Seau returning to the Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Linebacker Junior Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, has re-signed with the New England Patriots, the NFL team said Friday.

The 39-year-old Seau will be in his 19th NFL season. He played in 16 games for New England last year and spent the off-season recovering from surgery on a torn rotator cuff. He had retired in August 2006 but signed with the Patriots four days later.

Seau also played for the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins in his 257-game NFL career. He has 1,870 tackles, 56.5 sacks, 18 interceptions and 17 fumble recoverie.

San Diego made Seau the fifth overall pick of the 1990 draft. He spent 13 seasons with the Chargers before being traded to the Dolphins, which whom he played three years.

Seau was a Pro Bowl pick each season 1992 through 2002 for San Diego and again in 2003 while in Miami. Injuries slowed his play in Miami and led to his first retirement.

To make room for Seau on the roster, the Patriots placed linebacker Adalius Thomas, out with an arm injury, on injured reserve.