Patriots’ restricted free-agent Randall Gay yesterday officially signed his one-year, $1.3-million contract, a move confirmed by his agent, Albert Elias.

The signing was a mere formality, since the deadline for restricted free agents to sign with other teams had passed weeks ago.

The 25-year-old cornerback has played in just eight games over the last two seasons, enduring ankle and hamstring injuries in that time.

Still, the Patriots thought enough of Gay — known to teammates as “Blue,” a nickname from his upbringing in Louisiana — that they tendered the formerly undrafted player at the second-round level. Gay started in Super Bowl XXXIX against Philadelphia as a rookie.

That meant that if another team made Gay a contract offer and New England did not match it within seven days, the Pats would have received a second-round draft pick in last month’s NFL Draft from the team that signed Gay.

Gay did visit the Jets — coached by former Patriots’ defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator, Eric Mangini — but left New York without a contract offer.

With Gay now officially in the fold, the Patriots have a baker’s dozen of players on the roster capable of playing corner: Gay, Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Eugene Wilson, Tory James, Chad Scott, Eddie Jackson, Antwain Spann, Willie Andrews, Gemara Williams, and rookies Brandon Meriweather, Mike Richardson and Larry Anam.

Samuel, who is coming off a career year with 10 interceptions and two more in the postseason, has been designated as New England’s franchise player for this season, but not only has he not signed the one-year tender, talks between his agents and Patriots brass have been at a standstill for some time.

smanza@projo.com