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Buckley Returns To New England

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:41 pm
by Jake
Buckley gets one-year deal, pending physical

Thursday, June 3, 2004

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Back for a third time, and seeking a second Super Bowl ring, unrestricted free agent cornerback Terrell Buckley has reached an agreement with the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on a one-year contract.

The 12-year veteran will undergo a physical exam next Monday, his 33rd birthday and, if he passes, will officially sign the deal. The contract calls for a $760,000 base salary, the NFL minimum for a veteran with 10 seasons or more in the league. Buckley and league sources have confirmed the pending reunion of the cornerback and the Patriots.

Still blessed with a big-play mindset, as evidenced by 47 career interceptions, Buckley remains one of the NFL's premier "nickel" cornerbacks. With Miami in 2003, he played in 16 games and started five, and had two interceptions and seven passes defensed. The former Florida State star has at least one interception for every season he's been in the league.

This marks the third time that Buckley will have signed a one-year contract with the Pats. He was a part of New England's Super Bowl title team in 2001, intercepting three passes that year, and playing splendidly in the title game against the Rams, when the Pats were in a "nickel" scheme virtually the entire contest. Then, after he was released by Tampa Bay in the summer of 2002, he re-signed with the Pats on another one-year deal.

His age aside, the man dubbed "T-Buck" was one of the top players still remaining in the unrestricted free agent pool. It was somewhat surprising that the Dolphins did not try to retain him, but Miami instead acquired former Carolina starter Reggie Howard to play as its "nickel" defender and also drafted cornerback Will Poole in the fourth round.

Buckley will be the third veteran corner signed by New England this spring, following the additions of Jeff Burris and Otis Smith. He provides the Pats another experienced corner in the event star cover man Ty Law, who wants his existing contract upgraded, does not report to training camp. But more important, he gives coach Bill Belichick and coordinator Romeo Crennel a proven "nickel" defender with a nose for the ball.

Among the other teams interested in Buckley, who actually agreed to the New England offer several days ago, were Arizona and Buffalo. He opted, though, to rejoin a team with which he is familiar and that will be the early favorite, certainly, to retain its title.

The first-round draft choice of Green Bay in 1992, and the fifth prospect taken overall in that draft, Buckley has played for the Packers (1992-94), Dolphins (1995-99 and 2003), Broncos (2000) and Pats (2001-2002). In addition to his 47 interceptions, which puts him among the active NFL leaders, he has 524 tackles and 159 passes defensed.

Buckley has appeared in 189 games with 131 starts.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.


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