FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots re-signed cornerback Hank Poteat on Friday, bringing back a spare part from their last Super Bowl run.

Poteat, 28, has played in 10 regular-season games and five playoff games for New England.

With Tyrone Poole hurt and Ty Law gone for the 2004-05 playoffs, the Patriots signed Poteat for the postseason even though he spent most of the season taking classes at the University of Pittsburgh.

Poteat had three solo tackles in the playoffs, and New England won its third NFL title in four years.

Poteat played 41 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was released at the end of training camp in 2003. He was with Tampa Bay for one game that year and had a chance with the Panthers in 04 but was released during the preseason.