Seau Calls an Audible and Signs With Patriots

Junior Seau returned to the NFL on Friday after a four-day retirement, trading surfing in San Diego for a one-year contract with the New England Patriots that the 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker hopes will pay off with a long-sought Super Bowl ring.

“I’m going after my master’s now,” the jet-lagged Seau said in a conference call.

That was a reference to his lavish retirement ceremony Monday at the San Diego Chargers’ headquarters when he said: “I’m not retiring. I am graduating.”

The 37-year-old Seau said then that no teams wanted or needed him. But he didn’t rule out coming back if the right situation came up.

Seau said the Patriots called Tuesday.

New England needed another linebacker because Tedy Bruschi has a broken wrist. Chad Brown and Monte Beisel also are hurt, and Willie McGinest, a mainstay of the Patriots’ three Super Bowl titles in four seasons, signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent.

“When a championship team calls, you’ve definitely got to answer the call and definitely look into it,” Seau said. “That’s what I did.”

Seau wasn’t sure what role he’ll have under Coach Bill Belichick. But he has played inside and outside linebacker, and he said he didn’t go to New England to have a limited role.

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New York Giants center Shawn O’Hara sprained a ligament in his knee and is not expected to play in next week’s exhibition game against the New York Jets. He suffered the injury during Thursday night’s 17-0 exhibition win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Giants Stadium.

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Jets quarterback Chad Pennington will not play in tonight’s exhibition game against the Washington Redskins because of a family illness. Coach Eric Mangini excused Pennington for the weekend, the team said.

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Receiver Charlie Adams failed his physical with the Dallas Cowboys, voiding a trade with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos sent Adams to Dallas for a sixth-round draft pick Thursday.

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Brian Urlacher returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown on the game’s third play from scrimmage and Rashied Davis returned a kickoff 100 yards for another touchdown to lead the Chicago Bears to a 24-3 exhibition win over the visiting San Diego Chargers.... Cincinnati’s defense played a big role in its 44-31 win over the host Buffalo Bills, forcing four turnovers in the first half and returning two of them for touchdowns -- Dexter Jackson’s 72-yard fumble return and Keiwan Ratliff’s 26-yard interception return.... Running back Jerome Harrison, a rookie from Washington State, went 31 yards on a touchdown pass play in the fourth quarter to help the host Cleveland Browns beat the Detroit Lions, 20-16.