According to a league source, free agent safety John Lynch has agreed to join the Patriots.

The source did not have terms of the deal, but said Lynch had decided to sign with the Patriots. The Patriots brought the nine-time Pro Bowler, who asked to be released by the Denver Broncos after the team slotted him into a reduced role, in for a visit yesterday.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said this morning that Lynch had met with him and taken a physical, which is often a precursor to a deal.

Lynch, who will turn 37 on Sept. 25, figures to replace Tank Williams, who was placed on injured reserve by the Patriots last Sunday after suffering a knee injury in the pre-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday.

The Patriots were using Williams as a hybrid safety/linebacker in a pass defense package, a role that seems well suited to the 6-foot, 2-inch, 220-pound Lynch.

Lynch is actually coming off a Pro Bowl season. He was named to the team as an injury replacement last year, after starting 12 of 13 games and finishing with 59 tackles, a sack and three passes defended.

The source said the New York Jets also expressed interested in Lynch, but that the 15-year veteran chose to play for the Patriots, who tried to sign him as a free agent in 2004, when he decided to go from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Denver Broncos.