Pats activate long snapper, add 2 players

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - The New England Patriots activated long snapper Lonie Paxton from the physically-unable-to-perform list Monday and signed free-agent defensive lineman Eddie Freeman and free-agent wide receiver Kelvin Kight.

Paxton, signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent in April 2000, snapped on most of Adam Vinatieri's most important kicks, including the winner in the February 2002 Super Bowl win over the St. Louis Rams.

Freeman appeared in 20 games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2002-03 and played in NFL Europe in 2005-06.

Freeman was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft out of Alabama-Birmingham.

Kight originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Rams in 2004, was released by the Vikings last week. He has also been with the Packers and Jaguars.

and has played in just one NFL game.

The Patriots are thin at receiver with Deion Branch holding out of camp in a contract dispute.

, and second-round draft choice Chad Jackson and Bam Childress on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

The team also placed wide receiver Michael McGrew on the reserve/left camp list.