The Patriots have announced that they have signed David Patten, who was a hero on New England’s first Super Bowl championship team.

Patten spent last season out of football after he failed to make the Cleveland Browns’ opening-day roster.

Patten played 54 regular-season and six postseason games for the Patriots from 2001 to 2004. In the march to the 2001-02 Super Bowl championship, Patten had touchdown catches in both the AFC Championship Game, against the Steelers, and the Super Bowl, against the Rams (right). Patten also has the distinction of being the receiver on the longest pass play in team history, a 91-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady on Oct. 21, 2001, at Indianapolis.

Patten is part of the Patriots’ franchise record for longest play from scrimmage, as he was on the receiving end of a 91-yard catch-and-run score from Tom Brady against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 21, 2001.
In his career, Patten has recorded 324 receptions for 4,715 yards and 24 touchdowns. Patten last saw NFL action with the New Orleans Saints, catching 11 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown in five games in 2008.

The Patriots announced this afternoon via their Twitter page that they have re-signed veteran wide receiver David Patten. The immensely likeable Patten, who spent 2001 through 2004 with New England, was a part of three Super Bowl champions.

The 35-year-old, David Patten, has been signed by the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The wide receiver already had a four-year tenure with the Patriots back in 2001 to 2004.

The best season of David Patten’s 12-year career also came in New England in 2004, when he had 800 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.

In all, Patten played in 54 regular-season games with 44 starts for the Patriots from 2001-04, and also played in six postseasons games with three starts during his tenure in New England. He caught 165 passes for 2,513 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular-season and added 15 receptions for 174 yards with two touchdowns in the postseason for the Patriots.