), to visit the team recently. The Patriots need a veteran running back to aid second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen after BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed with the Bengals. The Patriots signed Mississippi running back Brandon Bolden to a free-agent contract after the draft.

FOXBOROUGH - Robert Kraft stood surrounded by media in the Patriots locker room following yesterday's 23-20 victory over the Ravens in the AFC Championship game. The Patriots owner had the Lamar Hunt Trophy cradled in his left arm. His right arm was draped around the shoulder of his 15-year-old grandson, Harry, whose job it seemed was to tether his emotionally drained grandfather and keep him from floating away amid the jubilation after the Patriots advanced to their seventh Super Bowl and sixth of the Kraft Era. He was asked about the touching gesture he made to his late wife,...

FOXBOROUGH - Next Sunday, amid all the Super Bowl pomp and ceremony, Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork will share a pregame ritual with owner Robert Kraft. Two kisses. One on each cheek. For the super-sized player and the owner, it will be an emotional moment very different from all that will follow on the field. "I used to give Myra Kraft a kiss before every game," said Wilfork. "Now, he gets two kisses - one for him and one for Mrs. Kraft. I always do it, before every game.

INDIANAPOLIS -- On one last Hail Mary try, Tom Brady heaved it up for his two star tight ends in the end zone. Neither Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez, who both got a hand in the play, could come down with it. The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI, the second time the Giants beat the Patriots in the last four years in the NFL's title game. Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw scored the go-ahead touchdown with 0:57 left in the game. 0:35 4th quarter: Giants 21, Patriots 17 -- Justin Tuck just sacked Tom Brady on...

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff The Patriots have agreed to a contract with former Colts running back Joseph Addai, according to a league source. Terms were not disclosed. Addai, 29, was one of three veteran running backs, along with Ryan Grant (Packers) and Tim Hightower (Redskins), to visit the team recently. The Patriots need a veteran running back to aid second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen after BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed with the Bengals. The Patriots signed Mississippi running back Brandon Bolden to a free-agent contract after the...

The New England Patriots have re-signed running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Green-Ellis was a restricted free agent, but is staying with New England, where he spent his first three seasons after making the club as an undrafted free agent. Green-Ellis started 11 games last season and ran for 1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns. New England also signed offensive linemen Chris Morris and Jonathan Compas and rookie free agent running back Richard Medlin. The team released running back Thomas Clayton and rookie offensive linemen Mike Berry.

The Patriots have announced their inactive players for today's game and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who returned this morning from Florida after attending his father's funeral Saturday, is among the seven players who will not play today. He is a healthy scratch. Also a healthy scratch is running back Stevan Ridley, who fumbled twice in the last two games, starting in Week 17 over veteran back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Also inactive is OL Sebastian Vollmer, OL Donald Thomas, LB Gary Guyton, RB Shane Vereen and QB Ryan Mallett.

After an eventful and surprising first round of the draft for the Patriots, Round 2 will kick off tonight at 7 p.m. After that wild and crazy Bill Belichick traded up twice six spots in the first round, who knows what the man is capable of tonight? He has picks 48 and 62, and that's it for the draft. Does he have a golf game lined up on Saturday and none of us need to show up for the final day? We'll have to see. I would guess they trade one of the picks to gain a few more. Beat writer Shalise Manza Young is hearing the Patriots will be on the lookout for a defensive back –...

The New England Patriots have re-signed wide receiver Deion Branch and signed free agent fullbacks Tony Fiammetta and Spencer Larsen. Branch had 51 catches for 702 yards and five touchdowns last season. He was drafted by the Patriots in 2002, traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2006, and re-acquired in 2010. He is a holdover in a deep wide receiver corps that added free agents Brandon Lloyd, Donte' Stallworth and Anthony Gonzalez in the offseason. New England's top wide receiver is Wes Welker, who has been given the franchise tag requiring any other team that...

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Bill Belichick met with reporters Tuesday for the first time since Super Bowl XLVI, taking part in the AFC coaches' breakfast at The Breakers resort, where the annual NFL meetings are being held. Initially, Belichick's comportment indicated that he'd rather be anywhere else, with no fewer than a dozen reporters waiting for him. It perhaps didn't help that the first question came from a New York reporter who wanted his thoughts on Tim Tebow being traded to the rival Jets.

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Bill Belichick met with reporters Tuesday for the first time since Super Bowl XLVI, taking part in the AFC coaches' breakfast at The Breakers resort, where the annual NFL meetings are being held. Initially, Belichick's comportment indicated that he'd rather be anywhere else, with no fewer than a dozen reporters waiting for him. It perhaps didn't help that the first question came from a New York reporter who wanted his thoughts on Tim Tebow being traded to the rival Jets.

Patriots' owner Robert Kraft met with reporters here at The Breakers for about 15 minutes, after one of the many meetings he'll attend this week at the NFL's annual meetings. He touched on a wide range of topics, both those specific to his team and others pertaining to the league. Here's a sample, mostly Pats-centric: On Tim Tebow being in the AFC East as a member of the Jets: I think it's exciting; I think it's a lot of fun. You know, the NFL is about rivalries, and now, I think having Peyton Manning coming back — I'm glad he's...

Sprinkling the infield with a little sunshine, a little rain, and a whole lot of fertilizer ... In the wake of their collapse, beating up on the New York Jets is the fashionable thing to do, just as it was to beat up on the 2011 Red Sox. The teams share some similarities, and they still share them entering their respective 2012 seasons. Which is why neither should be dismissed. Let's start with the Jets, who are now being mocked for being so downright stupid as to take on Tim Tebow, whom they acquired from the Denver Broncos for essentially a...

By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff INDIANAPOLIS -- Running back Kevin Faulk highlights the list of Patriots inactive players for Super Bowl XLVI. Faulk, the 13-year pro who started the year on the physically unable to perform list, returned in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That was the most action he saw the entire year, playing out the season in a reserve role behind rookie running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen in addition to BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.

The Patriots have agreed to a contract with former Colts running back Joseph Addai, according to a league source. Terms were not disclosed. Addai, 29, was one of three veteran running backs - also Ryan Grant and Tim Hightower - to visit the team recently. The Patriots need a veteran back to aid second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen after BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed with the Bengals. The Patriots also signed undrafted Mississippi running back Brandon Bolden.

By Tony Massarotti, Globe Columnist Sprinkling the infield with a little sunshine, a little rain, and a whole lot of fertilizer ... In the wake of their collapse, beating up on the New York Jets is the fashionable thing to do, just as it was to beat up on the 2011 Red Sox. The teams share some similarities, and they still share them entering their respective 2012 seasons. Which is why neither should be dismissed. Let's start with the Jets, who are now being mocked for being so downright stupid as to take on Tim Tebow, whom they acquired from the Denver Broncos for essentially a...

Even though the Patriots have signed Brandon Lloyd and Donte' Stallworth in the last week, it always seemed there would be room for Deion Branch. Thursday, the 32-year-old wide receiver agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the team - and the quarterback - with which he's enjoyed his greatest success. Branch took to his Twitter account to share his thoughts: "It's truly an honor and a blessing with [the] Patriots next year. Can't wait to get back in the swing of things.