Deltha O'Neal was signed by the Patriots as a veteran free agent on Sept. 1, 2008 ... Originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round (15th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft ... Traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on April 9, 2004 along with a first-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft (24th overall) and a fourth-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft (117th overall) in exchange for the 17th overall selection in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft ... Released by the Bengals (8/30/08).

Career GP/GS: 130/85

• O'Neal is in his ninth NFL season in 2008, having played in 116 games with 75 starts for the Denver Broncos (2000-03) and Cincinnati Bengals (2004-07).
• O'Neal enters the 2008 season having recorded 358 career tackles (289 solo), one sack, 31 interceptions for 403 yards and three touchdowns, 106 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
• As a returner, he enters 2008 having totaled 57 kickoff returns for 1,274 yards (22.4 avg.) and a touchdown, and 136 punt returns for 1,368 yards (10.1 avg.) and two touchdowns.
• O'Neal is a two-time Pro Bowler, earning the nod following the 2001 and 2005 seasons.
• Earned his first career Pro Bowl berth in 2001 after finishing second in the AFC with nine interceptions, including an NFL record-tying four interceptions in a game against Kansas City on Oct. 7, 2001.
• In 2005, his second year with the Bengals, O'Neal returned to the Pro Bowl after setting a franchise record with a career-high 10 interceptions.
• As a Bronco, had two punt returns and one kickoff return for touchdowns.

2008 (16/10/0/0):  Made his first interception in a Patriots uniform during New England's 30-21 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 5.

Kansas City (9/7):  Played in reserve at cornerback and on punt returns in the Patriots' 17-10 victory ... Made three solo tackles in coverage ... Returned two punts for two yards with one fair catch.  at N.Y. Jets (9/14):  Made his first start at cornerback in a Patriots uniform ... Notched five solo tackles in coverage in the Patriots' 19-10 win over the Jets.  Miami (9/21):  Started at quarterback ... Made three tackles (2 solo) in coverage.  at San Francisco (10/5):  Started at cornerback ... Collected his first Patriots interception, grabbing a J.T. O'Sullivan pass that was deflected by Rodney Harrison in the fourth quarter ... Made one solo tackle.  at San Diego (10/12):  Started at cornerback ... Recorded one pass defensed ... Made three solo tackles.  Denver (10/20):  Started at cornerback in the Patriots' 41-7 victory over the Broncos ... Made two solo tackles.  St. Louis (10/26):  Started at cornerback in the Patriots' 23-16 win over the Rams ... Made his first interception in a Patriots uniform, icing a 23-16 comeback victory by picking off a Marc Bulger pass intended for Keenan Burton with under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter ... Registered one pass defensed and one solo tackle.  at Indianapolis (11/2):  Played in reserve at cornerback ... Made one solo tackle.  Buffalo (11/9):  Started at cornerback in the Patriots' 20-10 victory over the Bills ... Collected his third interception of the season by making a leaping pick on a Trent Edwards pass in the third quarter, tying him with Brandon Meriweather for the team lead ... Tallied one solo tackle and a pass defensed.  N.Y. Jets (11/13):  Started at cornerback ... Made three solo tackles against the Jets.  at Miami (11/23):  Started at cornerback in the Patriots' 48-28 victory at the Dolphins ... Swatted down a Chad Pennington pass intended for Davone Bess on third down, leading to a Dolphins' punt in the second quarter ... Made two solo tackles.  Pittsburgh (11/30):  Started at cornerback against the Steelers ... Credited with a pass defensed, breaking up a Ben Roethlisberger pass intended for Nate Washington in the second quarter ... Tallied four tackles, including three solo stops.  at Seattle (12/7):  Played in reserve at cornerback in the Patriots' 24-21 comeback victory over the Seahawks ... Made one solo tackle.  at Oakland (12/14):  Played in reserve at cornerback in the Patriots' 49-26 victory over the Raiders ... Tallied two solo tackles.  Arizona (12/21):  Played in reserve at cornerback in the Patriots' 47-7 victory over the Cardinals ... Broke up a deep lob from Matt Leinart intended for Larry Fitzgerald in the third quarter.  at Buffalo (12/28):  Played in reserve at cornerback in the Patriots' 13-0 victory, their first shutout win since 2006, over the Bills ... Recorded one pass defensed, breaking up a Trent Edwards pass intended for Steve Johnson in the fourth quarter.

2007 (16/8 - Cincinnati): Played in every game and tied for team lead in passes defensed (16), including one INT ... Had 56 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... Started at LCB in Games 1-8 and played as nickel back in Games 9-16 ... On Sept. 10 vs. Baltimore, logged four tackles and three passes defensed ... On Oct. 14 at Kansas City, stripped RB Larry Johnson at Bengals' one-yard line in second quarter, with Bengals taking over on a touchback when ball rolled out of end zone ... Stopped a scoring threat Oct. 28 vs. Pittsburgh when he intercepted Ben Roethlisberger pass at Bengals' five in third quarter, with seven-yard return to the 12 ... Also vs. Steelers, had six tackles and two total passes defensed ... Six tackles Nov. 11 at Baltimore, and his two passes defensed included first-quarter break-up in the end zone ... Recovered a Willie Parker fumble at Steelers' 25 on Dec. 2 at Pittsburgh, and his two passes defensed included a third-down breakup that forced a punt in first quarter.

2006 (12/7 - Cincinnati): Limited by knee and shoulder injuries to 12 games/seven starts ... Helped secure win Sept. 24 at Pittsburgh, picking off a Ben Roethlisberger pass at Bengals' 29 in fourth quarter and returning 42 yards to Steelers' 29 ... Also at Pittsburgh, logged six tackles and tied team's season-high for passes defensed with four ... On Dec. 24 at Denver, recovered a Tatum Bell fumble, setting up TD drive for 17-14 halftime lead.

2005 (15/14 - Cincinnati): His 10 INTs broke Ken Riley's 1976 team record of nine, and he became the first Bengal to claim a share of league INT lead for a season (Jets' Ty Law also had 10) ... Earned his second career Pro Bowl berth (first with Bengals) ... Led team in passes defensed (25) ... Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 18 vs. Minnesota, as he keyed 37-8 win with club-record tying three INTs against Daunte Culpepper, while adding a pass defensed that led to another INT ... Had four PDs, including an INT, plus a 26-yard fumble return in Sept. 25 win at Chicago ... Had two INTs in win Oct. 30 vs. Green Bay, and deflected a pass that teammate Odell Thurman picked off ... In key win Dec. 4 at Pittsburgh, stopped a Steelers threat by picking off a Ben Roethlisberger pass at Bengals' seven and returning 37 yards ... Provided turning point in comeback win Dec. 11 vs. Cleveland, with nine-yard INT return against Charlie Frye when Browns led 17-13 late in third quarter ... In division-clinching win Dec. 18 at Detroit, snagged Bengals-record 10th INT (against Jeff Garcia) ... Tied for secondary lead with five tackles in Wild Card playoff 1-8-06 vs. Pittsburgh.

2004 (12/10 - Cincinnati): Acquired by Bengals in April 9 trade with Denver ... Tied for Bengals lead in passes defensed (16) and ranked second in INTs (four), with one INT for a game-clinching TD vs. Cleveland ... Inactive due to injuries for Games 1, 10 and 13-14 ... In Monday night win Oct. 25 vs. Denver, victimized his former team by picking off a Jake Plummer pass in second quarter ... Iced Cincinnati's wild 58-48 victory Nov. 28 vs. Cleveland when he picked off a Kelly Holcomb pass and returned it 31 yards for a TD with 1:43 to play ... Recorded first career sack Dec. 5 at Baltimore, an eight-yarder against Kyle Boller.

2003 (12/6 - Denver): Played 13 games for Denver, but lost his starting position and did not play defense after Game 7 ... Switched to WR at midseason, and saw action on offense in Games 11-12, with two receptions for four yards ... Inactive for Wild Card playoff game Jan. 4 at Indianapolis ... Led Broncos in punt returns for the fourth straight year, averaging 9.5 yards, with a 57-yard TD return in Monday night action Nov. 3 vs. New England.

2002 (16/14 - Denver): Led Broncos a second consecutive year in INTs (five), including two returns for TDs ... Also led team in passes defensed (15) ... His TDs on INT returns were for 28 yards in victory Oct. 6 vs. San Diego and for 22 yards in win Oct. 17 at Seattle.

2001 (16/16 - Denver): Earned a Pro Bowl berth, ranking second in AFC with nine interceptions and also leading Broncos in passes defensed (18) ... Ranked second in AFC in punt returns, and his 13.1 avg. included an 86-yard TD on Oct. 14 at Seattle ... Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month after making a league-high six INTs with 21 tackles in October ... Had his first four INTs of October in one game, leading Broncos' victory Oct. 7 vs. Kansas City and becoming the 18th NFL player to share record of four INTs in a game ... Picked off two Tom Brady passes in victory Oct. 28 vs. New England.

2000 (16/0 - Denver): Drafted by Denver in first round (15th overall) ... Signed July 21 ... Named All-Rookie as a punt returner by Football News, averaging 10.4 yards, and also led the team in kickoff returns, averaging 24.0 yards with an 87-yard TD ... Saw his first NFL action on defense on Oct. 22 at Cincinnati ... Delivered his first big NFL play Oct. 1 vs. New England, when he returned a free kick after a safety 87 yards for a TD.

Finished his career at California as school's career leader in all-purpose yards with 5005 (111.2 per game) ... Tied NCAA career record by returning five INTs for TDs ... Set a school record with 356 yards via interception returns, and also finished with all-time records for punt returns (110), punt-return yards (1169), kickoff returns (99) and kickoff-return yards (2472) ... Scored his total of 12 TDs by five different methods: INT return (five), punt return (one), KOR (two), rushing (two) and receiving (two) ... Earned consensus first-team All-America and All-Pac-10 honors as a senior (both on defense and as a return specialist), and was named Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year as he tied for NCAA lead in INTs (nine) ... Posted NCAA record as a senior with four INTs returned for TDs ... As a senior vs. Stanford, scored on a 100-yard KOR and a 58-yard punt return in the same game.

Born in Palo Alto, Calif. ... Attended Milpitas (Calif.) High School, where he set a school record with 2312 rushing yards and earned Blue Chip Illustrated All-America honors ... Was the student body president as a high school senior ... Graduated from Cal with a degree in social welfare ... Full name is Deltha Lee O'Neal III ... First name is pronounced "DELL-thuh."