BC-FBN–Patriots Moves,0116

Patriots sign veteran lineman

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FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots on Tuesday signed free agent offensive lineman Bob Hallen, who spent the past two seasons with the San Diego Chargers.

Hallen, 29, is entering his seventh NFL season. He played his first four years with the Atlanta Falcons, who drafted him out of Kent State in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Hallen, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound Ohio native, was injured most of last season. He played three games before the Chargers placed him on injured reserve Oct. 8 with a torn pectoral muscle.

AP-ES-05-11-04 1557EDT