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FOXBORO - The Patriots' reputation for a no-nonsense approach to winning was a big inducement for Kelley Washington to come on board.

"Starting from the coach, his whole mentality, he brings a certain type of professionalism, just a no-B.S. mentality and they're there to win," the latest addition to the Patriots' receiving corps said Tuesday. "Everybody, I believe, that's a part of that organization, from the personnel to the players to anyone associated there, they're used to winning and that's the No. 1 objective."

Washington, entering his fifth NFL season, was signed Tuesday to a contract that could have a lifespan of five years, or be as short as one - much like a similar contract that was finally officially signed by former Eagles' receiver Donté Stallworth on Tuesday.

Washington could earn up to $22 million over five seasons, although whether he remains a Patriot will be determined when the team decides what to do about a $4 million roster bonus that will be due him before next season.

In that time, Washington said he wanted to make the most of the opportunity he'll get by playing for a winning team. "You can't pass up being coached by Coach Belichick and getting balls thrown to you by Tom Brady," he said via conference call. "When it all came down to the pros and cons, New England was definitely my decision by far.

"They do a lot of things creatively offensively," he added, "and I believe with that type of system, it really gives you the best chance to excel personally and then also as a team. They've had a lot of success over the years with the things that they do offensively and I believe that when you have a quarterback like Tom, the ball can just go anywhere, you just utilize your talent so you can go out and make plays and help the team win."

Washington, 27, spent all four of his previous seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. The 6-foot-3, 216-pounder from Tennessee, a former collegiate teammate of Stallworth's, has played in 44 career NFL games with six starts and has caught 72 passes for 893 yards (12.4-yard average) and nine touchdowns.

Last season with the Bengals, Washington played in five games with one start and caught nine passes for 115 yards (12.8 avg.) and a touchdown. The former third-round draft pick in 2003 has been hampered somewhat by hamstring pulls during his career, but he said Tuesday that he's healthy and eager to get started in the Patriots' preseason training program next week.

"I'm going to go in there and bust my tail, work special teams, work on the offensive side of the ball, just do whatever to help the team win," he said. "I believe I started that mentality at a young age. I can't wait to get up there and get working with Tom … and just get into that team concept that the Patriots do so well when they bring guys in.

"It's all about team up there, and that's what's so special about the Patriots," he said.

Washington said he has a strong work ethic because he played for four seasons in the Florida Marlins' minor-league system before enrolling at Tennessee to play football.

"Every single day, I count my blessings and I'm just very thankful that I was able to experience minor league baseball and the grind of being in the minor leagues," he said. "It's definitely different from the major leagues … but there's just a mentality, a toughness to where I don't believe there is anything like minor league baseball.

"I always think about what it took to get to the NFL and what it takes every single day to maintain your body and everything that it takes to be a professional," he said. "But I think I learned there, becoming a minor-league player, just the humility, the maturity mentally and physically, from it."

Washington avoided the trouble with the law that seemed to be the norm for many of his Cincinnati teammates last year. He said he had no ill feelings toward the Bengals and was only accepting an offer for personal betterment. "I had a great time in Cincinnati," he said. "I really learned a lot and I believe that the organization gave me a great opportunity to help my career. It just comes to a point in time in someone's career where if there is a better opportunity out there, you have to move on.

"I did a lot there in Cincinnati and I'm ready to take my skills and my professionalism to New England," he said.