New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning passes under pressure from New England Patriots' Gerard Warren in the second quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis, Indiana, February 5, 2012.

One of my favorite players and one of Bill Belichick’s most trusted veterans Gerard “Big Money” Warren is returning to Foxboro in 2012.

Warren, who is entering his 12th NFL season out of the University of Florida, can play both defensive tackle and defensive end.  He was originally the first round draft pick of the Cleveland Brown (3rd overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft.

This is Warren’s third season in New England after spending time with Cleveland, Denver and Oakland.  In his two previous seasons with the Patriots he has played in 27 games starting 10, has 43 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

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photo credit: Reuters Pictures