SANDERS

The New England Patriots continued to add to their secondary yesterday, signing veteran cornerback Lewis Sanders.

The team also made official the signing of safety Tank Williams. Williams, who visited Foxboro on Tuesday, received a one-year deal.

Sanders, 29, has played eight seasons in the NFL. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2000; the Browns used a fourth-round pick on the 6-foot-1 defensive back from Maryland. Sanders spent four seasons in Cleveland, with 32 tackles and two interceptions in his final season there.

He then spent the next two seasons in Houston before signing with Atlanta before last season. Sanders played in 14 games last season before being placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury. He recorded 36 tackles; his best game was in Week Four, when he had seven tackles against his former team, the Texans.

Like the other secondary players New England has signed this week, Sanders has an injury history. He has played in 16 games just twice in his career, and has totaled 87 games in eight seasons. He also has value as a special-teams contributor.

smanza@projo.com