ATLANTA -- Tight end Brian Kozlowski, regarded more for being a key role player than a major receiving threat for the Atlanta Falcons, re-signed for another season Monday.

Kozlowski, a nine-year veteran, signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $655,000, the NFL minimum for a player of his tenure. The contract includes a signing bonus of $25,000, and $100,000 of the base salary is guaranteed.

Because of a league rule instituted last spring, which grants a cap savings to teams that sign longtime veterans to minimum salary contracts, the Falcons will be charged just $475,000 for Kozlowski on the '03 spending limit.

Retaining the versatile Kozlowski was important to the Falcons, who lost No. 2 tight end Reggie Kelly to the Cincinnati Bengals as an unrestricted free agent last week. That left starter Alge Crumpler, a third-year veteran, as the senior member of a diminished tight end corps.

The Falcons are also interested in free agent Marco Battaglia, a journeyman veteran who was scheduled to visit with team officials Monday.

Kozlowski, 32, has played his entire career with coach Dan Reeves, first as a member of the New York Giants (1994-1996), then with the Falcons.

A former University of Connecticut standout, Kozlowski has started only 18 of 133 career games. He hasn't caught more than 15 passes in a season, but can play tight end, H-back and fullback, and is also solid on the special teams units. Kozlowski has 68 career receptions for 830 yards and eight touchdowns.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.