Pats retain all-purpose offensive lineman Connelly

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Patriots have been re-signing key all-purpose players all week, and they continued to do so Thursday.

Greg Bedard of Boston.com reported that the Patriots have reached an agreement with offensive lineman Dan Connelly, who has played up and down the Patriots' often-shifting offensive line the past two years.

Connelly will return to the team to start at center, which, as Bedard noted, could end offensive lineman Dan Koppen's stint with the Patriots at nine years.

Connelly missed three games last season to a groin injury but started every other game, including New England's postseason contests.

Thursday, the Patriots also re-signed reserve defensive lineman Marcus Harrison and signed defensive back Steve Gregory, formerly of the Chargers, to a three-year deal.

Since New England's secondary kind of stinks, Gregory will get every opportunity to start.

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