The New England Patriots signed defensive tackle Kyle Love to a one-year contract extension Wednesday evening.
The deal, which carries a maximum value of $3.1 million and includes a $500,000 signing bonus, runs through 2013. Love was scheduled to become a restricted free agent after the season.
Love’s agents, Sean Stellato and Richard Kopelman of KLASS Sports, previously negotiated similar deals with New England for linebacker Gary Guyton and cornerback Kyle Arrington.
Love, a former undrafted player out of Mississippi State, made 33 tackles and had three sacks playing mostly on first and second down last season. The hope is that he will emerge as a three-down player starting alongside Vince Wilfork.
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNE or @nick_underhill.