<span>The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with unrestricted free agent WR David Patten. The announcement was made by Saints' Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.
Patten spent the 2006 season with the Saints after signing as an unrestricted free agent. The 5-10, 190-pound veteran of 11 NFL seasons caught 54 passes for 792 yards for a 14.7 receiving average last season, along with three touchdowns. Patten's 54 receptions were the third-most on the team while his 792 receiving yards were the second highest on the squad, and he registered three-100 yard receiving games. His top game in 2007 came on a Monday Night Football affair on December 10 at Atlanta when he recorded nine receptions for 122 yards and a score.
"David stepped into our lineup immediately last season and provided immediate leadership and he was a consistent and dependable target," said Loomis. "He is a consummate professional and his work ethic and leadership skills, coupled with the things he can do on the field made his re-signing a priority for us."
During his career Patten has caught 313 passes for 4,553 yards (14.5 average) and 23 TDs. He has played for the N.Y. Giants (1997-1999), Cleveland Browns (2000), New England Patriots (2001-2004) and Washington Redskins (2005-2006) prior to joining the Saints. He has started 70-of-the-142 career games he has appeared in and was an integral part of three Super Bowl championship seasons while with the Patriots.
Patten joins several other key members of the Saints that could have explored the free agent market, but instead opted to remain with the club. Patten joins LG Jamar Nesbit, C Jonathan Goodwin, LB Mark Simoneau, DT Brian Young, WR Devery Henderson and RB Aaron Stecker as players that have re-signed in recent days, along with the team's acquisition of LB Jonathan Vilma in a trade with the Jets on Friday.
In addition to Patten's agreement to terms on a contract, the Saints hosted free agent quarterback Trent Green today. Green, a two-time Pro Bowler, owns a 60.7 passer completion percentage, and has completed 2,228-of-3,668 passes for 27,950 yards and 162 touchdowns and 108 interceptions in 112 games (111 starts) over nine NFL seasons for the Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Chiefs and Dolphins.
Green was drafted in the eighth round (222nd overall) by the San Diego Chargers in 1993. The Indiana University product was released by the Dolphins on February 12, 2008.
