Patriots ink Clayborn, Hill to deals
The New England Patriots bolstered their pass rush and backfield depth with the free agent signings of defensive end Adrian Clayborn and running back Jeremy Hill on Satur - day.
The Patriots also announced the signing of veteran of fensive tackle Matt Tobin.
Clayborn, 29, played the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and is coming off a career-high 9½-sack season in 20 17.The seven-year veteran has 30 sacks over 81 games with Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
New England had 42 sacks in 2017, tied for seventh-most in the NFL.
Hill, 25, is entering his fifthNFL season after spending his firstfour with the Cincinnati Bengals. A former second-round draft pick out of LSU, Hill played in only seven games in 2017 before suf fering a season-ending ankle injury.
Over his first three seasons, Hill had 2,757 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns in 47 games.
Hill joins a Patriots backfieldthat includes James White, Mike Gillislee and the recently re-signed Rex Bur - khead, who was Hill’ s teammate for three seasons in Cincinnati.
New England lost last season’ s leading rusher Dion Lewis to Tennessee in free agency.
Tobin, 27, spent last year with the Seattle Seahawks after playing his firstfour NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former Iowa standout entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013.
The addition of Tobin adds depth to a Patriots offensive line that lost longtime starting left tackle Nate Solder to the New York Giants in free agency.
BLOUNT JOINS LIONS
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions added depth in the backfield, signing LeGarrette Blount and re-signing Zach Zenner.
Detroit signed both players Fri - day to compete with Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick for carries this year.
Blount, an unrestricted free agent, ran for a team-high 766 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season last year in Philadelphia and scored three touchdowns during the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning run.
He previously played for the New England Patriots, who used to employ Detroit general manager Bob Quin and coach Matt Patricia.
Blount, who has also played fo r Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, has run for 5,888 yards and 51 touchdowns in his career, along with catching 54 passes for 387 yards and two scores.