FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Darrelle Revis says at least 26 teams called after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He chose the team whose coach he once called a "jerk." The New England Patriots announced Monday the signing of the three-time All-Pro cornerback who used that description of Bill Belichick in a word association game on ESPN in 2012. Revis and the coach called by many a defensive "genius" have discussed that. "Yeah, me and Bill, we had a conversation about it and its in the past," Revis said during a conference call. "Were both moving forward and were excited about working together and trying to win games." He also spoke with Tom Brady, the quarterback he faced twice each regular season with the New York Jets when both were healthy. "He did reach out this morning," Revis said. "It was a great conversation, but I cant speak on the details." The Patriots also announced they signed former Carolina wide receiver Brandon LaFell. He started all 16 regular-season games last season and made 49 catches for 627 yards and five touchdowns. The Panthers third-round draft choice in 2010 also had four catches for 24 yards in a 23-10 playoff loss to San Francisco. The 6-foot-2 LaFell adds size to a receiving group led by 5-10 Julian Edelman and 5-11 Danny Amendola. The Patriots have won the AFC East title in 10 of the past 11 seasons and reached the last three conference championship games. The chance to win again after a 4-12 season with Tampa Bay, more than the prospect of playing twice a year against the Jets -- the team Revis spent his first six years with -- attracted him. "That was never the factor," Revis said. "My thing is all about winning. I want to win. What better organization, the New England Patriots, to be a part of? If you look at their track record, New England has won year in and year out or been to the playoffs, had playoff berths. Right now in my career, I think this is great, to team up with Tom Brady and coach Belichick and the New England Patriots team and help them win games." The Patriots announced his signing four days after Revis business manager, John Geiger, tweeted that a contract agreement had been reached. The team did not announce details of the contract, reportedly for one year and $12 million. Revis was released last Tuesday by the Buccaneers before he was due a $1.5 million signing bonus after his only season with them. He had been traded by the Jets while still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He played just two games in 2012 but all 16 in 2013. He was in Foxborough when the Buccaneers and Patriots held joint practices during training camp. "I was rehabbing my knee but, at the same time, I got to see how New England really operates, how coach Belichick runs the organization," Revis said. "I was very excited and you can kind of see, even during training camp when we were up here, those guys are very disciplined." Toward the end of last season, "I probably felt my best as a football player," he said. Hell team this season with another newcomer at cornerback who also thrives in man-to-man defence. On Saturday, the Patriots signed Brandon Browner, who spent the past three seasons with the Seahawks. Browner missed the Super Bowl while serving a suspension for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy and must sit out the first four regular-season games in 2014. He can participate in off-season activities, including training camp and preseason games. "I dont think I want to go into the details for the simple fact that I want to keep that behind me and move on forward," Browner said during a conference call immediately after Revis spoke. "What I can say is that for the last few months, my future has been in a dark place. I made a few mistakes and thats one of the mistakes I regret. I look forward to righting my wrongs." At 6-4 and 220 pounds, he has the size and physical style to play safety, but said the Patriots havent talked to him about that. He played last season with one of the NFLs star cornerbacks, Richard Sherman, but didnt expect to return to Seattle. Now he gets to play with another standout. "Its going to be fun, not just with him but there are a lot of other (defensive backs) up there, very good football players," Browner said. "Revis, hes one of the guys I studied. ... Itll be fun to play with someone like that. I always need someone to push me, sort of like what I had with Richard Sherman and those guys." Cheap Old Skool . Cain departed in the fourth inning of a 10-5 loss to the Pirates on Thursday. X-rays on Cains bruised forearm were negative. He was hit when Sanchez led off the fourth with a groundout. Old Skool Clearance . The right-hander said he threw about 30 pitches in a routine bullpen session Sunday at Yankee Stadium, his final hurdle before starting Tuesday night at Tampa Bay. http://www.cheapoldskoolchina.com/. The two-time former Formula One champion downplayed his third-place finish three weeks ago in China and said progress is going slow for Ferrari as it tries to make up ground on Mercedes. Cheap Old Skool From China .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart. Discount Old Skool . The 29-year-old Mills started three games for Oakland this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.41 earned-run average. He opened the season appearing in 14 games and making 12 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers triple-A affiliate in Nashville, posting a 4-2 record with a 1.MONTREAL - Lawyers have finished presenting evidence at the civil trial of retired hockey great Guy Lafleur.Final arguments will take place Wednesday in a case that has the former Montreal Canadiens star suing the Crown and Montreal police for $2.16 million over what he deems an unjustified and exaggerated arrest.Lafleur was arrested in 2008 and found guilty in 2009 of giving contradictory testimony at his sons bail hearing on sex charges.TThe conviction was overturned on appeal in 2010.ddddddddddddLafleur claims his reputation was tarnished by a heavily reported arrest warrant issued by authorities and that he suffered financial losses as a result.The police and Crown maintain they were justified in proceeding with the warrant given the seriousness of the rare offence.Quebec Superior Court Justice Andre Wery is hearing the case, which is into its third week. 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