The New England Patriots are stocking up on wide receivers who have experience in their complex offensive system.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday that wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth has agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Patriots.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter.

The Patriots also reportedly reached agreement last week with Brandon Lloyd, who played for current Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels when he was head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009 and the first 12 games in 2010. The Patriots have not officially announced signing Lloyd.

Stallworth spent one season with the Patriots in 2007 when they went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. He had 46 catches during the regular season. He had 17 receptions with Cleveland in 2008, two with Baltimore in 2010 and 22 with Washington last year.

He was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.

New England also has signed wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.

All three moves could spell the end of Chad Ochocinco’s career with the team. He signed a two-year contract before last season but struggled trying to learn the offense and finished with 15 catches in 15 regular-season games. The Patriots also have Deion Branch and Wes Welker, but neither is the deep threat they lacked last season.

Welker is a free agent, but was given the franchise tag and would bring compensation to the Patriots if another team signs him.

The Patriots announced Monday the signing of two free agents: defensive end Trevor Scott from the Oakland Raiders and cornerback Marquice Cole from the New York Jets.

Scott, Oakland’s sixth-round draft choice out of Buffalo in 2008, had 13 1-2 sacks in 58 games, including 16 starts, in four seasons with the Raiders.

Cole, who spent the last three seasons with the Jets, was undrafted coming out of Northwestern in 2007. He signed as a rookie free agent with Oakland, then moved on to Tennessee and New Orleans. In 37 games, including one start, he has two interceptions, including a 35-yard touchdown return.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Patriots are stocking up on wide receivers who have experience in their complex offensive system.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday that wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth has agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Patriots.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter.

The Patriots also reportedly reached agreement last week with Brandon Lloyd, who played for current Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels when he was head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009 and the first 12 games in 2010. The Patriots have not officially announced signing Lloyd.

Stallworth spent one season with the Patriots in 2007 when they went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. He had 46 catches during the regular season. He had 17 receptions with Cleveland in 2008, two with Baltimore in 2010 and 22 with Washington last year.

He was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.

New England also has signed wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.

All three moves could spell the end of Chad Ochocinco’s career with the team. He signed a two-year contract before last season but struggled trying to learn the offense and finished with 15 catches in 15 regular-season games. The Patriots also have Deion Branch and Wes Welker, but neither is the deep threat they lacked last season.

Welker is a free agent, but was given the franchise tag and would bring compensation to the Patriots if another team signs him.

The Patriots announced Monday the signing of two free agents: defensive end Trevor Scott from the Oakland Raiders and cornerback Marquice Cole from the New York Jets.

Scott, Oakland’s sixth-round draft choice out of Buffalo in 2008, had 13 1-2 sacks in 58 games, including 16 starts, in four seasons with the Raiders.

Cole, who spent the last three seasons with the Jets, was undrafted coming out of Northwestern in 2007. He signed as a rookie free agent with Oakland, then moved on to Tennessee and New Orleans. In 37 games, including one start, he has two interceptions, including a 35-yard touchdown return.

Read More: Tom Brady (QB – NEP), Vince Wilfork (NT – NEP), New England Patriots, Denver Broncos

New England Patriots fans can rest easy with the release of Friday’s injury report. While quarterback Tom Brady and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork were both limited in practice on Friday due to personal reasons, they are not listed on the official report that came out in the afternoon.

However, defensive back Patrick Chung did not practice at all this week due to his foot injury and will miss his sixth straight game this season, as he is listed as doubtful. Tackle Sebastian Vollmer is the only other player listed as doubtful.

Thirteen other players are listed as questionable, including wide receives Deion Branch and Wes Welker, running back Danny Woodhead and linebacker Brandon Spikes. Spikes was a teammate of Tim Tebow’s while in college at Florida.

Here is the full report:

For more updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this game, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Patriots blog Pats Pulpit. For news from around the NFL, visit SB Nation’s NFL news hub.

Read More: James Ihedigbo (DB – NEP), Tom Brady (QB – NEP), Vince Wilfork (NT – NEP), Deion Branch (WR – NEP), Wes Welker (WR – NEP), Danny Woodhead (RB – NEP), Matthew Slater (WR – NEP), Ryan Wendell (C – NEP), Pat Chung (FS – NEP), Sebastian Vollmer (OT – NEP), Brandon Spikes (LB – NEP), Devin McCourty (CB – NEP), Dane Fletcher (LB – NEP), Shane Vereen (RB – NEP), New England Patriots, Denver Broncos

The New England Patriots have quite a few players banged up as they prepare to travel to Denver to face the Broncos on Sunday. Wide receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch were among 12 New England players limited in Thursday’s practice due to injury.

The other players limited by injury: guard Dan Connelly, wide receiver Julian Edelman, linebacker Dane Fletcher, defensive backs James Ihedigbo and Devin McCourty, wide receiver Matthew Slater, linebacker Brandon Spikes, running back Shane Vereen, center Ryan Wendell and running back Danny Woodhead.

Quarterback Tom Brady and nose tackle Vince Wilfork also were limited, but for reasons not related to injury.

Free safety Pat Chung and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer were unable to practice for the second consecutive day.

For more updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this game, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Patriots blog Pats Pulpit. For news from around the NFL, visit SB Nation’s NFL news hub.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Maybe the most fitting omen that Sunday was not a typical day for the New England Patriots came midway through the first quarter.

Tom Brady was intercepted.

That hadn’t happened since Week 6, when Brady was intercepted twice during a mid-October loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He threw 339 passes without an interception, then as the Patriots marched inside the New York Jets’ 30-yard line tried to lob a soft screen pass over linebacker Calvin Pace for running back BenJarvis Green-Ellis.

David Harris picked off the pass.

“About the safest play in the playbook,” Brady grumbled after the Patriots’ stunning 28-21 loss in the AFC Divisional Playoff. “Not exactly the way we designed it.”

Harris returned the interception 58 yards. Although the Jets didn’t convert the turnover into points and Brady wouldn’t have another turnover, the Patriots blew an opportunity and the misfire captured a theme: Brady, the projected regular-season MVP, was in for a long day.

The Jets defense suffocated Brady with tight coverage and five sacks, and did not allow the NFL’s highest-scoring team to reach the end zone until 13 seconds remained in the third quarter.

With a consistent rushing game that produced 120 yards and second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez throwing for three touchdowns, the Jets (13-5) forced the Patriots into a game of catch-up.

The Patriots did not have that in them. They came up empty on one second-half drive that consumed 14 plays and nearly eight minutes. They settled for a field goal on another drive in the fourth quarter, when Brady’s final two throws landed on the turf.

“We were fighting hard to make yards,” said Brady, who passed for 299 yards and two TDs, the latter to Deion Branch with 24 seconds remaining.

“We made it a dogfight.”

It was quite the contrast to the last time these bitter AFC East rivals met. On December 3, the Patriots pulverized the Jets 45-3 behind Brady’s four touchdown passes and 326 yards.

This time, they were left to explain what went wrong. New England entered the playoffs with an eight-game winning streak and was the favorite to win Super Bowl XLV.

“There was a sign out there that said, ’0-0,’ ” Brady said, mindful of the notion that having the league’s best regular-season record did not matter. “That’s playoff football. It comes down to who makes the plays. We made way too many mistakes.”

In addition to Brady’s blunder, the Patriots were undone by dropped passes and a muff on a fake punt gone awry by Eugene Chung, the upback on the punt team.

“We just didn’t do enough things well to win,” said coach Bill Belichick. “That’s a tough way to end it.”

Stunned? Frustrated? Disappointed?

“All of the above,” receiver Deion Branch said in a somber locker room.

Explanations were similar throughout.

Said receiver Wes Welker, “We just didn’t execute well enough.”

From linebacker Jerrod Mayo, “We didn’t play Patriot football.”

It was that type of day. The Patriots were out of rhythm — and the Jets knew it.

“I sensed a group that had never really been in that situation,” Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson said of a rebuilt Patriots defense. “I sensed a group that for so long throughout the year, they were used to being up on people and their defense being able to do whatever they wanted to — getting turnovers and having their way.

“And then when things get tight, you see what you’re made out of. That’s kind of where we shocked them.”

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, January 12, 2011

By BRIAN MacPHERSON

Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO — Shola Branch burst into tears when she heard the news that her husband, Deion, had been traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the New England Patriots.

She wasn’t crying tears of joy, either.

“I was like, ‘Are you happy or what?’ ” Deion Branch said. “She’s like, ‘We have to up and move again?’ I’m like, ‘Baby, we’ve got to go. It’s time to go. I enjoyed my four years here, but it’s time to go. We need to move on.’

“She kind of straightened up, but she took it the hardest: ‘We have to move the kids and stuff?’ I’m like, ‘They’ll be OK. Trust me.’ ”

Even though his old Seahawks team is in the playoffs — and coming off a remarkable upset of the defending Super Bowl-champion New Orleans Saints — Deion Branch couldn’t be happier to be where he is.

For one thing, he’s fresh off a bye week that he helped the Patriots earn with the 48 catches he made in his 12 games after the trade. For another thing, he has been reunited with Tom Brady. Branch’s relationship with Brady has been so widely discussed that they’re both the butt of teasing in the locker room.

“We kind of joke about some of the articles written about (how) he and Tom just look at each other and know what the play is,” tight end Alge Crumpler said.

Just being back in New England, however, has dried the tears even Shola Branch shed.

Both the Patriots and the Seahawks are in the playoffs. Both have a shot at a Super Bowl trophy. But the culture of the two teams, in the experience of Branch, is vastly different.

Branch joined a veteran-laden team in New England in 2002 and won two Super Bowls in his first three seasons. He even won a Super Bowl MVP trophy in 2004. A contract dispute landed him in Seattle in 2006, with a team fresh off a trip to the Super Bowl the previous season. He’s now back with a completely overhauled New England team, but one with another shot at a Super Bowl.

The situations might seem similar. The contrast couldn’t have been more stark.

In Seattle, Branch said, all he heard about was the Super Bowl in 2005.

“There were times in Seattle where guys talked about the Super Bowl so much,” he said. “But you lost.”

Since his return to New England, he’s heard nothing about past Super Bowls — even the Super Bowls the Patriots won. No one has talked about 2007. No one has talked about 2004. No one has talked about 2001.

No one even wears their rings.

“We try not to focus on the stuff that happened in the past,” Branch said. “That’s why you don’t hear a lot of guys talking about the Super Bowl. … We’ve won in the past, but guys don’t harp on it. They don’t talk about it. That doesn’t matter anymore. The game is over.”

But it’s not just in his attitude that Branch has been a perfect fit since his return. He’s fit seamlessly into the scheme on the field, too.

In his first game back with the Patriots, Branch caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. Brady hit Branch on a comeback route on third-and-2 in overtime to set up the eventual game-winning field goal.

“In the second half he just went on a tear, catching balls, getting us down the field, getting ready for overtime and making plays,” Crumpler said.

Branch has had two 100-yard games this season — a 113-yard effort on Thanksgiving that featured two touchdown catches; and a 151-yard effort on a snowy day in Chicago in mid-December.

In contrast to Randy Moss, who provided a constant deep threat, Branch has complemented Wes Welker by providing much the same skill set. The two specialize in finding seams in the defense even when there don’t appear to be any — and Brady knows how to find them.

“No matter what the route, no matter what the coverage is, he always seems to do the right thing, make the right adjustment, make the right decision, make the right adjustment,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “That gives the quarterbacks a lot of confidence in him.”

When Moss played for the Patriots, the Jets lined up Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis against him, and essentially shut him down. But the Jets will have to decide whether to line Revis up against Branch or against Welker, and whoever isn’t against Revis has a chance to have a big day.

Branch, for his part, sounded optimistic about having a big day even if Revis defends him. Colts receiver Reggie Wayne caught just one pass against Revis on Saturday, but Branch didn’t attribute that all to Revis.

“I can’t sit here and say, ‘Yeah, he shut him down,’ ” Branch said. “There were some times that Reggie was open and he didn’t get the ball. There were other times that he was covered. It’s 50-50.”

In the four seasons Branch spent with the Seahawks, he never reached the heights he reached with the Patriots. His return to New England is a second chance he doesn’t intend to squander.

“The couple of years that I was over there we did OK, but we didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve,” he said. “Coming back here and having the opportunity to do the same thing is a plus.”

bmacpherson@projo.com

It appears New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s health has improved, as the team is no longer listing “flu” next to his name on Thursday’s practice participation report, as they did Wednesday. Brady was limited in practice — after missing Wednesday’s session — but by his usual right shoulder and foot ailments, not the flu.

The Patriots did push back Brady’s weekly news conference with reporters for a second consecutive day, but it was unknown whether the rescheduling was related to his illness. Brady is now scheduled to talk with reporters on Friday.

Athletic trainers were seen handing out bottles of hand sanitizer to players in the locker room on Thursday.

“We’ve been speaking about it a lot now, with the weather changing, there’s going to be a lot of illness going around,” wide receiver Deion Branch said. “We try to make sure we’re pumping a lot of fluids in our bodies, getting the proper rest, eating the right food.”

In addition to Brady, defensive linemen Myron Pryor (back) and Brandon Deaderick (shoulder) also returned to practice in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday’s session.

Meanwhile, Branch (knee), guard Dan Connolly (concussion), tight end Aaron Hernandez (hip), outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (groin), and defensive lineman Mike Wright (concussion) remained out of practice for the second straight day.

Outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (calf), who was limited in Wednesday’s practice, did not participate in Thursday’s session.

Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

It appears New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s health has improved, as the team is no longer listing “flu” next to his name on Thursday’s practice participation report, as they did Wednesday. Brady was limited in practice — after missing Wednesday’s session — but by his usual right shoulder and foot ailments, not the flu.

The Patriots did push back Brady’s weekly news conference with reporters for a second consecutive day, but it was unknown whether the rescheduling was related to his illness. Brady is now scheduled to talk with reporters on Friday.

Athletic trainers were seen handing out bottles of hand sanitizer to players in the locker room on Thursday.

“We’ve been speaking about it a lot now, with the weather changing, there’s going to be a lot of illness going around,” wide receiver Deion Branch said. “We try to make sure we’re pumping a lot of fluids in our bodies, getting the proper rest, eating the right food.”

In addition to Brady, defensive linemen Myron Pryor (back) and Brandon Deaderick (shoulder) also returned to practice in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday’s session.

Meanwhile, Branch (knee), guard Dan Connolly (concussion), tight end Aaron Hernandez (hip), outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (groin), and defensive lineman Mike Wright (concussion) remained out of practice for the second straight day.

Outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (calf), who was limited in Wednesday’s practice, did not participate in Thursday’s session.

Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is battling the flu, according to the team’s Wednesday practice participation report.

Brady did not practice, although that has been the norm for Wednesdays over the last two months. Brady is also listed on the participation report with right shoulder and foot injuries, as has been the case for the last couple of months.

The illness might explain why the Patriots pushed Brady’s regularly scheduled news conference from Wednesday to Thursday.

Elsewhere on the injury report, the Patriots specified that guard Dan Connolly sustained a concussion in Sunday’s win over the Green Bay Packers. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his 71-yard kick return.

Connolly was held out of Wednesday’s practice along with outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (groin), tight end Aaron Hernandez (hip), receiver Deion Branch (knee), defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick (shoulder), defensive lineman Myron Pryor (back) and defensive lineman Mike Wright (concussion).

Defensive lineman Ron Brace (concussion) had limited participation along with outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (calf).

Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

FOXBOROUGH — The New England Patriots (11-2) enter the home stretch of their season hosting the Green Bay Packers (8-5) with three games to go.

The Patriots clinched a playoff spot last week against the Chicago Bears.

The Packers hobble into Gillette Stadium after getting beat by the Detroit Lions last week 7-3, losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the process to his second concussion of the season. He was officially declared out of the lineup Saturday. Matt Flynn will start in his stead.

The last time the Patriots played the Packers, New England won handily 35-0 Nov. 19, 2006. Tom Brady threw four touchdowns and posted a 128.2 quarterback rating. The two teams are tied in their regular season series at four wins apiece, playing a total of 10 times. In fact, the last time the Patriots lost at home against an NFC opponent, it was a 28-10 loss to the Packers Oct. 13, 2002. It’s also the only home game at Gillette Stadium the Patriots have lost to an NFC opponent.

Kickoff: 8:20 p.m.
Records: Patriots 11-2; Packers 8-5
TV info: Ch. 7 (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth)

Projected starting lineups

Patriots offense
WR Wes Welker, WR Deion Branch, LT Matt Light, LG Logan Mankins, C Dan Koppen, RG Dan Connolly, RT Sebastian Vollmer, TE Alge Crumpler, TE Rob Gronkowski, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, QB Tom Brady.

Packers defense
LDE Ryan Picket, NT B.J. Raji, RDE Howard Green, LB Clay Matthews, LB A.J. Hawk, MLB Desmond Bishop, LB Erik Walden, CB Charles Woodson, CB Tramon Williams, SS Charlie Peprah, FS Nick Collins.

Patriots defense
LE Gerard Warren (questionable), NT Vince Wilfork, RE Brandon Deaderick, OLB Rob Ninkovich, ILB Jerod Mayo, ILB Gary Guyton, OLB Jermaine Cunningham, CB Devin McCourty (questionable), CB Kyle Arrington, S Brandon Meriweather, S Patrick Chung.

Packers offense
WR Greg Jennings, WR Donald Driver, LT Chad Clifton, LG Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, RG Josh Sitton, RT Bryan Bulaga, TE Andrew Quarless, RB Brandon Jackson, FB Korey Hall, QB Matt Flynn.

Inactives

Patriots: Taylor Price, Fred Taylor, Thomas Clayton, Rich Ohrnberger, Mark LeVoir, Myron Pryor, Ron Brace and Mike Wright.

Packers: Aaron Rodgers, Pat Lee, Josh Gordy, James Starks, Frank Zombo, Nick McDonald, Marshal Newhouse and Cullen Jenkins.

What will they ever do without Mr. Rodgers?
Can the Pack attack’s offense formulate without Aaron Rodgers? After his second concussion last week, Rodgers (3,289 yards, 23 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 98.5 QB rating) gives way to third-year pro Matt Flynn out of Lousiana State University. In a 7-3 loss to the Detroit Lions after Rodgers’ injury, Flynn completed 15 of 26 passes for 177 yards and one interception. Not bad, but definitely not good either. And make no mistake about it, the focus of attention will be on Flynn because the Packers do not run. The team is 24th in the NFL in rushing with Brandon Jackson (546 yards, 3 rushing TDs) taking over for the injured Ryan Grant in Week 1. Will Flynn have a tough time against the NFL’s 31st ranked pass defense? Let’s just hope Devin McCourty’s ribs aren’t too bruised.

The Pats are banged up
As mentioned above, cornerback Devin McCourty’s ribs were hurt in last week’s win against Chicago. He had limited participation in Thursday’s and Friday’s practices and is listed as questionable. Mike Wright is also listed as questionable with a lingering concussion, while defensive end Ron Brace (questionable) suffered a concussion last week. Tight end Aaron Hernandez appeared on the injury report Friday after missing practice due to the flu. While DE Gerard Warren had limited participation Friday after injuring his knee in last week’s win. Myron Pryor (back) is listed as questionable. Kyle Arrington (elbow), Tom Brady (right shoulder/foot), Deion Branch (knee) and Darius Butler (thigh) are all listed as probable.

For the Twitterati, get insight and updates from our writers at Gillette Stadium throughout tonight’s game: