FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -For Dana Stubblefield, the most attractive inducement for becoming a member of the New England Patriots was honesty.

“I knew if I got in here, whatever was said to me before I signed was going to be the truth,” the 11-year veteran defensive tackle said Friday, his first day of training camp at Gillette Stadium.

Stubblefield, 33, is a three-time Pro Bowler and was The Associated Press NFL defensive player of the year in 1997, when he had 15 sacks for the San Francisco 49ers. He has since played for Washington and Oakland, missing half of last season with the Raiders because of a high ankle sprain.

After trying out with the defending Super Bowl champions last week, Stubblefield signed a one-year contract Thursday. He said he considers New England coach Bill Belichick a “a man of his word.”

“I’ve been hearing it from players who’ve played under him, played with him in the past, and players who are playing with him now,” he said. “These guys who I know will tell me the truth if I ask about a head coach.”

For Belichick, the admiration is mutual. “I always liked his toughness and his competitiveness,” the coach said.

Stubblefield was one of three players fined three game checks by the NFL for testing positive for the designer steroid THG. The fine will be based on last season’s salary. He was not suspended because THG was not added to the NFL’s banned substance list until after the tests were conducted.

He told the Patriots that his steroid use is a thing of the past.

“It’s behind me,” Stubblefield said Friday. “These guys were worried about it, but we worked it out and they understand where I’m coming from and what I’m doing, and what I’m all about.”

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman can play either end or nose tackle in the Patriots’ 3-4 defense. He has 428 career tackles, including 53.5 sacks, but his production has slipped in recent years.

Also Friday, the Patriots released backup quarterback Kurt Kittner, 13-year veteran offensive tackle James “Big Cat” Williams and first-year defensive tackle DeVonte Peterson.