Foxboro, MA (Best E Casino) - The New England Patriots signed journeyman free agent linebacker T.J. Slaughter on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Slaughter, 30, last played in 2006 for San Francisco, logging 12 special-teams tackles in 10 games for the 49ers. The Southern Miss product, a third-round selection by Jacksonville in 2000, missed all of last season with a torn tendon in his left ring finger.

Productive for the first three seasons of his career, with 10, 92, and 106 tackles in 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively, Slaughter was released midway through the 2003 season, and caught on with the Ravens. He spent 2004 in Baltimore, where the 5-foot-11, 233-pounder saw limited action.

Slaughter also played for the Saints in 2005 before landing in San Francisco in 2006.