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." Kenny Golladay Youth Jersey . -- Derek Jeter says the New York Yankees have no choice but to move forward now that Alex Rodriguez has accepted his suspension for the 2014 season. Jahlani Tavai Youth Jersey . Expensive. 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The running back told The Tennessean he was having surgery in Pensacola, Fla.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - It looked as if everything was coming together for the Sacramento Kings.DeMarcus Cousins was keeping his cool while putting up All-Star numbers. Second-year coach Michael Malone had his team playing defence, and the Kings were consistently beating Western Conference contenders.One illness ended all that.Cousins came down with viral meningitis more than two weeks ago, and neither the franchise centre nor the Kings (11-13) have recovered yet. Sacramento has gone just 2-7 without Cousins — who remains out indefinitely — heading into Tuesday nights home game against Oklahoma City, which had its own health-related problems while NBA MVP Kevin Durant and co-star Russell Westbrook were out with injuries.Malone was fired late Sunday night and assistant Tyrone Corbin was promoted to interim coach. A person with knowledge of the moves confirmed the change on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced it yet.While season-long goals cant be accomplished before Christmas, the Kings and Thunder know they can sure be wrecked.How teams handle such critical times can go a long way in determining their season. That was basically the message Malone gave to his players last week.I told our guys, We have no idea when DeMarcus is coming back. So we need everybody to man up and play to the best of your ability, Malone said before his dismissal was announced.Houston has been able to manage injuries better than any team in the league.Dwight Howard missed 11 straight games with a strained right knee before returning Saturday against Denver. The Rockets (18-5) went 8-3 without the All-Star centre.The Thunder thought they could limit the damage when Durant and Westbrook went down. Instead, they started 3-12 and are trying to make the long climb back up the crowded West standings.Westbrook returned Nov. 28 after sitting out 13 games with a broken bone in his right hand. Durant came back Dec. 2 after missing the teams first 17 games with a fractured right foot.Both believe there is enough time left to get the Thunder back in a strong playoff position.___Here are some other things to look for around the NBA this week:WINNING WARRIORS: The Golden State Warriors have won a franchise-record 16 straight games, whicch is almost halfway to the NBA record of 33 in row set by the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1971-72 season.dddddddddddd The Warriors play at Memphis on Tuesday and host Oklahoma City on Thursday.LANCE VS. LEBRON: Lance Stephenson and LeBron James will meet for the first time since last seasons memorable run-in during the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and Miami, when Stephenson was caught by television cameras blowing into James ear. Both are with new teams now, but they still figure to match up against each other when Stephensons Hornets visit James and the Cavaliers on Monday night.BIGGEST LOSERS: Philadelphia gained national attention by starting 0-17 and coming within one loss of tying the record for worst start to a season. But the Sixers have hardly been the only big losers this season. Detroits 13-game losing streak ended with a win at Phoenix on Friday. Charlotte had a 10-game losing streak. Utah had a nine-game skid. The New York Knicks have put together losing streaks of 10 and seven in a row already.GARDEN SPOILER: As if things couldnt get any worse for the Knicks, its beginning to look like a very real possibility that Golden States Steve Kerr — who spurned an offer from mentor Phil Jackson to coach in New York over the summer — could coach the Western Conference in the All-Star game at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 15. The coaches of the teams with the best record in each conference will head the All-Star teams, so long as they didnt coach last years game. The Warriors entered Monday night with an NBA-best 21-2 record.BIG THREE: San Antonio beat the Knicks 109-95 on Wednesday without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs are just 5-10 in games the Big Three sit out since they became teammates in 2002.___STAT LINE OF THE WEEK: Blake Griffin scored 45 points, including a 3-pointer as time expired, to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 121-120 overtime win against Phoenix last Monday night. He joined Dwyane Wade and Gilbert Arenas as the only players to score at least 45 points and hit a buzzer-beater in the same game in the last 10 seasons.___AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.___Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP ' ' '