FOXBORO -- The Patriots are still trying to help replace Rob Gronkowski.
On the day before training camp, the team signed free agent Lance Kendricks and he should be a major factor at the tight end position, especially considering his experience in the league.
The 31-year-old has played eight NFL seasons, including the last two with Green Bay, which came following six years with the Rams. He finished last year with 19 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown. Kendricks' best season came in 2012 when he caught 42 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns.
When speaking to the media over the weekend, Kendricks was asked about his decision to sign with the Patriots.
"It kind of just timed up just right actually," he said. "New England was pretty much the only team that reached out. For me, it was an easy decision – play football or retire or whatever. I'm happy to be back out on the field. It feels good to be out here around a couple familiar faces, so it's fun."
Kendricks added: "This is a special place, obviously. This is a championship team. They know how to play football. They know how to win games. They know how to do it the right way, so it's a no-brainer."
With Benjamin Watson suspended the first four games, the team needed some veteran depth. With the addition of Kendricks, the position now has a depth chart of Watson, Matt LaCosse, Stephen Anderson, Ryan Izzo, Andrew Beck and Kendricks.
After a few days with his new team, the thing that has stood out the most to him is how direct Bill Belichick is.
"I think Coach Bill [Belichick] just sets the tone right away," Kendricks said. "Before we come out to practice he tells you what it is and what it should be and we come out here and we do it that way, and if it's not that way we've got to come out and fix it and we can't make a mistake more than once."
