Patriots bring Flutie back into the fold

Doug Flutie, 42, has signed a what appears to be a one-year deal with the New England Patriots just 24 hours after working out with the New York Giants, where he would have been reunited with his former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Boston College, Tom Coughlin.

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Flutie's signing was confirmed by his agent, Boston-based Kristen Kuliga.

"I know that Doug is really happy to be home again and be at home with his family," Kuliga told The Associated Press.

Flutie received a contract proposal late Thursday night from the Patriots after his workout with the Giants, who had also offered Flutie a contract. The Patriots had been contemplating signing Flutie for a few weeks, but the Patriots wanted to hold off as they assessed their crop of backups: Rohan Davey, Chris Redman and recently drafted Matt Cassel.

This is Flutie's second tour of duty in New England.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the team had nothing to announce. Coach Bill Belichick was at practice this afternoon and unavailable for comment.

Flutie, 42, played 11 NFL seasons, eight in the Canadian league and one in the USFL and was a fan favorite wherever he went. Although he still showed his trademark mobility even as he aged, the 5-foot-10 native of Natick was frequently pigeonholed as a backup to taller, more traditional quarterbacks.

Flutie is expected to fill that role for two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady.

Flutie has played for eight teams in three professional leagues during a 20-year career, but he is best remembered for one play in college: a desperation pass that beat Miami and helped him win the 1984 Heisman Trophy. He is still idolized on the Chestnut Hill campus, and the Heisman is the centerpiece of the school's new Hall of Fame.

After college, he went to the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and made his NFL debut with the Chicago Bears. He was with New England for parts of three season before starting an eight-year stint in the CFL, where he won the Most Outstanding Player six times and won three Grey Cup championships.

He returned to the NFL for three seasons with the Buffalo Bills and then went to San Diego, where he started 16 games in his first year and six in his next three.

Last season, he was 20-of-38 for 276 yards and a touchdown with the Chargers.

In his NFL career, Flutie has thrown for 14,686 yards, 86 touchdowns and 68 interceptions.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.