FOXBORO, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced Monday they've brought back kicker Chris Koepplin. A UMass product, Koepplin was with the team last year during training camp, handling kicking duties while the team eased Stephen Gostkowski (quad injury) back into things. He likely will fill a similar role this time around, simply taking some of the offseason kicking load off of Gostkowski's leg. Koepplin is 26; he became the UMass career record-holder in PAT percentage (98.0) and is also second all-time in field-goal percentage (71.0).

By Jeff Howe / NESN.com It looks like the Patriots have compiled their young battery of specialists. kicker Stephen Gostkowski has been a staple since 2006, and he's signed through 2014. punter Zoltan Mesko, who's locked up through 2013, has emerged as one of the league's better players at the position, which has been a welcomed change for New England after struggling to find consistency out of its punters for several seasons. Ditto for long snapper Danny Aiken, who ended a similarly rough stretch for the Patriots at that position and is also in town through 2013. Specialists on Final…

By Michael Leonard / Twinsburg Bulletin The amazing story that is the life of Twinsburg graduate Zoltan Mesko added another chapter Feb. 5. From childhood in Romania to Twinsburg to the University of Michigan to being drafted as a punter by the New England Patriots, Mesko has packed a ton of experiences and accolades into his young life. However, he and his teammates just missed earning the accolade of Super Bowl champion in Super Bowl XLVI. Mesko and the Patriots lost 21-17 to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, Mesko had three punts in the game, averaging 41…

By Billy Watkins / The Clarion Ledger MADISON, Miss. -- Cindy Gostkowski is sitting in the football stands at Madison (Miss.) Central High School on a cool, breezy winter afternoon. Even though she still resides in Madison, it is her first time at the stadium since her son - current New England Patriots and former University of Memphis placekicker Stephen Gostkowski - held the same position with the Jaguars from 1998 through 2001. Yes, he kicked as a ninth-grader on the high school team. "There were a lot of good memories here," she said, staring down at the field as…

The New England Patriots are set to sign James Dearth as their new long snapper, according to multiple reports. The 35-year-old out of Tarleton State is a 6-foot-4, 265-pounder who has played for the Jets (nine seasons) and Browns (one season) over the course of his career. He will replace Matt Katula, who was released by the Patriots on Monday. The Patriots also have two other players on their roster — linebacker Rob Ninkovich and tight end Lee Smith — with long-snapping experience. Dearth's signing was first reported by the Boston Herald.

By Erik Scalavino / Patriots.com   At first blush, you might not think a special teams coach would have much input in the NFL draft. However, consider that many - if not most - rookies make NFL rosters based on their ability to contribute on special teams, whether as a returner or coverage player. That makes Scott O'Brien's role, as special teams coach for the Patriots, quite valuable indeed. Unless his team is deep in the playoffs O'Brien generally begins his draft evaluations each year during the week leading up to the Senior Bowl in late January. And that work…

Reported in Detroit Free Press Many NFL players are finding alternative pursuits during the current lockout. Some, like the Bengals' Chad Ochocinco, are testing their skills at other professional sports, while others, like the Lions’ Kyle Vanden Bosch, are developing their own training regimens. But former Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko is concentrating on the intellectual side of the brains-brawn equation. Mesko, who was drafted in 2010 by New England and was a rookie with the Patriots last season, started reading business books and took a job as an intern at a Philadelphia-based private-equity firm, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. “It's…

First published by: Erik Scalavino   NEW ORLEANS – We were expecting to hear from Bill Belichick at a Tuesday breakfast here at the Roosevelt Hotel, but the Patriots head coach surprised the contingent of New England media in attendance by speaking to us earlier today at the league’s annual meeting. Though he wouldn’t comment on several topics – the CBA, Brandon Meriweather’s predicament, how players are working out during this unusual offseason – he had plenty to say about the NFL Competition Committee’s proposal to change several rules related to kickoffs. And not much of it favorable. “This one’s… I’m not…