FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —The New England Patriots have met with nine-time Pro Bowl safety John Lynch but have not signed him.

"If and when that happens, then we will address it," coach Bill Belichick said today, "but until then I really don't have any other comment on it."

Belichick said he talked with Lynch yesterday and the former Denver Broncos star took a physical. The Patriots have been hit by injuries in the secondary, both at safety and cornerback. Safety-linebacker Tank Williams had a season-ending knee injury in their first exhibition game.

Lynch and the Broncos amicably parted ways late last month after he told coach Mike Shanahan he wasn't happy with his reduced playing time. He had been with Denver the past four seasons, making the Pro Bowl in every one.

But with Marlon McRee playing well, Lynch saw little playing time in nickel and dime packages early in training camp. McRee started all 16 regular-season games for San Diego last season.

After leaving Denver, Lynch, a veteran of 15 NFL seasons, said he could sign elsewhere.

"I still have a great passion for the game of football," he said at the time. "I still very much love it in my heart. I still feel like I can compete at a Pro Bowl level, but the situation is going to have to be right. I'm not going to just play for any team or any situation."

Lynch, who spent his first 11 seasons with Tampa Bay, played every snap in Denver's last three games last season, but earlier he was taken out on passing downs.