The New England Patriots finally made a free agent signing.
The Patriots have locked up long snapper Danny Aiken to a one-year deal, a source told ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. Aiken was set to be a restricted free agent. Signing Aiken before Tuesday — the start of free agency — allows the Patriots to avoid putting a restricted free agent tender on him.
Aiken has been the Patriots’ long snapper for three seasons since being claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Bills in September 2011.
The Patriots have exclusive negotiating rights with their unrestricted free agents, including Julian Edelman, Aqib Talib and LeGarrette Blount, until Saturday at noon.
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