National Football League

Patriots sign former Saints DE Will Smith

Published May. 5, 2014 8:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

Free agent defensive end Will Smith has signed with the New England Patriots.

The 32-year-old veteran of 10 NFL seasons with New Orleans was a first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2004. He's played in 139 NFL games with 120 starts and has 67 1/2 sacks, 20 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.

Smith was implicated in the Saints' bounty scandal in 2012 and was suspended for four games, although that ban was dismissed by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue. He spent the 2013 season on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered during training camp.

In 2006, Smith made the Pro Bowl and had a career-high 10 1/2 sacks.