<p>FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots signed fullback Kyle Eckel to the active roster today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Additionally, the Patriots released linebacker Corey Mays.</p>
<p>Eckel, 25, was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 3, 2007. The 5-foot-11-inch, 237-pound fullback has not played in an NFL game. The Navy product was originally signed by the Patriots on April 29, 2005 and was waived by New England on Sept. 3, 2005. He was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 4, 2005 and spent the entire 2005 season and part of the 2006 season on the reserve/military exempt list. He was reinstated on Nov. 2, 2006 and spent the remainder of the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt Permission list. Eckel was released by the Dolphins on Sept. 1, 2007.</p>
<p>Mays, 23, is in his second NFL season after signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame on May 8, 2006. As a rookie with the Patriots last season, the 6-foot-1-inch, 245-pound linebacker played in eight regular-season games and three playoff contests after spending the first half of the 2006 season on New England¹s practice squad. Mays recorded two tackles (1 solo) and nine special teams tackles in the 2006 regular season and tallied a pair of special teams stops in the playoffs. He has played in one game this season and recorded one special teams tackle.</p>