NFL | Report: Linebacker Junior Seau, 40, returns to New England Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Junior Seau is back with the New England Patriots, coming out of retirement for a third time to sign a contract Tuesday for a 20th season as an NFL linebacker.

The signing of the 12-time Pro Bowl player was announced by Versus, the television network on which Seau has a show. The Patriots have not announced the signing, although team officials said he had a physical and a workout last week.

"I hope at some point he will be" with the Patriots, owner Robert Kraft said. "He's a unique individual. I'd love to have him part of our team for as long as he wants to."

Seau, 40, should have a better chance of standing up to running backs than he did to a rodeo bull, which knocked him down on one of the episodes of "Sports Jobs with Junior Seau."

Seau came out of retirement last year to play the final four games with the Patriots, after playing 27 games for them in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

A week before this season, Seau said New England would be the only team he would consider playing for and would be willing to play up to six games.

The Patriots (3-2) have 11 games left.

"I'm very fortunate and honored to be involved with two class organizations — the New England Patriots and Versus," Seau said Tuesday on the network's Web site. "I want to thank the management of both for making my return to the NFL with the New England Patriots a reality."

The 10-episode series begins Dec. 2. Among Seau's activities are riding a Zamboni at a hockey game between the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, working as a ball boy along the left-field line for the Los Angeles Dodgers and carrying a golf bag as an LPGA caddy.

Seau first retired in August 2006 after 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers and three with Miami.

"I'm not retiring. I am graduating. Today is my graduation day," he said then. "Retirement means that you'll just go ahead and live on your laurels and surf all day in Oceanside (Calif.). It ain't going to happen."

Less than a week later, Seau signed with the Patriots.

Notes

• The Baltimore Ravens have signed former Super Bowl hero David Tyree, who played in 73 games for the New York Giants before being cut last month. Tyree is expected to contribute to special teams, and could see time at wide receiver.

Tyree made one of the most memorable catches in Super Bowl history in 2008 against New England, pulling down a 32-yard pass on third-and-five by trapping the ball against his helmet. The reception kept alive a drive that resulted in the winning touchdown.

Tyree, 29, missed last season with a hamstring injury and this summer missed two exhibition games because of various injuries.

• The Miami Dolphins have lost an important contributor to their Wildcat package.

Reserve running back Patrick Cobbs will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his left knee, coach Tony Sparano said. Cobbs was hurt on a carry in the fourth quarter of Monday night's 31-27 victory over the New York Jets.

Cobbs was a mainstay in the Wildcat, which uses three running backs. He had a 53-yard touchdown catch and a 44-yard run from the formation last season.

• Fergie might soon be on the Dolphins' bandwagon as a limited partner.

NFL owners have approved the Black Eyed Peas singer as a part owner, but the team has yet to complete an agreement with her, Dolphins chief executive officer Mike Dee said.

• Pittsburgh defensive end Aaron Smith has a right-shoulder injury that coach Mike Tomlin said "potentially could be significant."

Smith was injured Sunday in Detroit. Steelers officials said they are not yet certain how long one of their most reliable and productive players will be out, although the defending champions apparently are anticipating an extended absence.

The only players on the roster who have been with the Steelers (3-2) longer than Smith, 33, are wide receiver Hines Ward and defensive back Deshea Townsend.

Tomlin said Travis Kirschke, Nick Eason and Ziggy Hood would be used in various situations in Smith's place.