Foxboro, MA (SportsNetwork. Brett Favre Jersey .com) - The New England Patriots signed defensive lineman Alan Branch and released linebacker Deontae Skinner on Wednesday. Branch, 29, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2007-10), Seattle Seahawks (2011-12) and Buffalo Bills (2013). The 6-foot-6, 325-pounder went to training camp with Buffalo this past summer but was released in August. A second-round pick by Arizona in 2007, Branch has started in 47 of 94 NFL games and has recorded 170 total tackles with eight sacks. Last season with Buffalo, he played in all 16 games and finished with 39 total tackles. Skinner, 24, was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Mississippi State. He was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Sept. 13 and played in seven games with one start, accumulating 10 total tackles and three special teams tackles. Deion Sanders Falcons Jersey . -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing back quarterback Chad Henne -- and making him the starter. Tony Gonzalez Jersey . UCI President Brian Cookson said Wednesday the commission will investigate allegations "that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past -- allegations which have done so much to hurt the credibility of the UCI and our sport. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Qadree-Ollison-Jersey/ . -- Chris Jones and Louisville have done a tremendous job protecting the basketball this season and thats led to easy victories.CHANDLER, Ariz. - The New England Patriots came out swinging upon their arrival at the Super Bowl.Not star quarterback Tom Brady or All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. Not coach Bill Belichick, either.Robert Kraft.The team owner on Monday night demanded an apology from the league once the Patriots are found to be not guilty of breaking any rules regarding using under-inflated footballs in the AFC championship game.A conclusion Kraft is certain will occur.In an unscheduled statement, Kraft strongly defended his teams actions and integrity, growing more fiery with each sentence.I want to make it clear that I believe, unconditionally, that the New England Patriots have done nothing inappropriate in this process or in violation of NFL rules, Kraft said at the teams first media availability in Arizona.If the (Ted) Wells investigation is not able to definitively determine that our organization tampered with the air pressure in the footballs, I would expect and hope the league would apologize to our entire team, and in particular to coach (Bill) Belichick and Tom Brady, for what theyve had to endure this week.NFL Executive Vice-President Jeff Pash and Ted Wells of the law firm of Paul Weiss are leading the probe. Wells was the investigator in the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal and has said the current investigation could last a while.Kraft welcomes a thorough search.Im disappointed in the way this entire matter has been handled and reported upon, Kraft said, pointing directly to reports citing anonymous sources. We expect hard facts rather than circumstantial leaked evidence to drive the conclusion of this investigation.The NFL has said evidence shows the Patriots used underinflated footballs during the first half of the AFC title game victory over Indianapolis. The league is still determining why the balls were underinflated.I am confident that this investigation will uncover whatever the facts were that took place last Sunday and the science of how game balls react to changes in the environment, Kraft added. This would be in directt contrast to the public discourse, which has been driven by media leaks as opposed to actual data and facts. Chris Lindstrom Jersey. . Because of this, many jumped to conclusions and made scarring accusations against our coach, quarterback and staff questioning the integrity of all involved.Belichick and Brady followed Kraft to the podium, but basically left any comments on the investigation to their boss.When asked if he was upset by the accusations and jokes of which he was the subject, Brady said: Ive moved past those initial feelings and I want to move forward.But moving away from the deflated footballs theme will be particularly difficult on media day, when just about any question has been fair game in the past.So Kraft came out swinging before then with a speech tinged with emotion — and fire.Tom, Bill and I have been together for 15 years. They are my guys, said Kraft, who has three Super Bowl titles and three other trips to the big game since 2001.They are part of my family. Bill, Tom and I have had many difficult discussions over the years. Ive never known them to lie to me. Thats why Im confident in saying what I just said.It bothers me greatly their reputations and integrity — and by association that of our team — has been called into question this week.This hardly is the first time the Patriots have been under such scrutiny. Most famously was 2007, their undefeated regular season. Revelations that New England videotaped New York Jets coaches signals during a game cost Belichick a $500,000 fine, and the team was fined $250,000 and stripped of its 2008 first-round draft choice by the NFL.During this years playoffs, Ravens coach John Harbaugh accused the Patriots of being deceitful with some alignments on offence. The NFL exonerated Krafts team of any wrongdoing.Now, Kraft has taken the offensive.I, and our entire organization, he said, believe strongly in the integrity of the game and the rules of fair play are properly, equitably and fairly enforced.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '