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FOXBORO - This year's carbon-dated addition to the Patriots' roster is apparently safety John Lynch.

The NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported Thursday afternoon that the Patriots had reached agreement with the nine-time Pro Bowl participant, signing him to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. There had been no confirmation of the deal by the Patriots by the end of practice Thursday (around 5 p.m.), but there seemed to be little reason to doubt the report of the NFL's broadcasting arm.

Even Patriots' coach Bill Belichick jumped upon the Lynch bandwagon earlier Thursday, addressing published reports of Lynch's Wednesday visit to Gillette Stadium without having to be asked.

"I know there are some reports out there about John Lynch," Belichick said in the opening remarks of his daily press conference. "I can tell you that I met with John yesterday. He came in, we talked and he took a physical. But right now he is not under contract with the Patriots.

"Until he is, I won't have any further comment on that other than what I just said, that he was here," he said. "If and when that happens, then we will address it but until then, I really don't have any other comment on it." Lynch, 36, would be entering his 15th NFL season. The Patriots have been slowed by injuries to their defensive backfield in this training camp, losing safety Tank Williams to a knee injury in their 16-15 loss to Baltimore in the preseason opener a week ago, and with James Sanders missing considerable practice time due to an undisclosed injury.

Lynch, who spent his first 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, played every snap in Denver's last three games in 2007, but earlier in the season, he was being taken out on passing downs. He asked for and received his release by Denver coach Mike Shanahan late last month, figuring that he would not be able to beat out Marlon McRee, who started all 16 games for San Diego last season.

The Stanford product made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons with the Broncos. If his signing with the Patriots is confirmed, it will give them two safeties entering their 15th seasons, the other being Rodney Harrison.

Minor moves

The Patriots confirmed two other minor roster moves Thursday, signing rookie offensive lineman Stephen Sene and releasing first-year wide receiver Chris Dunlap.

Sene, 24, was originally signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Liberty University. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder began his collegiate career by spending two years at South Carolina before transferring to Dodge City Community College and then to Liberty.