NFL notebook: Patriots sign kick returner Morton

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots signed kick returner Chad Morton yesterday. Morton, 28, injured his right knee last year and appeared in six games for Washington. He was released earlier in the month.

The 5-foot-8, 203-pound Morton has three career touchdowns on kick returns, including two in the same game in 2002, when he played for the New York Jets.

Morton averaged 26 yards per kick return and 12.8 yards per punt return that year.

Last season, Morton averaged 22.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns and 6.2 yards on 13 punt returns before damaging a ligament in his knee against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 31.

The world-champion Patriots didn't disclose terms of the contract in a news release. The Boston Globe reported Morton received a one-year deal worth $600,000 and can make another $600,000 in incentives. New England also announced the signing of guard Bryan Anderson, a free agent, and two draft picks, linebacker Ryan Claridge of UNLV and quarterback Matt Cassel of USC.

By The Associated Press and Bloomberg News