Alan Branch Strolls Through Patriots’ Locker Room; Signing Not Official

FOXBORO, Mass. — A 6-foot-6, 325-pound man who wore a Michigan sweatshirt and Detroit Tigers hat, answered to Alan and stopped at a locker with a No. 97 jersey hanging in it was seen in the New England Patriots’ locker room.

It’s safe to say Alan Branch has arrived at Gillette Stadium.

Branch briefly breezed through the Patriots’ locker room during media availability and politely declined to chat with reporters. Branch reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the Patriots on Tuesday, though his signing hasn’t yet been made official.

Branch didn’t practice with the Patriots on Thursday, and the team will have to cut a player from their 53-man roster before they officially sign the veteran defensive tackle.

Photo via Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports Images