FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Junior Seau is back with the New England Patriots, coming out of retirement for a third time to sign a contract yesterday for a 20th season as an NFL linebacker.

The signing of the 12-time Pro Bowl player was announced by Versus, the television network on which Seau has a show. The Patriots have not announced the signing, which had been expected, although the team said the 40-year-old had a physical and a workout last week.

"I hope at some point he will be" with the Patriots, club owner Robert Kraft said at the NFL owners meeting in Boston. "He's a unique individual. I'd love to have him part of our team for as long as he wants to."

Seau came out of retirement last year to play the final four games with the Patriots after playing 27 games with them in 2006 and 2007.

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Dolphins: Miami reserve running back Patrick Cobbs will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Cobbs led the Dolphins this season with 16 kickoff returns for a 22.6-yard average.