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FOXBORO - When asked earlier in the week about all of the veterans that had departed from the Patriots between this year and last, linebacker Tedy Bruschi sounded a little lonely.

"(Larry) Izzo, (Mike) Vrabel, (Rodney) Harrison, (Matt) Cassel, they're all going to be missed," he said, "but someone else is here and someone else is ready to step in for them. Will it be as good as the job that they did? We just have to wait and see."

Perhaps Bruschi will be happy to see the return of a familiar face to the roster, following the re-signing of fullback Patrick Pass on Thursday. But the move probably wasn't made to soothe Bruschi's longing for his former teammates.

Since the departure of Heath Evans to the New Orleans Saints via free agency, the Patriots have been operating without a fullback in the classic sense. Pass, 31, isn't exactly that, either - he doubled as a tailback during his previous seven-year tenure with the Patriots - but he's closer to a lead blocker and protector of the passer than anyone else currently in uniform.

Terms of the agreement with Pass were not announced. In addition, following the close of the most recent segment of organized team activities, the Patriots released four players - defensive lineman Kenny Smith, linebacker Angelo Craig, running back Omar Cuff and safety Marcus McClinton. Pass played in 78 regular-season games for the Patriots, with 11 starts, from 2000-06, and also played in 10 playoff games with one start. Including one game with the New York Giants in 2007, he has recorded 1,096 career yards from scrimmage (128 rushes for 526 yards and 66 receptions for 570 yards) and has scored four career touchdowns. He has also returned 36 kickoffs for 745 yards (20.7 average) and has made 50 career special teams tackles.

Pass appeared in each of the Patriots' three Super Bowl victories and started at fullback in their Super Bowl XXXIX victory over Philadelphia.

The 5-foot-10, 217-pound running back was drafted by the Patriots out of Georgia in the seventh round (239th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft. He served as the Patriots' primary kickoff returner in all three 2001 playoff contests as New England claimed the Super Bowl XXXVI title, and went on to set a career-high in 2004 with 28 receptions for 215 yards while starting four of 14 games.

In 2006, Pass began the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He played in three games, recording six rushes for 21 yards and a pair of receptions for 24 yards before being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on Dec. 13.

Pass signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Houston Texans in July 2007, but was released a month later. He signed with the New York Giants on Nov. 20 and appeared the following week against Minnesota, recording one special teams tackle, but he was released two days later. He spent the entire 2008 season out of football.