The Patriots have signed former Browns wide receiver Kenny Britt to a two-year deal, as first reported by Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The team confirmed the move in a press release on Wednesday.
Britt visited the Pats on Tuesday and it didn’t take long for the two sides to get down to brass tacks. Rapoport hears that New England was Britt’s preferred landing spot. 
The Patriots stood out as a strong contender to land Britt after he cleared waivers. After all, the Patriots have an affinity for ex-Rutgers players (likely fueled by their connection to former RU head coach Greg Schiano) and they have a clear need at receiver with multiple injuries in that unit.
Bill Belichick also has a track record for getting the most out of players with perceived attitude problems. Back in 2007, many in the football world figured that Randy Moss‘ best days were behind him after a rocky stint in Oakland. For the low price of a fourth-round pick, the Patriots wound up with one of the game’s most lethal offensive weapons. Britt does not have the talent of Moss in his prime, but he has demonstrated game-breaking ability in the past. Britt was an abject bust for the Browns, and an expensive one at that. Still, he’s just one year removed from a 1,000+ yard campaign with the Rams.
If he can quickly familiarize himself with the playbook, Britt could be in for a prominent role right off of the bat. Top targets Malcolm Mitchell and Julian Edelman have been parked on IR, leaving Britt an opportunity to crack the rotation. Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Phillip Dorsett, and Matt Slater currently stand as the team’s top five receivers.
The Patriots, who fell to 10-3 after being upset by Miami, are seeking to lock down a first-round bye in the final three games of the season. Meanwhile, Britt’s former team continues to look for its first win of the 2017 season.
In related moves, the Pats signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois and cut wide receiver Bernard Reedy. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Marcus Cannon has been placed on IR.
Shocking…not
Saw this coming. Watch him do great for them
Interesting pickup.
At a certain point we have to stop giving Belichick credit for being amazing at harnessing difficult personalities. Moss and Dillon worked out and not much else, while countless other teams have done the same with guys.
With how much people dwell on mistakes of the Pats, I’m surprised people dont bring up the fails of the Ochocinco, Haynesworth, etc way more often.
Fails? really? There was little to no investment in any of those players you mentioned. There is a big difference in a player not working out and fails.
Reviewing where they often draft and how they often pick up the scraps and castoffs from other teams and still win every year is not a fail. Not even close.
Water sucks! It really, really sucks!
It’s not like he’s hurting the team by taking this chance.
Legarrette Blount , Aquib Talib are also a couple of players who had troubles around the league and played great for the Pats
Yikes guys. I didn’t say it was a bad move or he should stop trying. It’s a good move.
Also, nitpicking between an experiment failing and not working out is just weird. Both phrases correctly incorporate the intention of my post.
Big surprise
With Malcolm Mitchell not being healthy enough to return from the IR, this was the perfect move for the Pats. If he works out or Mitchell and/or Edelman are slow to come back from their injuries next year, they have him for insurance at fairly cheap money. We just have to hope his has the intelligence and willingness to learn the Pats system. We don’t need another Ochocinco, Reggie Wayne or Donald Hayes.
If they make this guy great, or even good, it will be a miracle. And one that should be applauded. Huge underachiever. He doesn’t deserve to play in NE.
Matthew Slater, a top-5 receiver on the Pats? First of all, he’s a special teams specialist who very rarely, if ever, gets snaps on the offensive side of the ball, and secondly, he’s been sitting out for the entire season. Do you even research, bro?? Unbelievable.