The Patriots landed a very sturdy defensive lineman to create some momentum in free agency.
New England signed defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene to a three-year contract worth nearly $12 million, according to a source. The 6-foot-4, 292-pounder has been a very disruptive pass rusher for some good defensive lines in Cincinnati.
Fanene is a tough player who can line up at just about any position on any defensive front, with the exception of nose tackle. He had six sacks in 2009 and 6.5 sacks in 2011, but he missed 14 games in 2010 due to injury.
Fanene doesn't deserve nearly the amount of hype that someone like defensive end Mario Williams has gotten, but the former Bengal shapes up to be a really solid fit for the Patriots. He's tough, dependable and versatile, and he'll be the rugged player that a successful defensive line needs.
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