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Tuesday, March 12
 
Patriots add WR Donald Hayes to arsenal

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

In a classic case of the rich getting even richer, the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots have landed the physical wide receiver they coveted by reaching contract agreement in principle with unrestricted free agent Donald Hayes, ESPN.com has learned.

Donald Hayes
Hayes

Agent Rick Smith confirmed the agreement and, while details were not yet available, it's believed Hayes will sign a two-year contract for about $4 million.

New England also reached agreements with a pair of former New York Jets defenders, versatile lineman Rick Lyle and safety Chris Hayes. The terms on those deals were not yet available.

A four-year veteran, Hayes played his entire previous career with the Carolina Panthers before he became eligible for unrestricted free agency this spring, and is one of the emerging young wideouts in the league and he has enjoyed two consecutive productive seasons. At 6-feet-4 and 208 pounds, the former University of Wisconsin star possesses prototype size for the modern game and he has deep speed as well.

Hayes, 26, will likely start opposite Pro Bowl wide receiver Troy Brown for the Patriots, and that will permit speedy David Patten to move to the No. 3 wideout spot. Hayes appears to be a perfect complement to Brown, who has evolved into the Patriots' "go to" receiver the last couple years. He provides New England the deep threat it missed because of the suspension, and then eventual trade, of disgruntled Terry Glenn.

"Donald is thrilled and excited to be coming to New England," Smith said. "The offensive coaches of the Patriots wanted a big guy and Donald will certainly be a great complement to Troy and David (Patten)."

In the past two years Hayes, who drew considerable interest in the opening days of free agency, has started 30 games and combined for 132 catches, 1,855 yards and seven touchdowns.

Those numbers are even more impressive given that Hayes played with rookie quarterback Chris Weinke in 2001 and sore-armed and often-sacked Steve Beuerlein in 2000. As is their habit, the Patriots appear to have landed a player at the optimum juncture of his career and at a price that is relatively palatable.

Hayes was a fourth-round choice in the 1998 draft and played sparingly his first two seasons. A knee injury to starter Patrick Jeffers provided him the chance to start and he took full advantage of it, becoming one of the NFL's best young receivers.

For his career, Hayes has 132 catches for 1,855 yards and seven touchdowns.

Lyle gives the Patriots another run-stopping lineman and Hayes has been a part-time starter and standout special teams performer. Lyle has started 68 games in eight seasons and Bill Belichick is very familiar with him.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from SportsTicker was used in this report.





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